Nature Moncton Nature News: Dec 24 2015

** Always great to hear sightings, and get photos, of SNOWY OWLS [Harfang des neiges]. Bob Betts found a Snowy Owl at the Cassie Cape wharf on Wednesday, as well as seeing LONG-TAILED DUCKS [Harelde kakawi] in the water off the wharf.

** Gilles Bourque reports a NORTHERN SHOVELER DUCK [Canard souchet] was tallied on the Shediac Christmas Bird Count, at the Cap Brule lagoon, and was still there on Wednesday. AMERICAN WIGEONS [Canard d'Amerique] were not seen that had been reported there.

** The ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER [Paruline verdatre] at Bob and Shirley Childs was confirmed photographically on Wednesday morning. Bob said it usually arrived at 09:30 am, which it did almost to the minute. Brian Stone and I went for a second dose in later morning and as chance would have it, a second appearance, which gave more photo ops to show it from different angles.

** A stop at the Superstore parking lot on east Main St. gave a chance to peruse some ICELAND GULLS [Goeland arctique] in varying plumages. A photo of a third winter bird is attached to show the gray and brown area on the mantle, yellow eye, black bill tip, and pinkish legs. Another photo of a first winter Iceland Gull is attached, with the all black bill and dark eye of the first winter bird. It's a good time to look at winter gulls as molting is complete from the late Fall molt.

** A stop by the old CN Main Shops yard off Millennium Drive found the RED-TAILED HAWK [Buse a queue rousse] still there. However enjoying the day much more without the attention of Crows.

** Brian Stone also found a RED SQUIRREL [Ecureuil roux] very much in the Christmas Eve spirit.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca