Nature Moncton Nature News: Oct 4 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, October 4, 2019 (Friday)

To view the photos mentioned in this edition go to http://nminfoline.blogspot.ca

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

Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca

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

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com.

** The SHAGGY PARASOL MUSHROOM [Lépiote déguenillée] is not a common one in New Brunswick, but when found, it can often be in number. Brian Coyle found a patch last year emerging on Oct. 12^th in conifer woods near his Upper Mountain Rd. home. This year, he found them at the same spot, emerging on approximately Sept. 20^th. This is a choice edible mushroom which Brian enjoyed very much, being glad to have found a patch that seems to be well-established in one small spot he’s found. Brian sends a few photos from last year and this year. The shaggy cap is an identity clue. When this mushroom is cut down the middle, the edges start turning a saffron-reddish which is diagnostic for anyone wanting to identify this mushroom.

** Kevin Renton reports he was able to find a nice-sized BEAR’S HEAD TOOTH MUSHROOM and a bucketful of fresh OYSTER MUSHROOMS [Pleurote en huître] on Thursday morning near his Stilesville home. Kevin’s comments were “yummy yummy.”

** Brian Stone, as always, found lots of activity in Mapleton Park on Thursday. The STAR-NOSED MOLE [Condylure étoilé] is our only New Brunswick mole species and is common, but not very commonly seen. We often at this time of year see the earthen mounds of earth in lawns and landscaped areas as this animal burrows down into the ground for the winter, leaving the earthen tailings on the surface as it digs down. Brian came across a deceased Star-nosed Mole to clearly get photos and note the very extensive front claws for digging and the 22 pink appendages on the nose area that the animal uses to seek out prey by feel and smell, the prey being insects, small invertebrates and even small fish. These appendages on the nose give it the name ‘Star-nosed’ Mole. This animal has very limited vision using the awesome nasal appendages to perform seeking prey, not needing visual assistance. This little mammal has a ‘hamster’ profile to help recognize it.

An AUTUMN MEADOWHAWK [Sympétrum Tardif] was flying as it’s the time of year for it to be about as well as well as the SPOTTED SPREADWING DAMSELFLY [Leste Tardif], both late-season flyers. There were, as we witnessed in the Mapleton Eco Forest, lots of WOOLLY BEAR CATERPILLARS moving, as Brian saw at least a dozen. This caterpillar will overwinter as a caterpillar and pupate in the spring before emerging to fly off as the Isabella Tiger Moth.

Brian also saw a clump of FLY AGARIC MUSHROOMS [Amanite tue-mouches] as some emerged and opened up fully and others just emerging from the ground. HAWTHORNE BERRIES were very ripe and showy with the bush’s leaves now falling, and a very bright adult SONG SPARROW [Bruant chanteur] gave a photo op. We’ll soon be losing most of our Song Sparrow troupe as they file flight plans south, but a handful usually stay with us for the winter.

** It’s Friday and the day to hear what will be happening in the sky over the next week, courtesy of sky guru Curt Nason. There’s no doubt about darkness coming early now and Curt’s items he comments on will be visible a bit earlier in some cases. Shorter days are not always welcomed, but one advantage is to be able to take note of usual Sky Report items.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2019 October 5 – October 12

With moose season out of the way and before the Moon gets too bright, this weekend it might be a good time for some good old fashioned giraffe hunting. No guns allowed, just find a place where the sky is not tainted by light pollution and bring binoculars for an added treat.

The large constellation Camelopardalis is somewhat easier to pronounce than it is to locate in the sky. Look below Cassiopeia and between Perseus and Ursa Minor (the Little Dipper, which has the North Star at the end of the handle). Any stars you can see in this area compose the not-so-stellar giraffe. The constellation was imagined and charted on a globe by Dutch astronomer Petrus Plancius in 1612 and later adopted by other prominent makers of star charts. The name derives from how the Greeks regarded giraffes as camel leopards, with their long neck and spots.

An interesting binocular object called Kemble’s Cascade is an observing highlight within Camelopardalis. This asterism, forming a line of about 20 stars, was noticed by Canadian amateur astronomer Father Lucien Kemble, who reported it to a columnist at Sky and Telescope magazine. One method of finding your way there is to imagine a line across the top stars of Cassiopeia’s W shape, right to left, and extend it an equal distance. Another is to extend an equal length line from Algol to Mirfak, the two brightest stars in Perseus. Near one end of this asterism a telescope will reveal the open star cluster NGC 1502, which is nicknamed the Jolly Roger Cluster.

This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:22 am and sunset will occur at 6:52 pm, giving 11 hours, 30 minutes of daylight (7:27 am and 6:57 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:31 am and set at 6:38 pm, giving 11 hours, 7 minutes of daylight (7:35 am and 6:44 pm in Saint John).

The Moon is at first quarter and near Saturn this Saturday, and in late evening telescope users can watch the Lunar X form just inside the shadow line (called the terminator) below centre. Jupiter and Saturn remain as prime targets in the early evening. On Sunday at sunset the shadow of Jupiter’s moon Io begins a two-hour crawl across the planet’s cloud top, and the Red Spot will be prominent for the latter hour if conditions are good for telescope viewing. Venus and Mercury set 30-40 minutes after the Sun all week. Venus can be seen with binoculars soon after sunset, but Mercury will be a much more difficult target to the left of Venus. You might catch a few extra shooting stars throughout Tuesday night from the Draconid meteor shower.

The Saint John Astronomy Club meets in the Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre on October 5 at 7 pm, and the William Brydone Jack Astronomy Club meets in the UNB Fredericton Forestry-Earth Sciences building on Tuesday at 7 pm. All are welcome.

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

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton