Nature Moncton Nature News: Oct 13 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, October 13, 2017 (Friday)

Please advise editor at nelson@nb.sympatico.ca if any errors are noted in wording or photo labeling.

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca

Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

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** Jamie and Karen Burris visited the Tucker St. Ducks Unlimited impoundment a few days ago and report there are still lots of birds there to observe, such as GREATER YELLOWLEGS [Grand Chevalier] and LESSER YELLOWLEGS [Petit Chevalier] , GREEN-WINGED TEAL [Sarcelle d'hiver], AMERICAN BLACK DUCKS [Canard noir], RING-NECKED DUCKS [Fuligule à collier], NORTHERN SHOVELERS [Canard souchet], CANADA GEESE [Bernache du Canada], KILLDEER [Pluvier kildir], hawks and eagles. Jamie got a photo of a pair of SAFFRON-WINGED MEADOWHAWK DRAGONFLIES [Sympétrum rubigineux] in a mating wheel. It is nearing the end of the season to see this species.

** Gordon Rattray leaves a nice descriptive photo of a FLY AGARIC MUSHROOM [L’Amanite tue-mouches], a very common one at the moment, showing its partial veil and remnants of the universal veil on top, typical of this usually yellow inedible species. Gordon also got a flock photo of AMERICAN WIGEONS [Canard d'Amérique] over Gray Brook Marsh, the late-flowering TOADFLAX plant commonly known as BUTTER-AND-EGGS, a large spider having its lunch which is more often seen this time of year as some female spiders become noticeably large and a close-up of the most common colouration of the ASIAN MULTICOLOURED LADY BEETLE.

** Ray Gauvin stopped by the Salem Covered Bridge on Wednesday to note very high numbers of ASIAN MULTICOLOURED LADY BEETLES moving about the structure. This Lady Beetle can appear in structures and houses at this time of year, seeking a protective spot to overwinter in clusters. This is an introduced species and the one seen most often around homes at the moment. Our native Lady Beetles do not tend to come to houses or structures to overwinter. Both Ray and Gordon Rattray photographed some on Wednesday. They very predominantly have the dark red elytra and the usually 19 dark spots, but a small portion will vary. One of Ray’s photos shows that the elytra may differ, but the design on the pronotum, that is to say the head and shoulder area, always has the same design for each Lady Beetle species.

** Mac Wilmot’s grape crop in Lower Coverdale area has attracted PILEATED WOODPECKERS [Grand pic]. Mac says that harvest has become a challenge due to disputes with the abundance of wasps. They are completely hollowing out the fruit, leaving only the seeds and withered skins. Mac got a photo of one on its mission.

** Brian Stone cruised an area near Mapleton Park on Thursday when two GRAY JAY [Mésangeai du Canada] came to check him out and got photographed. They were busy gathering up food items, no doubt to be tucked into storage sites for their winter larder. Brian also got a photo of an AUTUMN MEADOWHAWK DRAGONFLY [Sympétrum Tardif], a nicely-posed RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET [Roitelet à couronne rubis], and a SONG SPARROW [Bruant chanteur] in a backdrop of fall colours. Brian also took a photo showing the leaders of the HEMLOCK TREE bent over which is characteristic of Hemlock and a way to help identify the tree in the distance.

** This week’s Sky-at-a-Glance is included in this edition, courtesy of Curt Nason who will be coming to the December 12^th Nature Moncton meeting to give lots of information on something we look at frequently – the moon – to give more understanding and appreciation of it. A heads-up write-up to that event is attached after the week’s sky report.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, October 14 – October 21

The planet Uranus is at opposition this Thursday, rising at sunset and
sitting high in the sky by late evening. I usually try to observe Uranus
and Neptune at least once a year in binoculars or a telescope, often as
part of an effort to see all eight planets (Earth is fairly easy) in one
night or calendar day. Uranus can be seen with just your eyes around
opposition but it requires a dark, transparent sky, good eyesight and
knowledge of exactly where to look. Both of these planets are near dim
naked-eye stars, making them easier to hunt down. A detailed star map
including their locations is essential, such as the one published
annually on the Sky and Telescope website.

http://wwwcdn.skyandtelescope.com/wp-content/uploads/WEB_Uranus_Neptune17.pdf

Uranus is about one degree above Omicron Piscium and is brighter than
any star that close, using binoculars, and over the next two months it
will move west of that star. Neptune can be found less than one degree
below Lambda Aquarii over that time span, much dimmer than Uranus but
still brighter than any star within that distance below Lambda. With
binoculars, the two planets will resemble stars with, perhaps, a slight
blue-green hue and less twinkling. A telescope at moderate to high
magnification will expand the planets into discs, which I usually see as
pale green for Uranus and pale blue for Neptune. Stars, being at vast
distances from us, do not look larger under higher magnification, and
using this technique was how these planets were distinguished from stars
in 1781 and 1846, respectively.

Uranus and Neptune are nearly twins, with Uranus four times wider than
Earth and Neptune just a bit smaller but more massive. They are referred
to as ice giants. Although their atmospheres are composed primarily of
hydrogen and helium, they also contain frozen water, ammonia and
methane. In addition, their interiors are predominantly rock and ices.
Methane absorbs wavelengths of light in the red part of the visible
light spectrum, passing the shorter-wavelength green and blue light.
Methane in the planets’ upper atmosphere is responsible for the colours
we see through a telescope.

This Week in the Solar System

Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:35 am and sunset will occur at
6:34 pm, giving 10 hours, 59 minutes of daylight (7:39 am and 6:40 pm in
Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:44 am and set at 6:22
pm, giving 10 hours, 38 minutes of daylight (7:48 am and 6:28 pm in
Saint John).

The Moon is new on Thursday, making this a great week for autumn
deep-sky observing. Saturn continues to awe observers with views of its
rings in early evening. Mercury and Jupiter are too low in the west for
observing after sunset. Mars is about five degrees above Venus this
weekend in the morning sky. Next weekend, look for meteors springing
from Orion’s club early in the morning. This minor meteor shower is one
of two arising from Halley’s Comet.

International Observe the Moon Night is on Saturday, October 28. Members
and guests of RASC NB will have telescopes and binoculars set up at the
Irving Nature Park in Saint John for this event on Friday, October 27
from 6:30 pm to 9 pm, with a back-up date of Saturday.

Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.

Nature Moncton Presentation December 12, 2017 7pm

Location: Mapleton Rotary Lodge (across from Cabela’s)

Presenter: Curt Nason

Abstract: Getting to Know the Moon

For centuries the Moon has been an inspiration for poets and lovers, a scourge for some astronomers, and a scapegoat for human misbehavior. Let us learn about its origin and its features, the role it plays in the tides and eclipses, and examine some information we have often taken as fact. Can it really turn blue or blood red? Does it really get supersized? Does the full Moon make us crazy or grow hair and fangs? Where is the Man in the Moon, and is he having an affair with Wilma Flintstone?

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton