**Kerry
Lee Morris-Cormier at the Johnson’s Mills Nature Conservancy
Interpretation Centre advises high tide will be over 13 metres this weekend.
That will make it hard for the tens of thousands of Peeps [petits oiseaux de
rivage] at Johnson’s Mills to find a place to rest, so make sure to stay off the
beach during high tide period. The estimated flock size increased this week to
60,000, although at high tide Thursday they only saw half that many. Mary’s
Point and Hopewell Rocks are reporting about 2,000 birds each. PEREGRINE FALCONS
[Faucon pèlerin] have been hunting at Hopewell, but not at Mary’s Point. A
Peregrine Falcon nest site has been confirmed at Dorchester Cape, and the adults
and juvenile are hunting daily. On Thursday, Kerry Lee went for a
hike with Elder Sewell on the Fort Folly Reserve interpretive trails. She
comments it was absolutely beautiful – amazing patches of REINDEER LICHEN
[Lichen des rennes] and an abundance of INDIAN-PIPE [Monotrope
uniflore].
**The tadpoles [têtard]
of some of our Frog [Grenouille] species will stay under water for two to three
years growing before transforming into adults. The WOOD FROG [Grenouille des
bois] does all these transformational changes from egg to a miniature version of
the adult in three to four months, so at the moment we can find lots of very
small Wood Frogs about, as transformation is usually complete by July to August.
Gabriel Gallant was able to briefly detain one of these for a photo which would
easily fit on one small fingertip.
**Anne Marsch got some
excellent photos of a SALT-AND-PEPPER LOOPER MOTH [Autographe à rectangle] to
show the unique colourful markings and shape of the Looper Moth. She noticed the
same Moth three weeks earlier last year. This tends to be a nocturnal Moth that
can be found resting during the day shift.
**Ruth Brown reports
seeing a Bat [Chauve-souris] flying about her back yard during a recent evening,
seeming to act normally, but the first that she has seen in five years.
**Roger LeBlanc visited
the Riverview Marsh on Friday afternoon to note lots of bird activity, including
a WILSON'S SNIPE [Bécassine de Wilson] acting like it was protecting a nest,
which may be a second nesting. Roger comments there are lots of Ducks [Canard]
with lot of immatures and eclipse plumage to create identification challenges.
He did see LESSER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS [Petit Chevalier, Grand Chevalier] but
suspects the area may not be attractive to Shorebirds [Oiseaux de rivage] at the
moment, as water levels are high with recent rains. Roger reminds all that
Riverview Marsh is a great nearby spot to visit for a few hours of
bird-sleuthing. He did see a SORA Rail [Marouette de Caroline] come out into the
green open area for a nice observation.
**Julie Pellerin
comments a Robin [Merle d'Amérique] has re-nested on an electrical meter at her
Cap-Brûlé home, that an electrician advised be removed, which she has done three
times now, and the new nest promptly appears. The recent fourth effort is going
to stay. An AMERICAN BITTERN [Butor d'Amérique] has been around her yard pond a
few times now, seeming to not mind being exposed in the open area of the pond.
There’s been a Petrel [Océanite] being reported several times around the
Pointe-du-Chêne Wharf. A chap who frequently goes to Shediac Island reports that
he has seen a Petrel repeatedly. Julie reports a variety of Shorebirds in her
area including SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER [Bécassin roux], SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS
[Bécasseau semipalmé], SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS [Pluvier semipalmé], PECTORAL
SANDPIPER [Bécasseau à poitrine cendrée], and LESSER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS
[Petit Chevalier, Grand Chevalier]. RUDDY TURNSTONES [Tournepierre à collier]
and SANDERLINGS [Bécasseau sanderling]
have been reported at the Robichaud Wharf.
This week’s sky at a
glance courtesy of Curt Nason follows
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, August 1 –August 8
After twilight look at little west of south for Saturn, and then spot orange Antares to its lower left in the heart of Scorpius. High above the scorpion is a large house-shaped constellation called Ophiuchus the Healer. If your area isn’t light polluted you can see two lines of stars rising up and outward from the bottom of the house. The line on the right is Serpens Caput and the one on the left is Serpens Cauda. Together they comprise Serpens the Serpent, the only constellation that is in separate parts. Holding the snake behind his back, Ophiuchus is also called the Serpent Bearer as the name suggests. Healing was his profession and he did it too well.
Ophiuchus represents Asclepius from mythology, who learned the healing arts from the Centaur Chiron and resurrection from watching a snake bring another back to life. Asclepius brought many people back from the dead, including Orion after he was killed by the scorpion. Hades, god of the Underworld, complained to Zeus about a decrease in business so Zeus sent his eagle to kill Asclepius with a thunderbolt. The constellation of Aquila the Eagle is east of Serpens Cauda.
After twilight look at little west of south for Saturn, and then spot orange Antares to its lower left in the heart of Scorpius. High above the scorpion is a large house-shaped constellation called Ophiuchus the Healer. If your area isn’t light polluted you can see two lines of stars rising up and outward from the bottom of the house. The line on the right is Serpens Caput and the one on the left is Serpens Cauda. Together they comprise Serpens the Serpent, the only constellation that is in separate parts. Holding the snake behind his back, Ophiuchus is also called the Serpent Bearer as the name suggests. Healing was his profession and he did it too well.
Ophiuchus represents Asclepius from mythology, who learned the healing arts from the Centaur Chiron and resurrection from watching a snake bring another back to life. Asclepius brought many people back from the dead, including Orion after he was killed by the scorpion. Hades, god of the Underworld, complained to Zeus about a decrease in business so Zeus sent his eagle to kill Asclepius with a thunderbolt. The constellation of Aquila the Eagle is east of Serpens Cauda.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 6:01 am and sunset will occur at 8:49 pm, giving 14 hours, 48 minutes of daylight (6:08 am and 8:52 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 6:09 am and set at 8:39 pm, giving 14 hours, 30 minutes of daylight (6:17 am and 8:42 pm in Saint John).
The Moon is at third quarter on Thursday August 6, rising just after midnight that evening and setting mid-afternoon Friday.
Mercury makes a close grouping with Jupiter and the star Regulus, easily within a binocular view, on Friday August 7. They set about 40 minutes after the Sun and will be a challenge to see in twilight. Mercury will be above dimmer Regulus and Jupiter is the brightest to the right of Regulus.
Venus is sinking rapidly and passes south of the Sun, at inferior conjunction, on August 15.
Mars is low in the east before sunrise, a difficult target in binoculars.
Jupiter moves to within a Moon-width of Regulus by next weekend.
Saturn is in the southwest at dark and sets around 1 am this week. Its rings are at their best viewing in a decade so give them a try with your spotting scope, and look for its brightest moon Titan nearby.
Attached: Ophiuchus and Serpens (Stellarium)
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
INDIAN PIPE.JULY 30, 2015.KERRY LEE MORRIS-CORMIER
SALT-AND PEPPER LOOPER JULY 31,2015 ANNE MARSCH
SALT-AND PEPPER LOOPER JULY 31,2015 ANNE MARSCH
WOOD FROG (YOUNG-OF-THE-YEAR).JULY 30, 2015..GABRIEL GALLANT
WOOD FROG (YOUNG-OF-THE-YEAR).JULY 30, 2015..GABRIEL GALLANT
