I need a compact camera. not an ultra compact not also a SLR

The two cameras are not similar enough to compare... but for the type of Photos you are looking to take, you Need a "Bridge Camera" which is exactly how you described it... Not too Hot, Not Too Cold... the Bridge between Point and Shoot and SLR.

There are great Bridge Cameras from Fuji, Nikon, and Canon... The nikon you happened to choose, is not a good quality compared to the current models.

As a beginner you are probably not wanting to drop a ton on photo equipment.  For landscapes, most photographer use wide angle lenses.  Several compacts have a wide 24mm equivalent lens.  For wildlife, you are going to want something with a much longer zoom (~200mm equivalent minimum).  The SX40 will cover most of that if you are willing to carry around a large compact.  There are lots of options to choose from.  You will be happy with the results from any of these cameras assuming you are going to be shooting in the daytime with plenty of light. 

http://usa.canon.com/cusa/consumer/products/cameras/digital_cameras/powershot_sx40_hs#Specifications