NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, March
19, 2021 (Friday)
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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)
**On
Wednesday, Suzanne and Yves Poussart enjoyed the nice weather and explored the
Shediac area.
From the
Foch Bridge, Yves was able to get some photos of HOODED MERGANSERS (Harle
couronné). This not so common species is much smaller than the COMMON MERGANGER
(Grand harle) which is regularly seen. The difference in size is
obvious when seen side by side. The Common mergansers were quite
active, either by diving or interacting with other males.
Another
stop at Pointe-du-Chêne revealed the presence of several hundred
BLACK SCOTERS (Macreuse à bec jaune), mostly males, a clear increase in
their number compared to what it was during the past weeks. They were also
active, diving repeatedly and also very vocal. The two GREY SEALS
(Phoque gris) were still present and two BALD EAGLE (Pygargue à tête
blanche), one adult and one immature, were sitting on the ice. Last weekend,
Yves could get a good number of photos of COMMON EIDER (Eider à
duvet) including of some immature males at the Petit-Cap wharf.
The sheet of coastal ice which has now disappeared was
keeping them too far out during the past weeks to allow any
photos. This site is also particularly good to attempt photos of gulls in
flight because they are present in large number.
** Doreen Rossiter reports that
Thursday brought a flock of approximately 40 blackbirds to her Alma yard, one
third of them being COMMON GRACKLES [Quiscale bronzé] which are the first that she has had. The rest were male RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS
[Carouge à épaulettes] and she
expects them to increase to the hundreds soon, commenting “so nice to see
them.”
** The immature 1st-winter goldeneyes
Louise Nichols captured on Wednesday have had lots of second looks. I am reposting these photos with an
additional one, and including some
literature review Louise pursued which is significant as she was there to note
the surroundings. It would seem not
difficult to identify 1st-winter males, but 1st-winter
females seem more of a challenge. Sea
ducks take at least two years to reach maturity. Louise comments that she did take a better
look at the goldeneye photos and various guides and is beginning to wonder if
they are 1st-year BARROW'S GOLDENEYE [Garrot d'Islande] rather than COMMON GOLDENEYE [Garrot
à oeil d'or]. She attaches three photos, two of which went
out yesterday along with a third which is obviously a female Common Goldeneye
that was not included. Louise is looking
mainly at shape and bill size. The bill
of the Common Goldeneye is definitely larger looking than the other two, and
the forehead of the Common Goldeneye is a bit more sloped rather than
steep. In the National Geographic
guide, there is a drawing of a 1st-winter female Barrow’s Goldeneye
that shows a half yellow/half dark bill.
But what strikes her is mostly the bill size. The bill of these ducks in the photos that
went out yesterday looks more short and stubby to her. They were also in a group of largely Barrow’s
Goldeneye, not that that means anything definite, but she does not recall
seeing any male Common Goldeneyes in that group. Always interesting and food for thought.
** A fresh lot of swallow nest boxes have arrived for in-town pick-up from the workshop of Fred Richards. They are free of charge and ready to be
re-homed. BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEES [Mésange à
tête noire] are
already investigating nest boxes with TREE SWALLOWS [Hirondelle
bicolore] and EASTERN BLUEBIRDS
[Merlebleu de l'Est] to start
arriving by mid-April to check for real estate possibilities. Respond to the editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com and curbside pick-up will be promptly arranged.
** It’s Friday and time to review what
the night sky will reveal to us, courtesy of sky-guru Curt Nason. The pleasant temperatures and clear skies
predicted should make for pleasant evening and night viewing.
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2021
March 20 – 2021 March 27
Around 1930 the International Astronomical Union finalized the official
constellations and their boundaries to cover the entire sky. Oddly, 22 of those
88 constellations begin with the letter “C.” Around 9 pm we can see 11 of those
and parts of three others, so rather than deep sea fishing let’s go high C
hunting. Starting in the west we might catch the head of Cetus the Whale before
it sets, and toward the south Columba the Dove hugs the horizon below Lepus and
Orion. Meanwhile, Cygnus the Swan flaps a wing above the northern horizon as it
never sets completely for us.
Higher in the north the house of Cepheus the King is upright for a change. To
his west we see the W-shape of his wife, Cassiopeia the Queen, and above them
we might have to strain to see Camelopardalis the Giraffe. Looking southwest,
to the left of Orion are his faithful big and little dogs Canis Major and Canis
Minor. Barely visible above the little dog is Cancer the Crab, nestled nicely
between Gemini and Leo. In the southeast we have Corvus the Crow and Crater the
Cup, both of which piggyback on the Hydra. Tailing Leo high in the east is Coma
Berenices, the locks of distressed Queen Berenice II of Egypt, and dogging Ursa
Major is Canes Venatici the Hunting Dogs. Finally, lower in the east, we see
the Northern Crown, Corona Borealis.
This episode of Sky at a Glance was brought to you by the letter C and the
number 14. As you find each C constellation, count out loud like the Count
(One! That’s one C constellation, ah ha ha!), and for each one you find you can
reward yourself with ... COOKIE!
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:21 am and sunset will occur at 7:32 pm,
giving 12 hours, 10 minutes of daylight (7:26 am and 7:37 pm in Saint
John). Next Saturday, the Sun will rise at 7:08 am and set at 7:41 pm,
giving 12 hours, 33 minutes of daylight (7:13 am and 7:46 pm in Saint John).
The Moon is at first quarter this Sunday, and look for the Lunar X with a scope
this Saturday after sunset. It will be within the shadow just below centre, and
it is caused by sunlight catching the upper rims of three adjacent craters. On
Monday Mars is 7 degrees, a wide binocular view, from similarly coloured
Aldebaran. Mercury, moving sunward, is a difficult binocular target in morning
twilight, while Jupiter and Saturn are becoming more prominent. Venus is at
superior conjunction on Friday, and by late April it will be making its
presence known in the evening sky.
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.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
