NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Feb, 1 2021 (Monday)
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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Transcript by Susan Richards susan_richards@rogers.com
Info Line #: 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)
**On Saturday late afternoon Suzanne and Yves Poussart
went for a drive along the coast. They
drove directly to Bouctouche and came back following the coast. The highlight happened at Cormierville. After a first panoramic look with the
binoculars over the Strait, Yves spotted at 16:00 a nice compact group of 120 BARROW'S GOLDENEYE [Garrot d'Islande] about 80 meters north of the wharf and not far from Route 535. The quality of light was still good and Yves
was able to capture many photos before it diminished. Within the group many of them were diving and
actively involved in feeding behaviour.
Some photos are attached. The
first one showing the extent of the group and the others offering close-up
views. Yves comment, “It was really a
nice encounter.”
**Ray Gauvin got an excellent video of a HARBOUR SEAL [Phoque commun] enjoying Saturday’s sunshine on the ice off Pointe-du-Chene
wharf. It appears to be the same seal
that I got still photos of in yesterday’s edition. It surely was enjoying its sun-bathing. Take a look at the action at the attached
link.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0yyslaysfutpkt6/Seal%20on%20ice%20..%20Ray%20Gauvin%20.MOV?dl=0
**Dale Gaskin had an interesting observation on Dawson
Settlement Road near his home. He
encountered an area where there were several very large feathers and large bird
tracks in the snow, but no evidence of any scuffle. He later found a bird carcass that was nearly
completely consumed and unrecognizable.
Gordon Rattray went out and got excellent photos of the feathers and
tracks/trail. Brian Stone went to the
feather identification site, The Feather Atlas, and found a perfect match to Turkey. The photos are attached of Dale’s find and the
screen photo from the Feather Atlas site.
The feathers were 13 in. long and tracks 2.7 in. wide x 4 in.
long. Gilles Belliveau also shares
two links: one from the Feather Atlas page
https://www.fws.gov/lab/featheratlas/feather.php?Bird=WITU_secondary_fmle_bluebk
and the second,
that nicely describes a Turkey footprint photo and measurements for size and
stride.
https://www.wildernesscollege.com/wild-turkey-habitat.html
The Wild Turkey
is now recognized as an entity in New Brunswick however, out of caution that
this is a feral domestic escapee as it is in Albert County, an area of the
province where the Wild Turkey is not expected at this point, will refer to the
bird as Turkey.
**Georges Brun saw 6 Short-Eared Owls in the Riverview
Marsh and the Dieppe Marsh in the Chartersville area in the excellent light of
mid-afternoon on Sunday. At first one was across Bore Park, then the
remainder either near the outlet of Trans-Aqua or in the Dieppe Marsh. At
one point 3 were flying over skaters in the Dieppe Ponds. Very few gulls
in the area to confuse the vision. A Northern Harrier was also flying
high over the Dieppe Marsh closer to the Saint Anselme Church over the marsh.
Georges was on the walking bridge over Halls Creek waiting for high tide.
A flock
of Common Redpolls (50 more or less) were flying along the edge of the river
south of the Press Club.
There are still Canada Geese hanging around near A & W section since they
are receiving cracked corn from a charitable lady.
**Kevin Renton had a SHARP-SHINNED
HAWK [Épervier brun] experience
on Sunday. They heard a bang on the
window to see a Sharp-Shinned Hawk laying on the deck. Kevin brought it into the house. Five minutes later a wing sprung out with a
loud squawk. He opened the door and off
it went.
**There does not seem to be many NORTHERN FLICKER [Pic flamboyant] at bird feeder yards this winter as there sometimes
is. Fred and Sue Richards had a male visit
their feeder yard. Note the black
moustache to indicate a male, which the adult female lacks.
**Bob Blake maintains daily morning temperatures,
daily high temperatures and monthly precipitation from his Second North River
home. Am attaching Bob’s record as he
sends it, to compare January of 2020 to January of 2021. Interesting to note almost half of the
snowfall, and generally warmer.
|
2020 |
2021 |
||
|
morning
temperatures |
daily highs |
morning
temperatures |
daily highs |
|
+4-1 day 0-3 -1-3 -2-1 -4-1 -5-4 -6-2 -7-3 -8-3 -9-2 -12-3 -14-2 -17-1 -19-1 -21-1 |
+9-1 +4-1 +2-3 +1-4 58.5 cms. snow 10 mms. rain |
0-3 -1-2 -2-5 -3-1 -4-4 -5-6 -8-2 -9-2 -10-1 -12-2 -13-1 -15-2 |
+2-5 +1-5 37 cms. snow 10 mms. rain |
**John Massey was sent a video of a BOBCAT [Lynx roux] subduing
a Rattlesnake [SERPENT À SONNETTE]. We
usually do not give a link to a video that we are not sure where it originated,
but this is an incredible footage.
Rattlesnakes are found as different sub-species from south-western
Canada to Argentina. This Bobcat seems
to have longer legs than expected but the white undertip of the tail, a Bobcat
feature, shows well. Take a look at the
action at the link below.
https://www.dropbox.com/s/hppbtiyel9ho4es/Bobcat%20vs.%20Rattlesnake%21.mp4?dl=0
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
