Nature Moncton Nature
News
Clicking
on the photos enlarges them for closer observation. Please note that clicking
on any photo enlarges it full screen and then clicking on the black area on
either side of the photo brings one right back to the main page.
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 Nature Moncton
Wednesday evening walk is indeed scheduled for this evening, Wednesday, July 1,
with weather predictions less threatening than for the first two scheduled Wednesday
evening walks.
**This week’s Nature
Moncton Wednesday evening walk destination is below:
Date: July 1, 2026 at
6:30 PM
Where: Wilson Marsh, Dutchill entrance
Meeting place: Corner of Dutchill Drive and Marina Drive, Moncton
Leader: Fred Richards
Join us for a lovely walk
on the marsh on Wednesday, July 1st! We will cover about 3.5 km, over an
estimated 1.5 hours. The trail is rated easy to navigate, and the terrain
is level, except for the first 100 metres, where we must descend from
Dutchill Drive to the marsh. The marsh is now a “Treasured
Wetland” designated by Ducks Unlimited and has signage
highlighting some of the interesting things we might see. One small
portion of the walk is along a wooded trail where many songbirds are expected.
Bug spray and protective clothing are recommended. If you have one, don't
forget to wear your Nature Moncton name tag too! All are welcome, Nature
Moncton members or not.
**Louise Nichols went to
the salt marsh behind the Beaubassin Research Station in Aulac on Monday
morning, looking for Nelson's sparrows. She heard many, but they were
more than usually difficult to spot. She saw a couple briefly and one
that was perched on top of a bush that she was able to photograph. In
addition to the Nelson's sparrows, many common yellowthroat warblers and
savannah sparrows were present.
(Editor’s note: With the
empty nest syndrome having happened and the monitoring camera now turned off, all
the action is happening on the nearby rooftops and Bell Aliant tower. The
activity and loud vocalizations can still be heard from the streets below, as
Leigh Eaton reported on Monday, and Brian Stone’s photos show on Tuesday. Indications
would appear that all is going well and the youngsters are “getting their wings”. Parental instruction on how to catch their own food is no doubt now a preoccupation.)
**Susan Atkinson had an
example the other day of how that derogatory expression “Bird -brain” does not
apply to her birds.
She has two bird baths out
in her front yard, one in the boxed garden and one beside her steps. Susan wondered
if the one by the steps was well positioned. The other morning, a lovely American goldfinch landed
beside it, but then flew off after being disturbed. She subsequently
did move it closer to the garden, but later in the afternoon, Susan’s little
fellow returned to find his bath GONE! It sat there staring at the vacant spot
with an almost incredulous look on his face: “I know, I know, there was a bird
bath there this morning". Needless to say, the bath is back. Susan wishes she could have
adequately gotten a photo of the look on his face: priceless!
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
