NATURE
MONCTON NATURE NEWS
July 21, 2025
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**Deanna Fenwick shares some
interesting comments on observations she made at the Sackville Waterfowl Park
this weekend. There are 4 active pied-billed grebe nests there with
their second broods coming or just arrived. In one photo, you will see the
adult making nest repairs with one baby in tow and the other babysitting the
egg that has still not hatched. Also, there was an interesting altercation
between two grebes. They were in the "threat display" and went at
each other a few times. Deanna had never seen the puffed-out black throat
before, and they were standing tall and puffed out. Eventually, one swam
away.
Another thing Deanna had not noted
before was the odd tongue on the belted kingfisher. It resembles a leaf on a stem or a strange, hammer-shaped object.
The yellow warbler was just
cute, and the immature sora was interesting as it hadn't fully developed
its adult colouring yet, and the beak was still more honey-coloured than
yellow.
(Editor’s note: very interesting
comments to complement photos!)
**The linden tree is a very popular
street tree cultivar that is blooming at the moment.
While on her morning walk, Lynda
LeClerc heard the sound of bees buzzing. The sweet scent of a linden tree was accompanied by a loud buzzing sound. Looking into the tree, Lynda felt like she was in a
beehive. Lynda took a video of the action, and listening closely to the link below, captures the sound of the event.
**Gordon
Rattray reports some sightings from Sunday. At his home for the last few
days, there has been a lot of gray catbird calling, and one bird sits on
the fence near the house, calling. It may be a fledgling.
Gordon also
went to Albert Mines and visited a gypsum quarry and has pictures of buffaloberry
fruit, viper’s bugloss, and black-eyed susan’s. The buffaloberry
is only found in this area and a spot in Northern NB. Gordon also spotted
a beetle on a golden rod plant, which may be a type of firefly. Of interest is an
aphid on the same plant.
**David Lilly shares some photos he
captured while cruising the Oromocto area on Saturday, including a cooperative
eastern phoebe, a swamp sparrow bathing to beat the heat, a leopard
frog, and some of the cedar waxwings that are so abundant at the
moment.
(Editor’s note: The cedar waxwing is
a late-season nester and is probably doing so at this moment to have a
supply of berries to feed their young.)
**Jessica Belanger-Mainville is in
the Grand-Barachois area for a few days and enjoying the osprey family
caring for their nest cargo on the summit of a utility pole there. Jessica watched a
parent bring a nice-sized fish to the nest. The photos were in the low light of
the evening, but in the videos, one can hear them vocalizing loudly.
Jessica also took note of a great
blue heron peeking through the reeds nearby, set against a floral backdrop.
**Leon Gagnon shares some recent photos
and observations from Miscou Island.
By July
17th, most of the tree swallows had left Miscou Island; only a few stragglers
remained, including 2 individuals near the Miscou lighthouse. These must have
nested in one of the birdhouses Leon had placed for them a few years ago.
The barn swallows
have also mostly left the island. However, on July 19th, 8 individuals still
remained at Blanchard Village near Caraquet. They were flying near the
buildings of a horticultural farm (strawberries and garlic) where they had
nested.
As for
raptors, on July 17th, an adult bald eagle was observed at Miscou Plains, located in the
northern part of Miscou Island. This species was visible almost every day in
June but was less visible in July.
Also, a rarer species, the Swainson's
hawk. An individual was observed at Wilson Point on July 18, flying over
Leon’s cottage and then heading north. This species was previously noted at
Wilson Point in September 2014.
**On Friday, Brian Stone drove around
the Norton area and came across a scenic covered bridge over a shallow river
that looked like an excellent spot to search for interesting photo subjects.
From the bridge, Brian could see jewelwing damselflies flying around and large
tadpoles swimming in the water along with schools of small, dark fish. Brian
struggled to make it down to the water's edge so he could see these things up
close, and eventually found his way down and started his search.
The first thing Brian came across was
a male river jewelwing damselfly that was flying low over the water's
surface and occasionally landing on rocks or grass for a rest. After a few
photos were taken, a female joined the male and was laying eggs wherever it
stopped. They made a nice couple, assuming the male was her mate.
(Editor’s note: damselflies lay their
eggs in plant stems as Brian’s photo shows, whereas dragonflies typically
deposit their eggs directly into the water.)
A bullfrog poked its head up
above the water in a typical pose, and several northern pearly-eye
butterflies perched up on the road beside the bridge.
Later in the day, Brian stopped in at
the Hampton lagoons and walked the trails but found little to photograph other
than some wasps nesting in a nest box, a couple of the wood ducks
in the first pond, and a northern shoveler duck with some
ducklings.
Nelson Poirier.
Nature Moncton
