Nature Moncton Nature News: Sept 4 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Sept 4, 2020 (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.

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca

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

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** Wayne Fairchild noted lots of yellow and white butterflies enjoying the noon hour heat of Thursday, and a CLOUDED SULPHUR [Argynne de l’Atlantique] in no rush to leave. Wayne comments that the Maritime Butterfly Atlas flight time suggests that this species is near the end of their multiple weeks of peak flight activity. Wayne’s photo nicely shows the double ring and the dark hind wing dark patches.

** Jim Johnson reports that he is now down to 2 RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS [Colibri à gorge rubis] on Thursday after the dozens that he had all summer going through 3 litres of nectar every 4 days. Jim is noting a few AMERICAN KESTRELS [Crécerelle d'Amérique] covering nearby fields, enjoying the grasshopper abundance at the moment. He also comments that a brother neighbour had approximately 50 BARN SWALLOWS [Hirondelle rustique] line up on a barn railing 10 days ago.

** Clarence Cormier had a very busy day at the bird bath on Thursday between 3:00 pm and 4:00 pm. Attached is a photo of a VEERY [Grive fauve] and a female ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK [Cardinal à poitrine rose] sharing the bird bath after the grosbeak had watched the Veery from an adjacent branch. They remained in and out of the bird bath for a few minutes, always perched on opposite sides of the bird bath. Other birds also enjoyed the bird bath during the same period: AMERICAN ROBINS [Merle d'Amérique], both adults and juveniles; BLUE JAYS [Geai bleu] (5 dropped by); a solitary AMERICAN GOLDFINCH [Chardonneret jaune]; a male AMERICAN REDSTART [Paruline flamboyante]; a few SONG SPARROWS [Bruant chanteur], and a NORTHERN FLICKER [Pic flamboyant]. Clarence rinsed out and refilled the bird bath 3 times in that period. He also has a male BLACK-THROATED BLUE WARBLER [Paruline bleue] that has been around for a few weeks who visits the bird bath as well. CEDAR WAXWING [Jaseur d'Amérique] are always around as are a few female RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS [Colibri à gorge rubis].

** Verica LeBlanc has been seeing a bird around her Nelson, Miramichi home, trying to get photos but it’s been a challenge. She decided it to be a juvenile CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER [Paruline à flancs marron] with the yellow crown and light eye ring. Verica took these photos on Aug. 31^st, while the third photo of a mature Chestnut-sided Warbler was on Sept. 1^st. It has not changed plumage significantly as yet.

** Yvette Richard was able to join the RED KNOT [Bécasseau maubèche] bandwagon, photographing one in Cocagne Bay near her home. Yvette also comments she did not notice any male RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS [Colibri à gorge rubis] on Thursday and the feeders were much less busy with females/young-of-the-year.

** Aldo Dorio got more GREATER YELLOWLEGS [Grand Chevalier] photos, one of which really shows the variation of plumage between two individuals. One may actually be a LESSER YELLOWLEGS [Petit Chevalier] as photo angle is deceptive. The SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS [Bécassin roux] are very much a presence. Aldo also got some NORTHERN FLICKER [Pic flamboyant] photos. They’re really putting their yellow-shafted feathers on display. He also sends photos of the now very ripe red ASPARAGUS berries and ripening WINTER BERRY HOLLY berries at Hay Island.

** It’s Friday, and time to review next week’s Sky-at-a-Glance, courtesy of sky guru, Curt Nason.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2020 September 5 – September 12
Technically, any three stars in the sky will form some sort of a triangle, but there are those that stand out. Overhead in early evening is the best known celestial threesome, the isosceles Summer Triangle of Vega, Deneb and Altair. Straddling the Milky Way, each star is the brightest in their respective constellations of Lyra the Harp, Cygnus the Swan and Aquila the Eagle. An ancient tale of Eastern mythology depicted Vega and Altair as lovers separated by a river (the Milky Way). I look at them as an updated version of that tale, that of Running Bear and White Dove in the Johnny Preston hit written by the Big Bopper, J.P. Richardson. The Big Bopper would be a good name for a constellation.

With the Summer Triangle overhead, the constellation Triangulum the Triangle is low in the east below Andromeda. Known as a constellation for thousands of years, it has been said to represent, among other things, the Nile Delta and the island of Sicily. If you have a dark sky, use binoculars to look about a third of the way, and a tad to the right, between the tip of Triangulum and the orange star Mirach in Andromeda above to see the face-on spiral galaxy M33.

Now that summer is fading, and if you can't wait for winter, just look to the east in morning darkness for the Winter Triangle. Orange Betelgeuse in Orion's armpit joins with Orion's companion Dog Stars of Sirius and Procyon to form an equilateral triangle. All three stars make the top ten in brightness, or close to it if Betelgeuse hasn’t fully recovered from last winter’s dimming event.

This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 6:45 am and sunset will occur at 7:49 pm, giving 13 hours, 4 minutes of daylight (6:51 am and 7:53 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 6:54 am and set at 7:35 pm, giving 12 hours, 41 minutes of daylight (6:59 am and 7:39 pm in Saint John).

The Moon will be rising just to the right of Mars this Saturday evening and it is at third quarter on Thursday. Mars is stationary on Wednesday, beginning two months of retrograde motion against the stars; while Jupiter resumes its prograde motion next Saturday and spends all of autumn closing the gap to Saturn. Telescope users can catch Jupiter’s Great Red Spot around 9 pm Tuesday and 10:30 pm on Thursday. Mercury is difficult to spot low in the west this week, setting 35 minutes after the Sun. Venus is up bright and early in the morning sky, rising at 3 am, and Neptune is at opposition on Friday.

With astronomy meetings and outreach activities on hold, you can watch the local Sunday Night Astronomy Show at 8 pm, and view archived shows, on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAEHfOWyL-kNH7dBVHK8spg

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

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton