** We now have two WHITE-WINGED DOVES [Tourterelle à ailes blanches] in the
area. The White-winged Dove that had arrived at Doreen Rossiter's Alma yard
recently was still present on Thursday while a second one has arrived to the
feeder yard of John Inman at 225 Mary's Pt. Rd. in Harvey on Thursday. It seems
unexpected to have two of this species fairly near one another this early in the
season. Could they have New Brunswick on their radar to range to?
** Kerry-Lee Morris Cormier reports the shorebird interpretive staff
started their first day at the Johnson's Mill's site Shorebird Centre. Alma
White arrived at the site just as the staff were returning from checking on a
PEREGRINE FALCON [Faucon pèlerin] nest and BANK SWALLOW [Hirondelle de rivage]
nest. They were delighted when Alma and her friends joined them for their first
shorebird talk of the year. As Kerry-Lee comments, “what a beautiful 95 year
old”, as all Nature Moncton members would agree, with all the energy and effort
Alma has given to Nature Moncton over her long-term membership.
** Some members of the mushroom community must be wondering if fall is
coming early with the wet, cool weather recently. Pat and I enjoyed a small
dinner-plate-sized HORSE MUSHROOM [Agaric des jachères] for breakfast on
Thursday and have noted a few other fresh Horse Mushrooms around places not
appropriate to collect them. The Horse Mushroom is a very delicious
edible.
** This week's Sky-at-a-Glance is added to this transcript courtesy of Curt
Nason.
This Week’s
Sky at a Glance, June 11 – June 18
When Charley Pride wrote “Snakes Crawl at Night” he wasn’t talking about
the constellations, but he might as well have been. When twilight gives
way to darkness there are two snakes stretching nearly halfway across
the sky. The first is Hydra the female water snake, which is also the
largest constellation. It is so long it takes eight hours to rise
completely. At 10 pm these evenings it stretches along the horizon with
its head in the west and its tail to the south. In this position the
snake takes only three hours to nestle underground
Almost as long but more U-shaped is Serpens, the only constellation that
is in two parts, separated by Ophiuchus the serpent bearer. The western
half is called Serpens Caput, the head of the snake, and the eastern
half is the tail, Serpens Cauda. Ophiuchus represents Asclepius, a son
of the Greek god Apollo, who learned the healing arts by watching a
snake bring another back to life. The Rod of Asclepius, a snake entwined
around a staff, is the symbol of medicine and health.
If your like things in threes you can look at serpentine Draco as a
snake instead of a dragon. Its tail begins above the bowl of the Big
Dipper, with the body curling around the Little Dipper before arcing
back toward the foot of Hercules. If that doesn’t suit you then you can
go Down Under to see Hydrus the male water snake slithering around the
south celestial pole.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 5:28 am and sunset will occur at
9:10 pm, giving 15 hours, 42 minutes of daylight (5:36 am and 9:12 pm in
Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 5:28 am and set at 9:13
pm, giving 15 hours, 45 minutes of daylight (5:36 am and 9:15 pm in
Saint John). During the week we will experience our earliest sunrise of
the year.
The Moon is at first quarter phase on Sunday and teams up with Mars and
Saturn next Friday. Jupiter sets around 1:30 am this week. With a scope
or binoculars you might catch its moon Callisto emerging from the
planet’s shadow around 11 pm next Friday. Mars and Saturn are at their
highest in the south at 10:15 and 11:30, respectively.
The first RASC NB star party of the summer takes place this weekend at
Kouchibouguac National Park. This is a great opportunity to observe the
Moon and planets through various large telescopes. The Fredericton
Astronomy Club meets in Room 203 of the UNB Forestry / Earth Sciences
building on Tuesday at 7 pm. RASC NB meets at Moncton High School next
Saturday, June 18, at 1pm. All are welcome to attend these events.
Questions? Contact me at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
When Charley Pride wrote “Snakes Crawl at Night” he wasn’t talking about
the constellations, but he might as well have been. When twilight gives
way to darkness there are two snakes stretching nearly halfway across
the sky. The first is Hydra the female water snake, which is also the
largest constellation. It is so long it takes eight hours to rise
completely. At 10 pm these evenings it stretches along the horizon with
its head in the west and its tail to the south. In this position the
snake takes only three hours to nestle underground
Almost as long but more U-shaped is Serpens, the only constellation that
is in two parts, separated by Ophiuchus the serpent bearer. The western
half is called Serpens Caput, the head of the snake, and the eastern
half is the tail, Serpens Cauda. Ophiuchus represents Asclepius, a son
of the Greek god Apollo, who learned the healing arts by watching a
snake bring another back to life. The Rod of Asclepius, a snake entwined
around a staff, is the symbol of medicine and health.
If your like things in threes you can look at serpentine Draco as a
snake instead of a dragon. Its tail begins above the bowl of the Big
Dipper, with the body curling around the Little Dipper before arcing
back toward the foot of Hercules. If that doesn’t suit you then you can
go Down Under to see Hydrus the male water snake slithering around the
south celestial pole.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 5:28 am and sunset will occur at
9:10 pm, giving 15 hours, 42 minutes of daylight (5:36 am and 9:12 pm in
Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 5:28 am and set at 9:13
pm, giving 15 hours, 45 minutes of daylight (5:36 am and 9:15 pm in
Saint John). During the week we will experience our earliest sunrise of
the year.
The Moon is at first quarter phase on Sunday and teams up with Mars and
Saturn next Friday. Jupiter sets around 1:30 am this week. With a scope
or binoculars you might catch its moon Callisto emerging from the
planet’s shadow around 11 pm next Friday. Mars and Saturn are at their
highest in the south at 10:15 and 11:30, respectively.
The first RASC NB star party of the summer takes place this weekend at
Kouchibouguac National Park. This is a great opportunity to observe the
Moon and planets through various large telescopes. The Fredericton
Astronomy Club meets in Room 203 of the UNB Forestry / Earth Sciences
building on Tuesday at 7 pm. RASC NB meets at Moncton High School next
Saturday, June 18, at 1pm. All are welcome to attend these events.
Questions? Contact me at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
ALMA WHITE AND KERRY LEE MORRIS CORMIER AT JOHNSON MILLS.JUNE 10, 2016.
Snakes on a Plain
