Nature Moncton Nature News: Dec 28 2015

** Another NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD [Moqueur polyglotte] has settled into a territory. Julie Pellerin reports that the folks who live at 3831 Route 132, outside of Shediac, have had a Mockingbird around their home for over a month. Folks are welcome to stop by to visit it if they wish. They do have dogs and farm animals but Julie said she had no problems seeing it from their vehicle at the road.

Julie also reports that she had a NORTHERN FLICKER [Pic flamboyant] come by her Cap-Brûlé feeder yard on Sunday to join a pair of DOWNY WOODPECKERS [Pic mineur] and HAIRY WOODPECKERS [Pic chevelu] that she has as regulars, as well as a family of RING-NECKED PHEASANTS [Faisan de Colchide].

** Brian Stone got a photo of the full MOON [Lune] on Christmas night. The last time that there was a full moon at Christmas was 1977, and it will not be full at Christmas again until 2034.

Some photos are attached that Brian got on our Deer Island visit on Saturday, that include BONAPARTE'S GULLS [Mouette de Bonaparte], one with a fish, BLACK GUILLEMOTS [Guillemot à miroir] with one flight shot that shows the large white patch on top of the wing and the red legs, COMMON EIDER [EIDER À DUVET] and a HARBOUR SEAL [Phoque commun] that nicely shows its heart-shaped nostrils and the puppy-like head. Brian also got some especially nice photos that show identification features of Bonaparte’s Gulls in flight.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton