Nature Moncton Nature
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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.
All is outwardly quiet in
the nest box this morning, but that could be a very different scenario in a few
weeks!
https://www.zoodemagnetichillzoo.ca/nest-cam
**There was a very brief visit
early Friday morning of an indigo bunting to the feeders of Peter and
Deana Gadd in Miramichi. After a quick snack of black-oil sunflower seeds,
it seems it went merrily, hopefully, on its way. Perhaps it was alarmed at the
busy bird traffic to the feeders, for more than 20 bird species came to dine
over the next hour. Amongst them were three white-crowned sparrows, one of
which took the opportunity for a bath, more than 15 purple finches, and
more than 15 pine siskins. White-throated sparrows, chipping sparrows,
and a pine warbler were some of the other breakfast guests. Not coming to the
feeders but stopping by briefly was a pileated woodpecker, staying just long
enough to sing out, announcing its presence.
**Jane LeBlanc spent some time on Thursday
on Main Street in St. Martins, trying to see the rose-breasted grosbeak at her
neighbour's feeder. She was disappointed, as the grosbeak didn't show, but she
did see chipping sparrows, white-crowned sparrows, a pair of grey catbirds, and
too many red-winged blackbirds to count.
**Ray Gauvin is another who is blessed to have the cultivar star magnolia
in a blaze of early spring bloom before leafing out. Ray’s tree is
approximately 25 years old and taller than his two-story home!
He gets about 3 weeks of
solid bloom and the nice aroma. Ray comments that it’s too bad the blooming is
so short.
**Grant Ramsey and Magna
Kuhn had a chance to walk Wilson Marsh on Friday to enjoy observing the tree swallows
(in a tree!), tree swallow house hunting, and a song sparrow.
They also saw a common gallinule
but were not able to get a photo.
**John Inman now has ruby-throated
hummingbirds staying in the yard.
He also photographed a
distant double-crested cormorant enjoying a gaspereau in the Shepody
River behind his home. Two grey catbirds were chasing each other in the
backyard, and a northern parula briefly posed. The American goldfinch
continue their bright seasonal plumage change.
**Brian Stone visited
Haute-du-Ruisseau Park in Memramcook on Friday to check and see if the
patches of early spring plants located alongside the creek were flowering yet.
The dutchman's breeches and red trilliums were bearing flowers
finally, and the painted trilliums and nodding trilliums were still waiting to
open theirs. In a few spots blue violets were blooming close to the
ground and small wild bees were pollinating little white wild strawberry
flowers. Red elderberry flowers were just beginning to show and won't be
long blooming.
At a few other stops along
the way, Brian photographed unequal cellophane bees once again, a savannah
sparrow, a northern shoveler duck, a green-winged teal duck,
and a barn swallow. Back at home, he got a few photos of the bright rainbow
that resulted from the heavy showers that were occurring near sunset.
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
