Nature Moncton Nature News: June 14 2026

Nature Moncton Nature News

Clicking on the photos enlarges them for closer observation.

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) daily edition of Nature News.

If you would like to share observations/photos with Nature News, contact the editor, nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Please advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com, as well as proofreader nicholsl@eastlink.ca, if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

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.

https://www.zoodemagnetichillzoo.ca/nest-cam

** Another heads-up for 2 Nature Moncton activities this week. The year-end barbecue will take place on Tuesday night, June 16, and the first Wednesday walk of the season will take place on Wednesday night, June 17. All details at the end of this edition and upfront tomorrow.

**Dale Pugh sends some images of a male pileated woodpecker that has been visiting their yard recently. With a fair amount of Dwayne Biggar's "winter" suet left on hand, Dale has been putting a white dish containing the suet in their tray feeder in order to avoid dripping on warm days. The pileated seems to be enjoying the fancy dining, perhaps evidenced in one image.

(Editor’s note: one of Dale’s photos really shows that ‘loooong’ tongue that we rarely see that is coiled up within the woodpecker's throat and that suddenly uncoils and darts into a cavity to extract delicious insects and grubs.)

**One of the highlights from Phil Riebel’s solar-powered DSLR trail camera setup this week (in Miramichi) was a short-tailed weasel (also known as an ermine) in its summer coat. This is the first time Phil has photographed one in brown summer pelage.

Phil adds a conservation note: Healthy populations of small predators like weasels are an important part of balanced forest ecosystems. Protecting wetlands, woodlots, and natural habitat corridors helps ensure that species like the short-tailed weasel continue to thrive alongside the many birds, mammals, and other wildlife that share our forests.

**On June 6, Susan Richards photographed the group attending the beach walk at Miscou Island with Peter and Deana Gadd leading the group. The tide was high, so they walked on the pebbly rocks, then on land, noting a few common eiders on the water riding the big swells. As it began to rain, the group was traveling to the lighthouse at the furthest tip of land, which is the northeastern end of Miscou Island.

A very enjoyable walk, and thank you to Peter and Deana Gadd.

**Three very abundant insects in New Brunswick that are aquatic in all stages (except for the adults that leave the water, often in huge numbers, to go on mating flights) are the stonefly, the caddis fly, and the mayfly. These three insects, harmless to humans, are an extremely important food source for minnows and the juvenile stages of various other fish and amphibians. Their presence is also an indicator of unpolluted water.

There are many species of these insects, and all seem to do their mating flights at different times of year.

Nelson Poirier attaches a photo of a stonefly that happens to be on a mating flight at the moment. This particular species was approximately 2 ½ cm. The stonefly, when perched normally, has its forewings flat over its back and has two tails at the end of its abdomen to distinguish it from the other two species mentioned.

**On Friday, Brian Stone joined Janet Kempster for a birding day in the Salisbury area. It was cloudy, foggy, and unusually cold for the time of year but the birders' spirits were still high, well maybe not that high, as they shivered their way through a few paths and ponds. They did manage to see and photograph a few species when their hands weren't warming up in their pockets, and Brian processed a few photos to share. At Highland Park the eastern kingbirds were still occupying their nest in view of the path, and a male yellow-bellied sapsucker was checking out several trees nearby. Brian was hoping to see the wood duck family and he was successful this time as they swam around near the new wooden bridge. Pied-billed grebes were still in the ponds, but not much else was seen in the water.

At Wilson Marsh, Brian and Janet found even more cold air than at Salisbury, but they still managed to collect some sightings that made the walk worthwhile. Canada geese were still raising their families there, and some mallard ducklings swam along at the edge of the marsh grasses. A cedar waxwing was noted collecting nesting material from fluffy cattails, and red-eyed vireos were calling in several spots in the area. A nice sighting was a Nelson's sparrow, unusually visible in the grass, but far from the side of the trail. An immature bald eagle perched in a tree at a good distance from the viewers, and a few little extras photographed were one of many dot-tailed whiteface dragonflies and an arctic skipper that tried its best to avoid the camera but failed.

**NATURE MONCTON JUNE MEETING

END-OF-THE-YEAR BARBEQUE!

Tuesday June 16, 2026, at 6:30 PM

Mapleton Park Rotary Lodge

Our June meeting will continue the tradition of a fun social event with good food to celebrate the success of another fantastic fall/winter series of meeting presentations, outings and workshops! Members and non-members are invited to the Rotary Pavilion at Mapleton Park, where we will serve some delicious beef and veggie hamburgers and enjoy a picnic outdoors. Burgers and potato chips will be provided as a thank you from the executive for all your help and participation, but we would welcome any other food contributions brought for sharing (please note that this is a non-alcoholic event).

After we feast on hamburgers, we’ll go inside and watch a presentation of photos taken by participants of various nature highlights they have had throughout the year. If you would like to share some of your sightings, choose your best 10 photos and bring them on a USB stick. Photos of birds, plants, and insects, as well as photos of participants on outings, are all welcome as ways to share great memories of the year.

To help us estimate how much food will be needed, please let us know if you plan to attend the barbeque by emailing outandabout4nm@gmail.com. Also indicate whether you would prefer a veggie burger, so we have an idea of how many we’ll need.

Hope to see you there. All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.

**June 17 Wednesday Evening Walk

Location: Irishtown Nature Park

Start time: 6:30 PM

Hosts: Matt Nguyen and Cynthia Doucet

Starting Location: Parking Lot P2.

Directions: Irishtown Nature Park is located north on Elmwood Drive. From TCH Route 2, Exit 459A onto Elmwood Drive (Route 115). Turn north and travel 1.6 km to the sign for the park on your right, and a main parking lot. Continue on the short access road past the first parking lot and find the second P2 lot. Gather near the board posting the park map.

Description: Irishtown Nature Park provides woodland trails, and is a favourite spot for birders and botanists. Our walk will take us along the Hawk footpath, the Bouctouche Line, and the Scout footpath, for about 2 km. The footpaths are sometimes uneven, a mix of gravel and dirt. The Bouctouche Line is part of the Reservoir dam system, and is narrow but smooth.

Bug spray and protective clothing are recommended. Don’t forget to wear your name tag too!

All are welcome, Nature Moncton members or not.