Editor & Proofreader

Editor: Nelson Poirier    Proofreader: Louise Nichols

Monday, 16 December 2024

December 16 2024

 

 

 

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

Dec 16, 2024

 

Nature Moncton members as well as any naturalist in New Brunswick or beyond are invited to share their photos and descriptions of recent nature sightings to build a fresh (almost) daily edition of Nature News

 

 

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor,  nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com .

 

Please advise the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com  and proofreader Louise Nichols at Nicholsl@eastlink.ca if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.


For more information on Nature Moncton, check the website at
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Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

 

 

**Fred and Susan Richards did a walk on Sunday about their Taylor Village property to find the perfect Christmas tree.

They noted a cache of nuts that a Red Squirrel had stashed by an old spruce tree.

  The little runways that were under the snow made by Deer Mice/shrews/, and Meadow Voles were very obvious after the snow melt recently. These animals do not hibernate but they make trails at ground level under the snow to leave them cozy and warm, possibly more content when more arrives.

And yes, Fred and Susan found a perfect tree!

 

**At approximately 7:30 am on Sunday, Lisa Morris watched an adult Bald Eagle as it was having its morning sustenance (gull suspected) on Jones Lake under the watchful eye of an American crow who brazenly pranced around the eagle for potential leftovers. Lisa comments that it always amazes her the gall crows have around birds of prey, owls etc. Perhaps crows aren’t as appetizing to larger birds. The ducks nearby obviously felt safe knowing the eagle was going to have a full belly and wouldn’t be a threat for a while. 

Lisa also took a short video of the eagle and ducks at the link below:

https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/2svk8nj3suw4qacd7bl45/Bald-Eagle-on-Jones-Lake.-Lisa-Morris.MOV?rlkey=yngh7ywomz9m2ac7w3upukc2o&st=nud13o45&dl=0

(Editor’s note:  fresh crow would probably be as appetizing as anything to raptors, but the skillful, intelligent crow seems to know all the tricks on how not to become the prey!)

Lisa also photographed the full Moon setting on Jones Lake on the beautiful crisp morning. 

(Editor’s note: Lisa’s photo shows a Mountain Ash shrub laden with untouched berries. Reports are that the Bohemian Waxwings and Pine Grosbeaks are finding a good crop of these berries to the west of us. We hopefully will see them drop by in later season when these nomadic species may move east as the food supply dwindles there.)

 

**We don’t get the opportunity to observe the relatively common weasel that often, as it tends to be secretive and very quick in its movements.

Lori Forbes got that special moment on Saturday while walking a woods trail by her Whites Lake home near Halifax when she had a surprise encounter with a weasel that appeared to be as interested in seeing her as she was in seeing it to give time for a photograph.

(Editor’s note: the brown and white pelage of the weasel in summer changes to completely white with a black tail tip in winter. This very effective ploy helps protect it from potential predators against a white snow background but doubles up as camouflage when hunting its prey, usually small rodents.)

 

 Nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

 Nelson Poirier

Nature Moncton

 



BALD EAGLE ON PREY. DEC 15, 2024. LISA MORRIS



WEASEL DEC 14, 2024. LORI FORBES


SMALL MAMMAL RUNWAYS. DEC. 15 2024 SUSAN RICHARDS


SETTING FULL MOON. DEC 15, 2024. LISA MORRIS


RED SQUIRREL CACHE. DEC. 15, 2024 SUSAN RICHARDS