NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS
December 3,
2023
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**A photo that appeared to be scat that was
submitted by Louise Nichols a week ago is reattached today. We did
consultations and asked for thoughts as to whodunit which ended up being a bit of a mystery. The most plausible explanation received was the suggestion that this
may have been a Red Fox that had feasted on rosehips as the Red Fox can be an
opportunistic berry connoisseur in the fall. Looking closely, there does appear
to be berries within. Why the yellow colour deepens the mystery. Were they that
colour to start with or did partial digestion alter the colour? All may be
theoretical but fodder for thought.
**Brian Stone came across a very interesting
article on birds acting as sentinels to warn their kin of danger or broadcast
other meanings. We sometimes think humans are the only animals with spoken
language. The language of birds can be equally as effective and complicated.
Enjoy the information at the link below:
https://phys.org/news/2023-11-sentinel-universally-understood-continents.amp
**Miscou Island is a very special part of New
Brunswick.
Leon Gagnon is a summer resident at Wilson Point
on Miscou and is a naturalist who records observations. We had communication
challenges during the summer that have been corrected so we are sharing some of Leon’s
observations belatedly to harken us back to summer/fall on Miscou.
-American Kestrel. Sightings of this
species were more numerous than in the last 20 years. As families emerged, they
were notably present at the end of August and September.
-Merlin. Almost daily sightings from
the end of August. On September 17, a couple were having fun doing acrobatics
near Leon’s chalet.
-Greater Yellowlegs. Five individuals were seen regularly in July
and August in the Muddy Brook Valley on Miscou Island. In September a few
individuals were feeding on the roads; fortunately, no birds were hit by the
cars.
-Shorebirds.
Several hundred shorebirds were present in the southern La Malbaie lagoon from
the end of August. Semipalmated Sandpipers, Black-bellied Plovers, Pectoral Sandpipers
and Least Sandpipers are regular species. Also, more than 10 Greater Yellowlegs were present.
-Belted Kingfisher. More numerous observations than in other years
from August 25 until the end of September as young fledged. In recent years,
an individual has stayed for a week in the northern edge of Leon’s woods,
feeding on fish from the bay.
-Dickcissel.
Like last year, a Dickcissel visited Wilson Point on Miscou Island. But this
year, it stayed for only one day, discreetly occupying the meadow near the
woods. Leon was able to capture excellent photos of this rarity.
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
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