Nature Moncton Nature News: March 21 2015

**Eric Wilson has spotted a NORTHERN HARRIER [Busard Saint-Martin] at

the western end of the old landfill site near the storage facility

there, to the south of Jonathan Creek. He noticed it a few times in

recent days, readily seeing its distinct white rump as it glided low

to the ground. One would have to wonder at the possibility of a new

arrival at this date; there have been very few overwintering Harriers

reported.

**Anne Marsch has had one very faithful BOHEMIAN WAXWING [Jaseur

boréal] patron that comes daily to enjoy grapes. A small flock came

about three weeks ago, however, one has found the booty just too good

to leave to join its flock. Anne also had a BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE

[Mésange à tête noire] with severe encrustation around the eyelid. It

is eating well and acting normal, so the problem must not be

generalized and only involving the eyelid. I am rather suspicious of a

form of Avian Pox [Variole aviaire] but sent the photo to the Canadian

Wildlife Health Cooperative Unit at the Atlantic Veterinary College

for comments.

**Dave Christie was surprised to note a sudden change in his

Woodpecker [Pic] patrons on Friday – to have two male DOWNY

WOODPECKERS [Pic mineur] suddenly appear at the feeders. He had not

had a Downy at the feeders since last November, however he had one

HAIRY WOODPECKER [Pic chevelu] over the winter. The two male Downies

followed the male Hairy briefly, then went about their own affairs.

Dave spotted a MERLIN [Faucon émerillon] passing over on Friday. John

Inman, nearby Dave, had a Merlin visiting in December, January, and

early February, but had not seen it since, so it could be the same

individual. Dave also comments a small flock of attending PINE SISKINS

[Tarin des pins] seem to be singing more vibrantly.

**From all the reports, the BOHEMIAN WAXWINGS [Jaseur boréal] must be

the most populous bird in town at the moment, after Starlings

[Étourneau], Gulls [Goéland] and Crows [Corneille]. Brian Stone came

across a large group working a large Flowering Crab [Pommetier

ornemental] tree in the city on Friday, to get some striking photos of

Flowering Crab fruit going down the hatch for processing. Also the

spring's first photo of a Chipmunk [Suisse] in Mapleton Park, looking

like winter underground had gone well. Its first day of spring

appearance may have been a bit of a surprise for it.

**For folks interested in MONARCH BUTTERFLIES [Papillon Monarque],

Rheal Vienneau points out there's some great videos available at the

moment by entering youtube:NOVA monarch butterfly in your search engine.

There's lots to look for on clear nights, and after this weekend blip, evening sky forecasts are looking

better.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, March 20 – 28

As dusk turns to night, spot Venus still shining in the west. Spring began in the Northern Hemisphere at the equinox, 7:45 p.m., Friday, March 20. This is when the Sun crosses the equator heading north for the season.

The word "equinox" comes from night and day supposedly being equal on this date, but that's not really true. It would be true if Earth had no atmosphere and the Sun was a point rather than a disk. Sunrise and sunset are counted not from when the Sun's center is on the true horizon, but when its top edge is on the horizon; this adds a couple minutes to daytime. And third, atmospheric refraction at the horizon elevates the Sun by about its own apparent diameter, adding a few more minutes before sunset time.

On Saturday, March 21, in twilight look west well below Venus for a very thin waxing crescent Moon close to Mars. We see the Moon's night side (dimly earthlit), and just a little of the sunlit side around the edge, because the Moon is still nearly along our line of sight to the Sun. Faraway Mars shows us mostly its day side, because it's nearly on the same line of sight on the far side of the Sun.

On Sunday, March 22. Crescent Moon and Venus. Look west in twilight for the waxing crescent now posing with Venus. At the times of twilight, Venus is 3° or 4° to the Moon's right. Although they look close together, Venus is currently 520 times farther away.

On Monday, March 23, Venus shines well to the Moon's lower right this evening.

Venus is brightest point of light at dusk. The second-brightest is Jupiter, much higher in the southeast. Look to the right of Jupiter by two or three fists at arm's length for Procyon; look the same distance lower right from Procyon, and there's the evening's third-brightest point, Sirius.

On Wednesday, March 25, look well to the left of the Moon this evening for Betelgeuse in the top of declining Orion. Look lower right of the Moon for similarly-coloured Aldebaran, not quite as bright.

On Friday, March 27, the Moon will enter its First Quarter Phase meaning it will rise at noon and set at midnight

On Thursday evening, March 26, the Moon forms a big kite shape with bright Jupiter far to its left, Pollux to the Moon's upper left, and Procyon to its lower left.

On Saturday, March 28, the Moon shines inside the triangle of Jupiter, Pollux, and Procyon.

On Saturday, March 21, the sun will rise at 7:19 a.m. and will set at 7:33 p.m. giving 12 hours 13 minutes of daylight. On Saturday, March 28, the sun will rise at 7:05 a.m. and set at 7:42 p.m. to give 12 hours 36 minutes of daylight hours. (These values are for Moncton, New Brunswick).

This Week's Planet Roundup

Mercury is hidden deep in the glow of sunrise.

Venus (magnitude –4.0) blazes in the west during and after evening twilight as the unmistakable "Evening Star."

Mars is magnitude +1.3, less than 1% as bright as Venus. It's gradually sinking ever farther below or lower right of Venus — from 12° below it on March 20th to 15° below on the 27th.

Jupiter (magnitude –2.4) shines high in the southeast as the stars come out. It's the brightest point of light on that side of the sky. It passes highest in the south around 11 p.m.

Saturn (magnitude +0.3) rises around 1:00 a.m. It's highest in the south just before dawn begins. Below or lower left of Saturn by 8° is orange Antares.

Nelson Poirier

NatureMoncton

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca