NATURE
MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, April 5, 2019 (Friday)
Please advise editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com if any errors are noted in wording or
photo labeling.
For more information on Nature Moncton, check into the website at www.naturemoncton.com
For more information on Nature Moncton, check into the website at www.naturemoncton.com
Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca
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** A spring bold cock RING-NECKED PHEASANT
[Faisan de Colchide] was putting on
a major display beside the walking trail by Chateau Moncton on Thursday
morning. Georges Brun took a photo as it
did its wing-flapping routine and vocalization, either impressing a nearby
damsel or telling all the other lads he was cock-of-the-walk.
** On Tuesday when Brian Stone and I perused Lower
Norton Shore Rd, I was surprised to come across a small plant about to open
into full bloom. I did not recognize the
plant, and I was doubly surprised to find the plant about to bloom when even
the very early blooming Coltsfoot near it were just emerging. The photos were sent to botanist Sean Blaney
at the Atlantic Canada Conservation Data Centre. He responded that it was a mustard with an
atypical early flowering stem. He
comments that the basal leaves and flowers look like Pennycress (Thlaspi arvense), so that is very likely
what it was, again saying it definitely isn’t typical. Two photos are attached. The plant was approximately 5 cm in height.
We posted two great spring field trips scheduled
for tomorrow Saturday, April 6 hosted by Nature Sussex and Chignecto
Naturalists’ Club. The Chignecto trip is postponed to Sunday, April 7 due to
weather predictions as cited below and suspect the Nature Sussex trip may be
postponed until Sunday as well but have not had confirmation so participants
may want to check on that one.
The timing is so perfect for these field trips to
make them special. Am attaching notices below:
PLEASE
NOTE DATE CHANGE! Spring Birding Trip is now Sunday, April 7th.
The
Chignecto Naturalists’ Club has scheduled the first field trip of the spring
season for SUNDAY 7 April 2019. The trip will be led by wildlife
biologist Andrew Macfarlane to observe both land and sea birds. We will
look for birds at Cape Jourimain, Cape Tormentine, and along the Amherst
Shore in Nova Scotia. Details as follows:
WHAT: Spring birding trip to Cape
Jourimain, Cape Tormentine, and along the Amherst Shore.
WHO: Anyone is welcome to join us,
whether a member of the CNC or not.
WHERE AND
WHEN: Meet for
carpooling in the parking lot behind the Sackville Post Office at 7:00am on
Saturday 6th April for a prompt 7:15am departure to Cape Jourimain.
OR meet in the parking lot at the
Cape Jourimain Nature Centre at 8:00am.
BRING: This trip will go into the
afternoon, so as well as your enthusiasm bring water and a lunch, and a hot
drink if you wish. Also bring field guides, binoculars and a scope if you have
one. There will be no difficult walking but as usual it is recommended you wear
sturdy, waterproof footwear. It may be cooler along the coast than inland so be
prepared with layered clothing and a hat and gloves.
WEATHER
DATE: This trip has been moved to Sunday April 7th.
MORE
INFORMATION: Contact
Andrew Macfarlane at 506-536-4922 or Rhianna at 506-364-0011.
We look
forward to seeing you on the 7th!
Nature Sussex Notice
I will be leading an Early
Spring Waterfowl Outing on this coming
Saturday, April 6th with a
rain date of Sunday, April 7th. We will meet in
the parking lot behind the
Cowtown Tim Hortons in Sussex at 8:50 to car
pool and depart at 9:00.
Our first stop will be the
Hampton water treatment lagoon, then on to the
Rothesay and Kennebecasis
lagoons. From there to the Lily Lake duck pond
followed by a stop at the end
of Hanover Street over looking Marsh Creek.
We may go to the Reversing
Falls look out off of Douglas Ave and possibly
end up in Chance or Dipper
Harbour depending on the time. At some point
we'll make a pit stop at an
Irving or Tim Hortons. This outing will take
us into the afternoon so
please pack a lunch. We will be back in Sussex by
mid to late afternoon
depending on what kind of luck we are having.
Hope to see you then!
Mark Macaulay
Field Trip Coordinator
Nature Sussex
** This week’s Sky-at-a-Glance is included in this
edition, courtesy of sky guru Curt Nason.
This
Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2019 April 6 – April 13
The constellation Coma Berenices, or Berenice’s Hair, is midway up in the eastern sky at 10 pm this week, between the tail of Leo the Lion and kite-shaped Boötes. It is the only constellation with a mythological tale based on a real person. In the fourth century BC, King Ptolemy Soter of Egypt went to war against Assyria. His worried wife Berenice made a vow to the goddess Aphrodite that she would sacrifice her beautiful locks if he returned safely. He did return and she kept her vow against his wishes. When he visited the temple the next day he discovered the hair had been stolen, and he threatened to kill the temple priests. The court astronomer claimed that Zeus had taken the hair and placed it in the sky for all to admire, and that night he showed Ptolemy a cluster of stars.
The Coma Star Cluster, also called Melotte 111, can be seen with the naked eye in rural areas, and fills the field of view in binoculars. At one time it was considered to be the tuft of Leo’s tail. The area of sky encompassed by Coma Berenices and its surrounding constellations is called the Realm of the Galaxies. The galactic north pole lies within this constellation, perpendicular to the dusty disc of our Milky Way Galaxy. When we look in this direction the paucity of interstellar dust allows us to see deeper into space and observe other galaxies many dozens of light years away.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 6:50 am and sunset will occur at 7:54 pm, giving 13 hours, 4minutes of daylight (6:55 am and 7:58 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 6:37 am and set at 8:03 pm, giving 13 hours, 26 minutes of daylight (6:43 am and 8:07 pm in Saint John).
A very slim crescent Moon will appear in the west after sunset this weekend, looking like a smile in the sky with the cusps or horns pointing almost straight up. It is at first quarter next Friday and is near the Beehive star cluster in Cancer the following evening. Jupiter and Saturn dominate the morning sky until Venus rises an hour before the Sun comes up. Jupiter is stationary on Wednesday, beginning its four-month long westward movement against the stars. Mercury is at its greatest elongation from the Sun on Thursday, about a binocular width to the lower left of Venus. Mars continues its slide between the Pleaides and Hyades star clusters in the evening sky all week.
The Saint John Astronomy Club meets in the Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre on Saturday, April 6 at 7 pm, and the RASC NB provincial astronomy club meets in the same location at 1 pm on the following Saturday. Also, club members will be having a public observing event in Hampton at the Dutch Point Road entrance to the park on Friday, April 12 at sunset, with a cloud date of April 13. All are welcome.
Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
Coma Cluster
PENNYCRESS (Thlaspi arvense) SUSPECTED. APRIL 2, 2019. NELSON POIRIER
PENNYCRESS (Thlaspi arvense) SUSPECTED. APRIL 2, 2019. NELSON POIRIER
RING-NECKED PHEASANT APR 4 2019 GEORGES BRUN
