Nature Miramichi

Small butterfly (a skipper). 30 mm in length. Displaying territorial behaviour by perching frequently on top of this small pine sapling. Photo taken in Miramichi on June 16, 2020.

From: David McLeod <mcleodda@nbnet.nb.ca>
Sent: Wednesday, June 10, 2020 9:31 PM
To: Peter Gadd <gadd1313@nb.sympatico.ca>
Subject: Hay Island updated bird checklist

Hi Peter,

Attached is the updated Hay Island Bird Checklist now with 193 species, for posting on the club’s website to replace the one just recently sent after the Eastern Towhee (#192) was added on June 1.

Also attached is are two photos of a Mourning Warbler taken by Rosemonde Duguay at Hay Island on June 6, 2020, which was #193 for the checklist, and her Eastern Towhee photo from June 1, 2020.

Thanks.

Dave

Birds of Ile aux Foins or Hay Island_Neguac, updated June 6, 2020.doc

Nature Miramichi has sent a letter to NS Premier Stephen McNeill to congratulate him on the politically brave decision regarding the effluent pipe from Northern Pulp’s Mill. See attached.

Letter to NS Premier Stephen McNeill from Nature NB 

This open letter has been distributed to the following:

NS Ministry of the Environment

Halifax Examiner, Pictou Advocate

Blaine Higgs, David Coon and the Liberal party of NB

From: David McLeod <mcleodda>
Sent: Sunday, November 3, 2019 2:01 AM
Subject: Re: bright red berries

Hi Hazen,

This is the Winterberry Holly (Ilex verticillata). After the leaves have fallen, the berries become more conspicuous and so are more likely to be noticed. This is a dioecious shrub which means the male and female flowers are borne on separate plants. The ones containing the berries are the female plants, while those without berries are the males, the flowers of which that bear the pollen, have long since withered and fallen away. The twigs with the berries are often cut for home decorative purposes or offered for sale at farmers’ markets, especially at Christmas time.

Also, congratulations for documenting an addition to the vascular plant list for the Miramichi Marsh (updated list attached)! It’s the 188th species to date. For this reason, I’ve cc’d Peter and Jim so Peter can replace the old list on the Club’s website with this new updated one.

Thanks for sharing your photos.

Dave

VASCULAR PLANTS CHECKLIST FOR MIRAMICHI MARSH, Updated Oct. 31, 2019.doc

From: David McLeod <mcleodda@nbnet.nb.ca>
Sent: Thursday, August 8, 2019
Subject: Updated Vascular Plants list for MM

With the recent new orchid finds at the old Canadian Tire Store in the north-west corner of MM reported by Nelson last August and Jim this year, I’ve updated the attached vascular plant list. It now includes 187 species.

Dave

VASCULAR PLANTS CHECKLIST FOR MIRAMICHI MARSH, Updated Aug. 8, 2019.doc

From: Peter Gadd <gadd1313@nb.sympatico.ca>
Sent: Thursday, July 25, 2019 11:42 AM
To: ‘Peter and Deana Gadd’ <gadd1313@nb.sympatico.ca>
Subject: Nature Miramichi – Miramichi Marsh Up-date

Hi All,

Thought I would mention a few things about Miramichi Marsh.

The Great Egret reported of late seems to be spending some time at MM but more time across Hwy 11 at what I call King St. Marsh. It has been quite visible from the side of the road at the top of King St. Plenty of safe parking. Quite a few other wetlands birds can be seen there as well.

The trails at MM were mowed this morning (Thursday). A necessary evil I am afraid. Many do enjoy the relative tranquility of the trails and the close proximity to nature. The nearby highway and occasional drag racing on the airport property not withstanding!!!

There is a wasps nest on the outer left rail of the little jetty in the main pond. Not easily seen until it is too late!

There is still a lot of bird activity at the MM. Parents and young of a number of species going about their business. I think they are out in the open more now with the need to hunt insects and eat maturing berries.

I have seen a new species MM. I have been seeing them for a few days flying with the Tree Swallows. Quite a bit darker, a little larger, different wing shape …. They are Purple Martins. Very difficult to photograph on the wing!

Don’t forget the Saturday excursion to the Kingston Family Nature Preserve. Details distributed earlier.

Peter

From: Peter Gadd <gadd1313@nb.sympatico.ca>
Sent: Sunday, May 19, 2019 9:52 PM
To: ‘Peter and Deana Gadd’ <gadd1313@nb.sympatico.ca>
Subject: Nature Miramichi – Clean-up Collage

Hi All,

Here is a collage ….. a little on the sloppy side perhaps ….. showing some of the efforts of club members during last week’s “Team-up to Clean-up” community wide effort. Well done all.

