Nature Moncton Nature News: Sept 30 2022

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

Sept 30, 2022 (Friday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

** As it is the end of September, male Wood Ducks are very close to putting on their “full dress” uniforms, if not already there, getting ready for inspection through the winter and spring. Peter Gadd some got some pleasant photos of a still bachelor handsome group of males looking very prepared to impress potential mates. Peter comments “What a lovely duck but not very approachable”.

His photos were taken with a little stealth from a bit of a distance at Miramichi Marsh Thursday morning.

He was also fortunate to get a good look at an in-transit (presumably) Black-throated Green Warbler and a glimpse of a Wilson’s Snipe for the first time at the Marsh this summer. Water levels have remained high offering little in the way of muddy areas.

**Grey Squirrels seem to be expanding in number in New Brunswick, especially in cities around human habitation.

Verica LeBlanc does not keep feeders in her Miramichi yard generally and have only spotted Grey Squirrels traversing at the back of her property line on the hydro lines.

However, on Wednesday, 2 of them were scurrying back and forth in different directions across her yard, seemingly searching for something. She watched for awhile wondering what they were up to.

One can see the long tail on the picture where it has something in its mouth. Also, the typical halo (nice wordsmithing!) on the tail of the Grey Squirrel in the photo standing. Some intense digging was also going on, Verica wasn't sure if to dig up food, or store it.

**Aldo Dorio got a photograph of a Bald-faced Hornet aside another species of the Vespidae family seemingly interested in some newly cut wood fibers assumedly as nesting material. As soon as freezing weather persists, all except the Queen of the colony will succumb.

Aldo also photographed a juvenile Bald Eagle appearing to be in its second year of life with the beginning of a yellow blush at the base of the bill, a young-of-the-year American Robin appearing to be in very early molt, and a freshly emerged Gem-studded Puffball mushroom. This mushroom is an edible but is small and not usually found in numbers worth gathering.

**Brian and Annette Stone visited Waterside Beach on Thursday for a walk along a sandy stretch of the UNESCO Fundy Biosphere Reserve. The weather was mostly sunny and not too windy with mild temperatures. While Annette enjoyed the sand and sea Brian kept his eye out for beach birds and was rewarded with some nice photos of a small variety of shorebirds that were present at one end of the beach. Seen and photographed were Black-bellied Plovers, many Dunlin, a single Sanderling, Semipalmated Sandpipers and Semipalmated Plovers. While walking along the beach Brian noticed a pair of American Pipits flying overhead several times and at the last moment of their visit one landed at the edge of the dune grass to top off the photography list. (Editor's note: it is a good time of year to see American Pipit as they migrate south from northern breeding grounds. Some may overwinter in the area as Nelson and Brian watched several enjoying Kelp Flies on kelp strewn rocks in the Sambro area of Nova Scotia a few years ago).

As they got back to Moncton Brian photographed a partial Rainbow segment hanging brightly below a small rain cloud.

**Nelson Poirier was in the Cap Pele and Cape Jourimain the day after Fiona noting an abundance of ripe red Winterberry with fruit solidly in situ waiting for late-season bird connoisseurs to enjoy. It was notable that no berries were on the ground despite the lashing storm. It has obviously been a good year for Winterberry to fruit as this shrub was very evident in many of the coastal locations.

**It’s Friday and time to check in on what next week’s night sky may have in store for us courtesy of sky guru Curt Nason.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2022 October 1 – October 8
The Major League Baseball playoff season kicks off, or rather throws out the first pitch, on Friday and they always arrange to have the Great Square of Pegasus form a diamond in the eastern sky for evening games. At home plate is Algenib, the third brightest star of the constellation. Who’s on first? Yes, that is Markab, the brightest star of Pegasus. On second base we have its second brightest luminary, Sheat, which is probably what he mutters when he makes an error. On third is a star brighter than the other three, Alpheratz, who was traded to Andromeda but still likes to whip the ball around the horn with his former teammates.

Trailing off toward the dugout from third is a string of stars that forms the left side of Princess Andromeda. The second in the string is no second string player. Mirach is as bright as Alpheratz and shows a distinct orange colour in binoculars. Raising your binoculars above the string from Mirach will bring M31, the Andromeda Galaxy, into your view, and from a dark sky that is a view you don’t want to miss. It might resemble a pool of champagne on the clubhouse floor of the World Series champions. Go Expos, er, Jays!

This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:17 am and sunset will occur at 6:59 pm, giving 11 hours, 42 minutes of daylight (7:22 am and 7:04 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:26 am and set at 6:45 pm, giving 11 hours, 19 minutes of daylight (7:31 am and 6:51 pm in Saint John).

The Moon is at first quarter on Sunday, and it is near Saturn on Wednesday. Mercury is climbing in the morning sky, thanks to the steep angle of the ecliptic on early autumn mornings. Venus, meanwhile, is just a few weeks from superior conjunction and is off the observing list for a couple of months. Saturn is in the south at 10 pm, at which time Mars is appearing above the horizon, and Jupiter in the southeast outshines all but the Moon.

Public observing to celebrate Fall Astronomy Day is scheduled for October 1 at the Irving Nature Park in Saint John. Check the Facebook page for park or the Saint John Astronomy Club website for details.

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