Nature Moncton Nature
News
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Nature Moncton members, as
well as any naturalist in New Brunswick or beyond, are invited to share their
photos and descriptions of recent nature sightings to build a fresh (almost)
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observations/photos with Nature News, contact the editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
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Proofreading courtesy of
Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca
The camera on the peregrine
falcon nest box on the summit of Assumption Place is now live. When
checking the link to watch the activity, scroll down to the first large image,
which shows what is happening in real time.
Fast-growing teenagers are making nest space more at a premium!
Https://www.zoodemagnetichillzoo.ca/nest-cam
**The cold did not seem to dampen the spirits of participants in the Nature Moncton spring duck outing on Saturday. I am including the separate reports and all photos as comments on observations, and each bird photo is unique. Thank you, Gwen Clark and Jessica Belanger- Mainville, for organizing it.
**Louise Nichols joined
the Nature Moncton group guided by Gwen Clark and Jessica Belanger-Mainville to
look for ducks in Sackville on Saturday morning. Some of the highlights
of the cold, windy morning were not so much ducks, but the many swallows in the
Sackville Waterfowl Park -- tree swallows, bank swallows and barn
swallows. Also noted were the warblers (especially American redstarts)
and two pied-billed grebes sitting on nests. Despite the cold, a good
time was had by all, and there was always something to see. Louise sends
a few photos.
**Gwen Clark & Jessica
Belanger-Mainville co-led Nature Moncton’s Spring Duck Outing Saturday morning. Thirteen participants braved the cold & wind to explore Sackville and find some
ducks. They saw 38 species which included 8 duck species (mallards, northern
shovelers, ring-necked ducks, wood ducks, gadwalls, American wigeons, American
black ducks, and green-winged teals). They were able to observe two pied-billed
grebe nests; in one, the birds seemed to be incubating an egg. Due to the wind,
the swallows were flying low over the Waterfowl park and put on a show for the
participants. Tree swallows, barn swallows, and bank swallows were flying very
close and all present were able to have a very good look at them. Some tree swallows
were finding refuge from the wind on the boardwalk. Some other birds seen were
a song sparrow walking on the boardwalk and an osprey. Even though it was cold,
everyone had a lot of fun!
**Deanna Fenwick enjoyed
the Nature Moncton outing on Saturday in Sackville despite the wind and cold
temperatures. The wind may have chased away some of the birds, but it also
drove the insects closer to the ground, so the swallows were putting on quite a
show! Most were tree swallows, but there were plenty of bank swallows
and a few barn swallows as well, dipping and diving faster than the
photographers could focus! The tree swallows were the only ones who would stop
long enough to pose. We were delighted to get a good look at two pied-billed grebe
nests and watched as they brought nesting materials to build up the
floating nests. There were also a few families of mallard ducks and some
Canada geese with babies.
**Brian Stone reports the
Nature Moncton Spring Duck Outing took place on Saturday in the Sackville area
in less than spring-like weather under dark, cloudy skies and with cold
temperatures and heavy winds. Not as many ducks were seen as hoped for,
possibly due to the weather conditions, but some of the regulars, such as
American wigeons, ring-necked ducks, gadwalls, mallards, wood ducks, northern
shovelers, and green-winged teals were spotted and viewed. Three pied-billed
grebe nests were noted and photographed, with accompanying grebes, and a
few warblers were out ignoring the cold, with American redstarts and northern
yellow warblers being the majority sighted.
A couple of handrail
perchers photographed were an American crow and a pair of mourning
doves. A lot of attention was given to the large numbers of low-flying
swallows, which included three types: tree swallows, bank swallows,
and barn swallows. The tree swallows were kind enough to perch on
cattails at times, allowing for some nice close-up photography, and one barn
swallow did the same, but the bank swallows didn't seem to need any rest and
had to be photographed, very poorly due to their speed, on the wing.
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
