Nature Moncton Nature News: Dec 31 2018

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, December 31, 2018 (Monday)

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Editor: Nelson Poirier

Transcript by: David Christie

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

** Jamie and Karen Burris helped with the Christmas Bird Count in Hillsborough on Saturday. The weather was overcast and foggy, but Jamie got some interesting photos. They spotted a NORTHERN SHRIKE [Pie-griéche grise] perched high in a tree 300 yards away. As they were watching it, two RUSTY BLACKBIRDS [Quiscale rouilleux] flew over. Note how Jamie captured the club shape of the tail of the Rusty Blackbird, a signature feature.

A pair of NORTHERN FLICKERS [Pic flamboyant] were at Gray’s Island. Several WHITE-TAILED DEER [Cerf de Virginie] were moving about. Take note of the dewclaws, high up the leg, that show in one photo. They don’t register in a track, unless in deep snow, whereas a MOOSE’s [Orignal] dewclaws show almost every time, as they are situated much nearer the hoof than in deer.

Jamie comments that their neighbourhood MERLIN [Faucon émerillon] enjoyed a STARLING [Étourneau] breakfast in their neighbour’s yard. I wonder if that Merlin is taking contracts??

** Shawn Cormier got together with Jack Frost to capture a very special image. The frost formation in the middle is actually smaller than a dime but, as Shawn comments, it reminds him of a human heart inside the shape of a heart, a real piece of photo art!

** Brian Coyle paid a visit to an area of COYOTE activity, near his Lower Mountain Road home to photograph some activity. Some nice tracks and patterns were left, being a heavier animal, while other smaller animal tracks do not imprint with the thick crust. Two photos show a COYOTE paw print, showing the cone in the middle between the front and hind pads, and the typical nail imprints of the front two toe pads. Another nicely shows two paw prints overlaid, which is a common feature of canine and feline tracks; it’s called “perfect stepping,” to save energy. Brian also noted the coyotes around an apple tree with still-clinging apples, the remains of which they were eating, as well as a hay bail that had been pulled open, appearing to have been used as bedding.

** Aldo Dorio got some photos showing a male COMMON GOLDENEYE [Garrot à oeil d'or] in its first winter plumage. The developing white smudges suggest first-winter male birds. One appears to have a steep slope to the forehead, which could suggest a first-winter BARROW’S GOLDENEYE [Garrot d'Islande] but that may be due to the angle of the photo, as the bill and head shape suggest it to be a Common Goldeneye.

** Brian Stone got a solar halo and a sundog lighting up the afternoon sky at the same time, 2:39 p.m. on Sunday afternoon. A pair of MALLARD [Canard colvert] ducks were surely ready for 2019, in full breeding attire.

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton