Wildlife from this weekend

Eastern Junevile Willet

Eastern Juvenile Willets

Here’s a Willet we saw near the window on Friday evening. There were a few of them around. We’ve asked the birding community on Twitter to help us identify this guy, and the consensus is that this is an Eastern Juvenile Willet.

The Willet is a shorebird in the Sandpiper family. The Eastern Willet breeds in coastal saltmarshes from Nova Scotia to Mexico and the Caribbean and it overwinters on the Atlantic coast of South America.

It was great to see these feathered friends!

Hermit Crabs

Hermit Crab on Hearn Island

There were Hermit Crabs on Hearn Island Beach on Sunday afternoon. Hermit Crabs are common in Atlantic waters. These soft-shelled crabs inhabit the shells of periwinkles to protect their soft abdomen.  Hermit Crabs are omnivorous scavengers who filter decaying matter from the sand.

Hermit crabs are constantly searching for a larger shell to “borrow” and cover its soft abdomen. Sometimes a hermit crab will steal a shell being used by a smaller hermit crab.

Never try to pull a Hermit Crab from it’s shell, it has a set of claws holding it firmly in, in addition to it’s two claws (one larger than the other), and two sets of walking legs.

Hermit Crabs will retreat into their shell if handled, similar to a turtle.

Jellyfish in Rogue’s Roost

Jellyfish

The Jellyfish are out this time of year, some are quite large! This jelly was in Rogue’s Roost on Sunday afternoon. These are a type of medusa jellyfish, and although some get as large as a basketball, their sting can be compared to a mild bee sting.  They are very common in the Atlantic coastline,and their color intensifies as the water gradually warms through the summer.

Although the sting is mild in most people, it’s range is broad and it can require medical attention. Even beached and dying jellyfish can still sting when touched.