Cape Spear, Weasel takes Prey

[Shawn Fitzpatrick]

One less bird in Cape Spear today…. here's a link to the success of a
Long-tailed Weasel!!

[Shawn Fitzpatrick]

On May 17, 10:56 am, Shawn Fitzpatrick <alpha...@nl.rogers.com> wrote:
> One less bird in Cape Spear today…. here's a link to the success of a
> Long-tailed Weasel!!

Sorry,..heres the link… http://iambirds.blogspot.ca/

Shawn

[mpa...@mun.ca]

On Friday, May 17, 2013 10:26:11 AM UTC-2:30, Shawn Fitzpatrick wrote:
> One less bird in Cape Spear today…. here's a link to the success of a
>
> Long-tailed Weasel!!

Fabulous picture,Shawn.After saying that I hate to be ridiculously picky but I
think this is actually a Short-Tailed Weasel(i.e. Ermine).We had one of them poke its head up from the marsh at Bidgood Park a few days ago.

Mike

[Shawn Fitzpatrick]

I thought so too Mike, but 1) the two are quite similar. 2) only the
short-tailed has a white stripe in summer coat down the back legs! I
have other angles of the same weasel and no such stripe is apparrent
on the hind legs of this species. Read in the link under Physical
descriptors or the likes..

http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/vtcritters/factsheets/mammals/Short%20tailed%20weasel/Short%20tailed%20weasel.pdf

Shawn

[Shawn Fitzpatrick]

On May 17, 1:14 pm, mpar...@mun.ca wrote:

Under physical characteristics, about the White Stripe down the hind
legs; it is a feature of only the summer coat of the Short-tailed
Weasel. The one I shot has no such distinctive marking. I did think
about it being a SHort-tail too, but in absence of the distinction of
said, I feel it must be a Long-tailed. I am always open to more
observations though.

http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/vtcritters/factsheets/mammals/Short%20tailed%20weasel/Short%20tailed%20weasel.pdf

Shawn

[J. Williams]

On Friday, May 17, 2013 10:26:11 AM UTC-2:30, Shawn Fitzpatrick wrote:

> One less bird in Cape Spear today…. here's a link to the success of a
>
> Long-tailed Weasel!!

As far as I know there are no long-tailed weasels in Newfoundland as they are only found in southern Canada and the US. Only Ermine(Short-tailed) weasels in Newfoundland.

Cheers,
j.williams

[Jared Clarke]

I could be mistaken, but I didn't think Long-tailed Weasel occurred in Newfoundland ... just Short-tailed (Ermine).

Jared

[David Shepherd]

On May 17, 2:10 pm, Jared Clarke <jared_...@hotmail.com> wrote:
> I could be mistaken, but I didn't think Long-tailed Weasel occurred in Newfoundland ... just Short-tailed (Ermine).
>
> Jared

That is correct.

DS

[Shawn Fitzpatrick]

I am even more convinced now that it is likely a "Short"-tailed
Weasel. I was in the first place convinced of the same. However,
according to the link that I provided above, a "distinctive" marker is
said WHITE STRIPE down the hind legs of ONLY the Short-Tailed! I am
not, I repeat NOT proclaiming to be a mammal expert here, but like
many of us, am subject to available information interpretation! So,
until otherwise expert knowledge comes to light, I shall hereby refer
to said hungry critter as a SHORT-tailed Weasel!! LOL

Shawn

[Tony L.]

What an amazing, rare experience to be able to photograph a mammalian predator with its prey...and have the composure to grab a few shots as it ran off!

The photo of the weasel on the rock appears to show white on the inside of the hind leg. It also shows white feet. According to Peterson's mammal field guide, Long-tailed has brown feet. The latter also has yellowish to buff underparts, whereas the one in your photo has bright white underparts. The tail also looks too short for Long-tailed.

Here is a web page (provincial Dept. Environment & Conservation) listing the mammals of Newfoundland and Labrador divided into those that are native and those that are introduced.
http://www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/snp/programs/education/animal_facts/mammals/index.html#lm1

[Shawn Fitzpatrick]

On May 17, 3:24 pm, "Tony L." <tl...@lgl.com> wrote:
> On Friday, 17 May 2013 13:31:48 UTC-2:30, Shawn Fitzpatrick  wrote:
> > On May 17, 1:14 pm, mpar...@mun.ca wrote:
>
> > > On Friday, May 17, 2013 10:26:11 AM UTC-2:30, Shawn Fitzpatrick wrote:
>
> > > > One less bird in Cape Spear today…. here's a link to the success of a
>
> > > > Long-tailed Weasel!!
>
> > >    Fabulous picture,Shawn.After saying that I hate to be ridiculously picky but I
>
> > > think this is actually a Short-Tailed Weasel(i.e. Ermine).We had one of them poke its head up from the marsh at Bidgood Park a few days ago.
>
> > >                                                       Mike
>
> > Under physical characteristics, about the White Stripe down the hind
>
> > legs; it is a feature of only the summer coat of the Short-tailed
>
> > Weasel.  The one I shot has no such distinctive marking.  I did think
>
> > about it being a SHort-tail too, but in absence of the distinction of
>
> > said, I feel it must be a Long-tailed.  I am always open to more
>
> > observations though.
>

> >http://www.vtfishandwildlife.com/vtcritters/factsheets/mammals/Short%...

>
> > Shawn
>
> What an amazing, rare experience to be able to photograph a mammalian predator with its prey...and have the composure to grab a few shots as it ran off!
>
> The photo of the weasel on the rock appears to show white on the inside of the hind leg.  It also shows white feet.  According to Peterson's mammal field guide, Long-tailed has brown feet.  The latter also has yellowish to buff underparts, whereas the one in your photo has bright white underparts.  The tail also looks too short for Long-tailed.
>

> Here is a web page (provincial Dept. Environment & Conservation) listing the mammals of Newfoundland and Labrador divided into those that are native and those that are introduced.http://www.env.gov.nl.ca/env/snp/programs/education/animal_facts/mamm...

Thanks Tony. I consider those observations to be good enough for
me. :-) I wondered about the appearance of the white inner flank
too. But thought it was the hair of the underside. The feature sheet
from whence I drew my conclusions were not totally specific about
WHERE on the hind leg said stripe would be. So, thanks again for the
link and thoughts. And yes, it is not every day in any case that you
get to see such nature happening right before your eyes. I think the
bird may be a Savannah Sparrow, as there seemed to be a number of them
all over the Cape when I was out there.

Shawn

[Peter Shelton]

Amazing photos! Sad about the poor bird.