Nature Moncton Nature News: May 19 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, May 19, 2017 (Friday)

Please advise editor at nelson@nb.sympatico.ca if any errors are noted in wording or photo labeling.

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

Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca

Info Line # 506-384-6397 (384-NEWS)

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** Pat Fox had a BALTIMORE ORIOLE [Oriole de Baltimore] arrive to her Coverdale yard on Thursday, and it went right to the suet feeder.

** The female RUBY-THROATED HUMMINGBIRDS [Colibri à gorge rubis] are arriving more regularly to join the males at feeders. Alma White, Yolande LeBlanc and Fred Dube all reported they had females arrive on Thursday.

** Clarence Cormier reports a nice warbler selection around his Grande-Digue site. AMERICAN REDSTARTS [Paruline flamboyante] and YELLOW WARBLERS [Paruline jaune] are in surprising numbers, but he has also seen BAY-BREASTED WARBLER [Paruline à poitrine baie], CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER [Paruline à flancs marron], BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER [Paruline noir et blanc], BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER [Paruline à gorge noire], and NORTHERN PARULA [Paruline à collier]. His PINE SISKIN [Tarin des pins] patrons went from two to eight on Wednesday. He saw four BOBOLINKS [Goglu des prés] on Sunday but he’s expecting a flock as he has a field beside him that they are doing very well in. He has also heard a VEERY [Grive fauve] singing and has two SWAMP SPARROWS [Bruant des marais] now as regulars around his yard.

** Jennifer Day-Elgee got a very lucky photo of a RIVER OTTER [Loutre de rivière] just emerging with prey on April 9^th. The prey appears to be a BROWN BULLHEAD FISH [Barbotte brune]. The Brown Bullhead I’m used to seeing are all dark, but I’ve seen several photos from the Sussex to Saint John area that show the white patches. This fish is very laden with very sharp spines, but I suspect the Otter knows how to handle that. The Brown Bullhead is a very common fish in New Brunswick, often in quiet backwaters.

** Recently Gabriel Gallant got some special photos of WILSON'S SNIPE [Bécassine des marais] hiding, very camouflaged, in a wet field area. Gabriel comments that he has flushed shorebirds from this area in the past and has never been able to identify them as all he would get was their flush alarm call which he was never able to match with the online sites. He was able to find the exact call on the Audubon site under “escape alarm call” of the Wilson’s Snipe, a call that has been stumping him for years as he didn’t expect Wilson’s Snipe. He also noted it said in Sibley that Snipe may form loose groups as he was seeing. That site is one many of us might want to check out to be ready when hearing its flush call.

** Carmella Melanson shares a photo of two TRUMPETER SWANS [Cygne trompette] that she got on May 9^th while on a visit to Pelee Island, Ontario. Carmella comments they walked the Hellman Marsh for approximately 3 hours hoping to see the targeted bird and did not. The next evening they were sitting on a bench lookout. They suddenly heard the swans, then a pair landed in a pond approximately 5 metres in front of them which Carmella described as a magical moment. Carmella also includes a photo of a RUSTY BLACKBIRD [Quiscale rouilleux] at Point Pelee. She comments the warblers were not seen in great numbers there on their visit, but they did observe 22 species.

** Brian Stone came across several CASPIAN TERNS [Sterne caspienne] on his Perth, Ontario visit. Note the large size of this tern compared to the two juvenile Herring Gulls beside them. We get to see Caspian Terns as regular casuals in New Brunswick. Brian also got a photo of a RED ADMIRAL BUTTERFLY [Vulcain], a BULLFROG [Ouaouaron], and an EASTERN PINE ELFIN [Lutin des pins]. The Elfins are very early flying butterflies and they would be flying in New Brunswick at the moment. Also Brian got a BROWN THRASHER [Moqueur roux], an occasional breeding bird in New Brunswick.

** Aldo Dorio sends a photo of a female RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD [Carouge à épaulettes]. This specimen has much more yellow on the head area than we normally see, but I understand this does sometimes occur. I have not personally seen one with this much yellow being exhibited.

** This week’s Sky-at-a-Glance is added to this edition, courtesy of Curt Nason. And it’s looking like there may be some clear sky nights ahead to enjoy it.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, May 20 – May 27

A favourite galaxy among stargazers is M104, number 104 in the 18th
century Messier catalogue of fuzzy objects that could fool a comet
hunter. This object is better known as the Sombrero Galaxy as it
resembles such a bonnet in astrophotos, thanks to a central dust cloud
that forms the brim. The dust cloud can be seen from a rural location
with a medium-size amateur telescope. The galaxy is seen as a small gray
smudge with binoculars.

Although M104 is officially within the borders of the constellation
Virgo, most people start their search from the recognizable
quadrilateral of stars that forms Corvus the Crow. In mythology, Corvus
was sent by Apollo to fetch a cup of water from the river but the bird
was distracted by ripening figs. When the crow returned late it made up
a tale that it had been deterred by a water snake (Hydra). In a fit of
rage, Apollo tossed the bird, the cup and the snake into the sky. To the
right of Corvus is the constellation Crater the Cup, and they both sit
atop Hydra. They can be seen in the southern sky when twilight fades to
darkness.

To find M104, imagine a line from the middle of the bottom of Corvus to
the upper left star, and extend it not quite that distance. Look in this
area for a small arrowhead of three or four stars. This asterism has
been called the Stargate. The arrowhead points to a small line of a few
stars, which in turn points toward M104 nearby. That line of stars also
forms the mouth of an asterism called the Shark, which has a fin and a
curved body stretching away from the Stargate. Good luck, and wear your
Sombrero proudly.

This Week in the Solar System

Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 5:41 am and sunset will occur at
8:51 pm, giving 15 hours, 10 minutes of daylight (5:48 am and 8:53 pm in
Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 5:34 am and set at 8:58
pm, giving 15 hours, 24 minutes of daylight (5:42 am and 9:00 pm in
Saint John).

The waning crescent Moon lies 2 degrees below Venus around 10 am Monday,
providing an opportunity to see Venus in daylight. Locate them first
with binoculars and then try to see Venus with just your eyes. The Moon
is new and at perigee on Thursday, so we can expect to see extreme tides
into next weekend. Jupiter is highest in the sky and at its best soon
after twilight, while Mars is dimming and sets at 10:30 pm. Saturn is
well placed for observing during the wee hours. Mercury is brightening
as it heads sunward but you will need to rise with the birds and use
binoculars to see it in the dawn twilight.

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

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton