Nature Moncton Nature
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**Louise Nichols did a
shorebird survey at Ann's Acres beach on Wednesday afternoon. A small
group of birds was present, representing a variety of species, including one
only pectoral sandpiper and two American golden plovers among about
10 black-bellied plovers. One of the American golden plovers took off,
and Louise managed a distant flight shot to show the clean underwing without
the black area that would appear on a black-bellied plover. A few
semipalmated and least sandpipers were there, and just one observed white-rumped
sandpiper. Quite a few semipalmated plovers and a small group of
sanderlings were also in the crowd. One more non-shorebird pleasant
surprise was a small group of five horned larks that occupied the
beach, flying and landing, for much of the time Louise was there.
One day last week, Louise
visited the new retention pond in Sackville and found a net up for shorebirds,
with data collectors catching and tagging birds. One poor girl was
sitting alongside the trail with a lesser yellowlegs in her hand,
taking a blood sample, and surrounded by hungry mosquitoes devouring her.
Louise took a photo of the yellowlegs and caught a couple of mosquitoes in the photo
as well. Fortunately, they were finishing off for the day and were likely
very relieved!
**John Inman photographed a
few of the 50-plus migrating blue jays that joined the resident jays
before they decided to continue their journey. A Cooper's hawk swooped
in but felt a rock pigeon would be more suitable prey than a meager blue jay.
**Yvette Richard found hard evidence of the season moving on when she photographed long-tailed
ducks on the Cocagne River on Thursday. It was a beautiful day on calm
water. Yvette got some nice flight photos showing some birds in remnant
breeding plumage and others in basic winter plumage. This species breeds far to
the north of us but joins us during the ‘winter’ months.
Outside the bay, off
Cocagne Island, there were a few northern gannets floating about. Most of them lifted off when they approached;
however, one adult that was at a distance cooperated for a few minutes, allowing a
photo.
A red-breasted nuthatch
was very cooperative on Wednesday at Cape Jourimain.
**With young-of-the-year off the nests, great blue heron numbers will be at their peak, and we can expect
to see many juvenile birds. Their numbers tend to hang in until waters
gradually freeze over.
David Lilly photographed a
great blue heron showing the dark upper mandible of immaturity but not the
complete black cap of immaturity, suggesting a transitional stage of plumage.
**Susan Richards draws attention to an event happening
tomorrow, Saturday, that folks may want to join to help.
“Volunteer Tree
Planting at Beech Hill Park
Please join us for a
volunteer tree planting event at Beech Hill Park to celebrate National Forest
Week.
We will work together to
plant 250 trees and 100 shrubs, including placing mulch around each tree and
installing tree guards to protect them from animals.
The event will take place
on Saturday, September 26, 2026. Registration and refreshments will start at 9:30
am. The tree planting itself will run from 10am-12pm.
We will have shovels and
gloves available, but you are welcome to bring your own if you would prefer.
Please wear closed-toe shoes (no flip-flops or sandals). Dress according to the
weather, as the event will go rain or shine. Bring your own water bottle.
If you need assistance
with the event, please reach out to Jamie at j.ferguson@tantramarnb.com.
This project was made
possible through a $51,280 grant funded by the Government of Canada through the
Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM) Growing Canada’s Community Canopies
initiative.
**This Week’s Sky at a
Glance, 2026 September 26 – October 3
The Major League Baseball playoff season kicks off, or rather throws out the
first pitch, this week 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. A little more than one binocular field 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. Why am I seeing more blue jays
at my feeder?
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:11 and sunset will occur at 7:08, giving
11 hours, 57 minutes of daylight (7:16 and 7:13 in Saint John). Next Saturday
the Sun will rise at 7:20 and set at 6:55, giving 11 hours, 35 minutes of
daylight (7:24 and 7:00 in Saint John).
The full Harvest Moon occurs this Saturday, a period of a few days when
moonrise times are only 20-30 minutes later, and it is at third quarter next
Saturday. Mercury and Venus are very low in the southwest, setting about a half
hour after sunset. Saturn is nearing opposition, rising soon after sunset and
becoming a prime evening target in telescopes. Mars extends its line-up
with Castor and Pollux in the morning sky over the week as it moves toward
Jupiter, which rises around 3 am next weekend.
Tune in to the Sunday Night Astronomy Show at 8 pm on the Facebook page or
YouTube site of Astronomy by the Bay. The Saint John Astronomy Club meets in
the Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre on October 3 at 7 pm.
Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
Nelson Poirier
Nature Moncton