Not all of our effort is represented here and there are of course members who as a matter of routine do “pick up” but this community initiative brought the litter problem to the attention of many.

I had hoped to compile an estimate of weight and “person hours” but that data is incomplete. Never-the-less it is satisfying to walk through an area recently “de-littered”.

Peter

From: David McLeod <mcleodda@nbnet.nb.ca>
Sent: Saturday, January 19, 2019 7:49 PM
Subject: 2018-19 Northumberland County Winter Bird List

Hi Everyone:

Sorry for the delay in getting the winter bird list out to you, but please find attached a copy of the list as of Jan. 18 containing 53 species to date, far short of last year’s record of 78.

Last winter there was much more open water in Miramichi Bay and River well into late December, so we had 21 waterfowl species (ducks, geese, loons, grebes, cormorants) compared to only 8 this year when the bay and river were almost iced over by late November. Aldo had also added a late Dunlin and Black-bellied Plover at Neguac last year on Dec. 1, but we have no shorebird species this year.

However, we do have some nice first-ever additions to the list; namely the Carolina Wren and Cooper’s Hawk reported by Peter and Deana and both were photographed by Peter at their feeders in Newcastle. I guess this should make up for the loss of the Mistle Thrush at the same location last year that hasn’t been reported since!! This is the first time we’ve had all three accipiter hawk species (Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks, plus Northern Goshawk) on the list in the same winter.

Another good find was the Snowy Owl in Nelson on Dec. 4 which was photographed by Karen Doyle and first reported by Donna Savoy. Last year we missed the snowy, but did have Barred Owl, still missing from this year’s list. Julia’s female Northern Cardinal at her feeder in Chatham Head on Dec. 1, and Patricia’s male cardinal at her feeder throughout December, were also very good sightings. Aldo’s report and photo of a Chipping Sparrow on Dec. 4 in Neguac, and the Common Grackle sighting in Sunny Corner by Holly, Sonya and Cheryl during the CBC on Dec. 15, are good examples of summer breeding residents that have decided not to migrate south, but to hang around the area this year, and so are not expected to be on the winter list every year.

Other still-missing possible species include Red-tailed and Rough-legged Hawks, Ring-necked Pheasant, Barred, Great Horned, and Northern Saw-whet Owls, and Black-backed and Red-bellied Woodpeckers. Several songbirds have yet to be reported, including members of the warbler, sparrow, blackbird and finch families, like Horned Lark, Lapland Longspur, White-breasted Nuthatch, Boreal Chickadee, Cedar Waxwing, Pine or Yellow-rumped Warblers, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Rusty Blackbird, Purple Finch, House Finch, and White-winged Crossbill.

Please check the list carefully to ensure all the birds you have already reported are on it and that the added details are accurate. Also, please let me know of any additions you may have, including the observation date and location, and if there is any photo documentation.

With just under 1.5 months still to go, we should be able to increase the final total considerably. Thanks for all your help.

Dave

2018-19 Northumberland County Winter Bird List, preliminary, Jan. 19, 2019.docx

From: Pamela Watters <watterspj3@gmail.com>
Sent: Saturday, January 12, 2019 7:33 PM
Subject: February 5 Nature Miramichi

Miramichi Naturalists February Meeting

Our Small Rodent Community and Those That Depend on Them

Presenter: Nelson Poirier

The small rodents may be some of the most populous members of Mother Nature’s community and are no doubt some of the most significant members of that community in providing food to mammals and birds up the food chain that we all appreciate so much such as owls and other raptors as well as some of the larger wild mammals like foxes, wild cats, coyote, weasels, mink, etc.

As numerous as the small rodents are, we don’t often get to see them due to their secretive, nocturnal, and sometimes only ground-level life. Let’s spend a few moments in getting to know these smaller creatures by their first names and learn about their very interesting life and times. At the same time, let’s become aware of the critters whose existence depends upon the population of the small rodent community.

February 5 – Nelson Poirier, Underground and Terrestrial Rodents of New Brunswick

March 5 – Mark Hambrook, Miramichi Salmon Association

April 2 – Alex Dalton and Virginia Noble, WildResearch Nightjar Survey in New Brunswick

May 7 – Lewnanny Richardson, Species at Risk Biologist, Nature NB

June 4 – Field trip to Miramichi Marsh

Snowshoe Excursion – Saturday January 19th – Morrison’s Cove – Time TBA

Snowshoe Excursion – Escuminac Point area – March, Specific day and time TBA