Nature Moncton Nature News: May 5 2017

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, May 05, 2017 ( Friday )

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

Transcript by: Brian Stone bjpstone@gmail.com

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

** Catherine Hamilton captured an AMERICAN WIGEON [Canard d'Amérique] in flight on Thursday to beautifully show the green speculum with the large white patch ahead of it on the leading edge of the wing. This makes a flying Wigeon easier to identify in the wings down position. Catherine also got a GROUNDHOG [Marmotte commune] first peeking through the grass and then on its hind feet for a better look. She also came across a CANADA GOOSE [Bernache du Canada] appearing to be on a nest and not particularly amused about a photographer snooping.

** John and Frankie Massey accidentally came across a RED FOX [Renard roux] den on Thursday. John said that the mother departed and left them to babysit. He comments that it was all he could do not to take a couple home and got some great photos. The pups are a good size at this point.

** Jamie and Karen Burris watched a pair of TREE SWALLOWS [Hirondelle bicolore] checking out their Nature Moncton nest box project box that they had placed in the Turtle Creek marsh. They also saw another pair checking out one of their own boxes in the same area. Jamie got a photo of a Tree Swallow in flight to show it gracefully making a left bank turn which Jamie comments it reminded him of the old F-86 Sabre Jet. They also saw their first SPRING AZURE [Azur printanier] butterfly of the season.

** Louise Nichols walked a trail off the Walker Rd. in Sackville with the pond beside it on Thursday. There were many YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS [Paruline à croupion jaune] singing and Louise got a nice photo to show male and female versions. In a permanent wet spot along the trail she was able to see EASTERN NEWTS [Triton vert] and YELLOW-SPOTTED SALAMANDER [Salamandre maculée] egg masses. Louise also saw her first SPRING AZURE [Azur printanier] butterfly of the season.

** Brian Stone got a nice, perched under view of a MERLIN [Faucon émerillon] that landed in a tree by his deck. Note the broad tail bands of the tail compared to the narrow light colored ones. Brian also got a daytime photo of the Moon as it appeared at 5:14 pm on Thursday.

** The BLUE-HEADED VIREOS [Viréo à tête bleue] seem to be returning in numbers. Jean Paul Leblanc got a photo of one in the Bouctouche area on Thursday, seeming to have nest construction on its mind.

** Shirley Xue visited the Riverfront Trail in Riverview on Thursday to see lots of TREE SWALLOW [Hirondelle bicolore] activity and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS [Carouge à épaulettes], including the female which is the first she has been able to see. Also YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS [Paruline à croupion jaune] and many NORTHERN SHOVELERS [Canard souchet]. Shirley and her husband, who recently moved to Moncton from Beijing, are having a great spring seeing all these birds that they are just learning and were previously unfamiliar with.

** Clarence Cormier comments that he seems to have many more birds at his Grande Digue site than usual, and a wide variety. BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS [Vacher à tête brune] and DARK-EYED JUNCOS [Junco ardoisé] are up to ten. Many WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS [Bruant à gorge blanche] and SONG SPARROWS [Bruant chanteur]. Ten PURPLE FINCHES [Roselin pourpré] which normally for Clarence is only a few. Two SAVANNAH SPARROWS [Bruant des prés] and two CHIPPING SPARROWS [Bruant familier]. Both RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS [Roitelet à couronne rubis] and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS [Roitelet à couronne dorée] seem abundant and he is seeing WILSON’S SNIPE [Bécassine de Wilson] regularly. A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH [Sittelle à poitrine rousse] is also coming in, which is the first for Clarence in five years. Also of note, there remains a sizable contingent of American Tree Sparrows.

** Aldo Dorio got a resting, wings down photo of a MOURNING CLOAK [Morio] butterfly on Thursday. This early flying butterfly has overwintered as an adult and was ready to fly at the first warmth. Aldo also got a photo of a SWAMP SPARROW [Bruant des marais].

** This weekend "Sky at a Glance" is added to this edition courtesy of Kurt Nason. It is looking like the sky may be a “washout” this weekend though.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, May 6 – May 13
Last week we found the constellation Hercules by looking two-thirds of
the way from Arcturus to Vega, the fourth and fifth brightest stars in
the sky. One third of the way to Vega is a pretty semicircle of stars
that makes up Corona Borealis, the Northern Crown. In the middle of the
semicircle is the constellation’s brightest star, called Gemma (jewel)
or Alphecca (bright star of the broken ring), among other names. In the
past year the International Astronomical Union approved official names
for about 240 stars, and Alphecca was chosen over Gemma.

Some ancient societies regarded the constellation as a begging bowl, and
in local aboriginal legend it is the cave from which the bear (the bowl
of the Big Dipper) emerges in spring. In Greek mythology it was a crown
worn by Bacchus, the god of wine, who lived on the island of Naxos.
Theseus, an Athenian prince, went to Crete as part of a group of youth
who were to be placed in the labyrinth as food for the Minotaur. With
the aid of Ariadne, the beautiful daughter of King Minos, Theseus slew
the Minotaur and found his way out of the labyrinth. In love with
Ariadne, he took her aboard to sail back to Athens. They stopped at
Naxos where Bacchus also fell in love with Ariadne, and made Theseus
leave without her. To prove his love and his godliness to the skeptical
Ariadne, he tossed the crown into the sky as a symbol of her beauty.
Immortality and a lifetime supply of wine, who could pass that up?

This Week in the Solar System

Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 5:58 am and sunset will occur at
8:34 pm, giving 14 hours, 36 minutes of daylight (6:05 am and 8:36 pm in
Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 5:48 am and set at 8:42
pm, giving 14 hours, 54 minutes of daylight (5:56 am and 8:45 pm in
Saint John).

The Moon is near Jupiter on Sunday and full on Wednesday, the Frog
Croaking Moon. Jupiter rules the sky throughout the night, something
Venus cannot do. Perhaps this is why Jupiter was selected to represent
the king of the gods in ancient Rome. Mars passes above the Hyades star
cluster this week, a good opportunity to compare its colour with that of
orange Aldebaran using binoculars. Brilliant Venus starts its morning
shift 30-40 minutes before Jupiter ends the night shift. Mercury rises
45-50 minutes before the Sun but you might need binoculars to see it.
Next Saturday, May 13, the Moon and Saturn rise together shortly after
11 pm.

The Saint John Astronomy Club meets at the Rockwood Park Interpretation
Centre at 7 pm on Saturday, May 6. The Fredericton Astronomy Club meets
on Tuesday at 7 pm in the UNB Forestry / Earth Sciences Building, That
will also be the venue for a 1 pm meeting of the provincial club, RASC
NB, on May 13. All are welcome.

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

nelson@nb.sympatico.ca

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton