Nature Moncton Nature News: Dec 10 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Dec. 10, 2017 (Sunday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Transcript by: David Christie maryspt@mac.com

Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

** A rare bird alert was sent out last evening about a Mistle Thrush photographed by Peter Gadd at 473 Manning Drive in Miramichi. This European bird was still present in the area today and many folks got to have an audience with it. This super-rare visitor to New Brunswick is the fist documented observation in North America. We are all very fortunate it has appeared in the very bird friendly yard of Peter and Deana Gadd. Some of Peter’s excellent photos are reattached today.

** Gary Dupuis got a photo of an immature HARP SEAL [Phoque du Groenland] taking a rest on a boat ramp at Caissie Cape on Saturday. If the seal stays around the area, make sure not to go any nearer than for a photo, and make sure no dogs go near it. There are no ice floes for it so it is probably using shoreline to haul up on. These animals can deliver very serious bites and carry a bacteria called mycoplasma that can be serious for humans and dogs, if bitten. The infection is known among seal hunters as “sealer’s finger."

** Brian Coates forwards a photo of one of the four especially trained GOLDEN EAGLES [Aigle royal] that the French Air Force uses to take down rogue drones flying over the presidential palace and restricted military zones. Mittens made of leather and kevlar are used to protect the bird’s talons.

** Jean-Paul LeBlanc got a few photos of a GRAY JAY [Mésangeai du Canada] he spotted earlier this week on the Mill Creek Road between Bouctouche and Sainte-Marie.

** Brian Stone got a photo of a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET [Roitelet à couronne dorée] on Saturday that nicely shows the yellow crown stripe of a female; the male crown stripe is orange-yellow.

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton