Nature Moncton Nature News: Dec 16 2016

Apologize for the inconsistency of Font size. It would not correct in the usual way.....Nelson

NATURE MONCTON'S NATURE LINE, December 16, 2016 (Friday)
Please advise editor at nelson@nb.sympatico.ca.

if any errors are noted in wording or photo labelling.

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Edited by : Nelson Poirier nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca

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** Carol Steel spotted a hawk from her Court St. window in Riverview that caught her attention on Thursday. She fortunately got some excellent photos of it from the rear, and it would almost certainly appear to be an immature BROAD-WINGED HAWK [Petite Buse] which is very unusual for December in New Brunswick. There are few confirmed records if any of a Broad-winged Hawk in New Brunswick in December. There is certainly a chance we will not see this bird again, so we're very fortunate to have a battery of photos to establish the sighting. All thanks to Carol Steel for getting the photos and sharing them. And thanks for confirmation from Gilles Belliveau and Stuart Tingley. The Broad-winged Hawk is a common woodland raptor in New Brunswick in spring, summer and fall, foraging predominantly on amphibians; however, its appearance here in winter would be extremely unusual.

** There is a press conference happening at 2:00 pm this afternoon, Friday, that will be attended by New Brunswick premier Brian Gallant; Dominic LeBlanc, the federal minister of Fisheries, Oceans and Canada Coastguard; New Brunswick Finance Minister, Cathy Rogers; and federal MLA Ginette Petitpas-Taylor. They will be announcing details of a partial bridge to replace the Petitcodiac River Causeway. The press conference will be held at the Moncton Press Club, 160 Assumption Blvd in Moncton at 2:00 pm. All are welcome to attend this long-awaited-for commitment and hear details of what and when it is to happen.

Ray Gauvin had a second Pine Warbler join his bright male on Thursday. The new one is immature or female and easy to blend in with the American Goldfinch.

** Brian Coyle reports his EVENING GROSBEAK [Gros-bec errant] clientele over the past few weeks at his Upper Mountain Rd. home swelled to approximately 20 on Thursday. This species seems to be swelling nicely in numbers in the area with feeder yard buffets open at the moment; however, it is to be noted at the fall meeting of COSEWIC, it recognized the Evening Grosbeak as a species of special concern due to strong population declines occurring mainly in central and eastern Canada.

** The BROWN THRASHER [Moqueur roux] that Jean-Paul and Stella LeBlanc had visit earlier to their Bouctouche feeder yard did not forget the booty it had noted. It arrived back on Thursday morning, staying around for most of the day, foraging on berries from their hedge plus a fruit tray of rose-hips and cranberries that Stella had laid out for potential fruit connoisseurs. They also report the female BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD [Vacher à tête brune] is still a daily regular.

** This week's Sky-at-a-Glance is added to today's edition, courtesy of Curt Nason.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, December 17 – December 24

One way to celebrate the beginning of winter is to wave good-bye to the summer constellations. The southern summer constellations of Scorpius and Sagittarius have already set by the end of twilight, but to me that season is represented by Cygnus the Swan. Through late summer and early autumn it soars overhead for much of the evening. Now, around 9 pm it is performing a swan dive above the western horizon. By this time its alter ego, the Northern Cross, is standing upright waiting to be planted in the ground below.

To the left of Cygnus you might catch a glimpse of Delphinus the Dolphin, seemingly performing a leap for your enjoyment. If you happen to have a good imagination and a large body of open water to your west, the sight of a diving swan and a leaping dolphin should put a smile on your face. When stars approach the horizon their light must pass through a thicker layer of atmosphere, which will enhance their twinkling but also cause dimming. To the right of Cygnus is Vega, the fifth brightest star in the sky and the gem of the heavenly harp of Lyra. Use binoculars to watch it sparkle colourfully as sinks toward the northwest horizon, then turn around and give Orion a hug to embrace winter.

This Week in the Solar System

Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:56 am and sunset will occur at 4:34 pm, giving 8 hours, 38 minutes of daylight (7:58 am and 4:43 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 8:00 am and set at 4:38 pm, giving 8 hours, 38 minutes of daylight (8:02 am and 4:46 pm in Saint John). Our Winter Solstice occurs at 6:44 am on Wednesday so pour a glass of grog and have a toast with your toast at breakfast. The day is short – make the best of it.

The Moon is at third quarter on Tuesday, well placed for early morning selenophiles all week. Mercury begins its sunward trek on Monday, reaching inferior conjunction a few days after Christmas. Venus is climbing higher and about as far southward as it can get in the evening sky, living up to its alter ego as the Evening Star. Mars has crossed the constellation border into Aquarius, on its way to a very close meeting with Neptune on New Year’s Eve. By the end of the week Jupiter is at its peak in the south a half hour before sunrise. The Ursid meteor shower peaks on Wednesday so early risers might see a few shooting stars coming from the area of the Big Dipper.

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

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton