Nature Moncton Nature News: Jan 10 2016

** We reported a melanistic AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune] coming to the feeders of John Inman and Dave Christie at Harvey. Melanistic birds are much more uncommon than albinistic ones, so I was surprised to find that Carmella Melanson had one of very similar description in her Shediac feeder yard on Dec. 18-19. Carmella got excellent photos. Hopefully we will get photos of the Mary's Point bird, to compare. [Transcriber’s note: the melanistic goldfinch was coming to the feeders farthest from my house about 9:30 this morning. No good photos yet.]

** Louise Richard had a great day on Saturday in the fresh fluffy snowfall at their Acadieville cabin. She took note of tracks in the snow and says that she’s always amazed to go for a walk in the woods and not see a single critter, but then in winter to see all the evidence of the abundant wildlife that is around but hiding in the woods. ‘So well expressed!’ One photo is of a suspected AMERICAN MINK [Vison d’Amérique] trail. Mink and weasel [belette] trails are similar. The mink tracks tend to be equidistant apart whereas weasels tracks usually show alternating longer and shorter strides. A SNOWSHOE HARE [Lièvre d'Amérique] trail is very clearly placed in the snow, showing the larger hind feet placed in front of the smaller front feet. Another trail appears to be that of a VOLE [campagnol] or SHREW [musaraigne], snow-plowing a path through the snow.

** Janet Cormier visited Caissie Cape on Saturday to be among the many folk who are enjoying seeing one of the SNOWY OWLS [Harfang des neiges] in that general area. Janet saw it on a utility pole across from civic number 1344 Route 530.

Janet noticed her local ROCK PIGEON [Pigeon biset] troop were perched very still, and intent on something, on a utility pole by her Salisbury Road home. A look in the other direction showed the reason, an immature BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête blanche] casting a glance their way from another pole.

** John Filliter was also able to find a SNOWY OWL [Harfang des neiges] in the Caissie Cape area after several visits. This one posed beautifully and looks similar to the one Janet Cormier got earlier; I understand that there’s more than one in the area.

Clarence Cormier also observed a Snowy Owl, swooping as it hunted a field not far from the entrance to the Caissie Cape wharf.

** Anne Marsch travelled up the coast to Bouctouche on Saturday. She noticed 30 SNOW BUNTINGS [Bruant des neiges] at the Cormierville wharf. A RED-TAILED HAWK [Buse à queue rousse] was roadside at the Scoudouc turnoff from Route 15. The smelt shanties are now moving out on the ice in shallow areas but there is still lots of open water, and Anne noticed that lots of COMMON GOLDENEYE [Garrot à oeil d'or] were gathering at the bridges.

** Susan Richards shares a photo of one of the dozen plus RING-NECKED PHEASANTS [Faisan de Colchide] that feed in her Taylor Village feeder yard. The bright male is nicely tucked into a snow-laden spruce to produce a pleasing scene.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca.

Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton