NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS
March 13, 2025
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**Lots of first wave early migrants on the move!
**Doreen Rossiter reports her Alma yard had an overnight
influx of birds showing promising signs of spring. On Wednesday morning, Doreen had
12+ song sparrows instead of the lone one that had stayed with her all winter. She also had a small group of six American robins which she usually sees only during spring and fall migration. The loudest new arrival was a mixed
flock of red-winged blackbirds and common grackles. Doreen
anticipates the nice weather that's coming and the storms to the south will
bring in larger numbers over the weekend.
**John Inman also reports many American robins going
through and a few more red-winged blackbirds, plus a few hundred Canada
geese going over.
**Leigh Eaton reports there were approximately two dozen American
robins in his Riverview front yard on Wednesday. Leigh has two holly bushes,
and the birds cleaned up every last berry from both bushes.
He has also been inundated by American goldfinches
to his feeders for the last couple of weeks with upwards of 50 at a time
gobbling up sunflower seeds.
On Wednesday morning, there were two male hairy
woodpeckers visiting his suet block at the same time, along with a male downy
woodpecker and a male pileated woodpecker.
He is not sure what has happened to his flock of ring-necked
pheasants but now sees only one adult male who visits daily.
**On Wednesday morning, Brian Stone went for a walk in Mill Creek
Park and tried to walk out along the back trail loop that leaves the park and
then goes back in, but he was unable to go far because of icy conditions.
Brian's lower back problems don't like it when he wears ice crampons, so he is
limited to ice-free trails, but he did manage to make it, very carefully, to
the large beaver pond at one end of the trail and took a few photos. While he
was there, an immature bald eagle flew overhead, and a 22° solar halo
appeared when thin icy clouds passed in front of the Sun.
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
