NATURE
MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, July 28, 2017 (Friday)
Please advise editor at nelson@nb.sympatico.ca if any errors are noted in wording or
photo labeling.
Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca
To respond by e-mail, please address
your message to the information line editor nelson@nb.sympatico.ca.
** Gordon
Rattray was checking out the marsh behind Grey’s Island in Hillsborough on
Thursday and heard a NELSON'S SPARROW [Bruant de
Nelson] vocalizing,
but could not find it in the grass. But
as a consolation prize, a female YELLOW WARBLER
[Paruline jaune] gave a striking pose.
** A few
sundry items to add from the past few days:
Brian Stone got a nice photo of an insect in the ROBBER FLY family [Les
Asilidés]. The name Robber Fly reflects their
notoriously aggressive habits. They feed
mainly or exclusively on other insects they often ambush. Another is a grasshopper from a bog in Miscou
called the LARGE MARSH GRASSHOPPER.
There were only a few other reports of it on Bug Guide for New
Brunswick, so it is potentially uncommon.
We have RED BANEBERRY and WHITE BANEBERRY in New Brunswick, but oddly,
the occasional Red Baneberry plant has white berries which we ran across in
Petit Rocher. Both the normal red and
white plants were growing side by side.
The Red Baneberry has long thin stems to the berry whereas the White
Baneberry has thick short stems to the berry which was not present. Both are classed as toxic.
** I’m also
adding another photo of the LEAST SANDPIPER
[Bécasseau minuscule] we came across at Hay Island relaxing in a bed of washed
up eelgrass, quite close to us and quite confident it was not being admired by
two photographers.
** This
week’s Sky-at-a-Glance is added to this edition, courtesy of Curt Nason.
This Week’s Sky at a Glance, July 29 –
August 5
After twilight the bright star Altair is halfway up in the southeastern
sky, forming the lower peak of the Summer Triangle with Vega and Deneb.
It is flanked by two somewhat dimmer stars, Tarazed and Alshain, and the
trio forms the head of Aquila the Eagle. The eagle’s body and tail
stretch southward, while the wings reach forward to propel it up the
Milky Way. In Greek mythology the eagle was the pet of Zeus and the
bearer of his deadly thunderbolts. In Chinese mythology Tchi-Niu (Lyra)
was a princess and royal weaver, and Kien-Niou (Aquila) tended the
king’s cows. The two fell in love and were married but they subsequently
neglected their chores. Angered, the king placed the herder on the
opposite side of the river, represented by the Milky Way. On the seventh
day of the seventh month all of the magpies in the country form a bridge
to allow the lovers to be together for one day.
Following a string of stars beyond the eagle’s tail, over the
constellation border into Scutum the Shield, a binocular search will
pick up a smudge of light which is a cluster of stars called M11 or the
Wild Duck Cluster. From the eagle’s head toward Cygnus or Lyra is a tiny
constellation called Sagitta the Arrow. Look to the upper right of the
arrow’s fletching with binoculars to see a popular asterism of about a
dozen stars. Although it is upside down you will recognize the
Coathanger Cluster.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 5:58 am and sunset will occur at
8:52 pm, giving 14 hours, 54 minutes of daylight (6:05 am and 8:55 pm in
Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 6:06 am and set at 8:43
pm, giving 14 hours, 37 minutes of daylight (6:13 am and 8:45 pm in
Saint John).
The Moon is at first quarter on Sunday, allowing for great views at star
parties this weekend, and it passes near Saturn on Tuesday. Jupiter is
sinking lower in the west as dusk, setting before 11:30 pm this week.
Mercury is at greatest elongation this weekend, about halfway between
the Sun and Jupiter and setting an hour after sunset. Venus is the
bright Morning Star, rising around 3 am and situated approximately where
the Sun resides at the summer solstice.
Astronomy clubs across the country are participating in a public
National Star Party on the evening of July 29. New Brunswick locations
are at Mactaquac Provincial Park, the Irving Nature Park in Saint John,
and the Moncton High School Observatory. The Saint John Astronomy Club
meets in the Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre on August 5 at 7 pm.
All are welcome.
Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
After twilight the bright star Altair is halfway up in the southeastern
sky, forming the lower peak of the Summer Triangle with Vega and Deneb.
It is flanked by two somewhat dimmer stars, Tarazed and Alshain, and the
trio forms the head of Aquila the Eagle. The eagle’s body and tail
stretch southward, while the wings reach forward to propel it up the
Milky Way. In Greek mythology the eagle was the pet of Zeus and the
bearer of his deadly thunderbolts. In Chinese mythology Tchi-Niu (Lyra)
was a princess and royal weaver, and Kien-Niou (Aquila) tended the
king’s cows. The two fell in love and were married but they subsequently
neglected their chores. Angered, the king placed the herder on the
opposite side of the river, represented by the Milky Way. On the seventh
day of the seventh month all of the magpies in the country form a bridge
to allow the lovers to be together for one day.
Following a string of stars beyond the eagle’s tail, over the
constellation border into Scutum the Shield, a binocular search will
pick up a smudge of light which is a cluster of stars called M11 or the
Wild Duck Cluster. From the eagle’s head toward Cygnus or Lyra is a tiny
constellation called Sagitta the Arrow. Look to the upper right of the
arrow’s fletching with binoculars to see a popular asterism of about a
dozen stars. Although it is upside down you will recognize the
Coathanger Cluster.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 5:58 am and sunset will occur at
8:52 pm, giving 14 hours, 54 minutes of daylight (6:05 am and 8:55 pm in
Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 6:06 am and set at 8:43
pm, giving 14 hours, 37 minutes of daylight (6:13 am and 8:45 pm in
Saint John).
The Moon is at first quarter on Sunday, allowing for great views at star
parties this weekend, and it passes near Saturn on Tuesday. Jupiter is
sinking lower in the west as dusk, setting before 11:30 pm this week.
Mercury is at greatest elongation this weekend, about halfway between
the Sun and Jupiter and setting an hour after sunset. Venus is the
bright Morning Star, rising around 3 am and situated approximately where
the Sun resides at the summer solstice.
Astronomy clubs across the country are participating in a public
National Star Party on the evening of July 29. New Brunswick locations
are at Mactaquac Provincial Park, the Irving Nature Park in Saint John,
and the Moncton High School Observatory. The Saint John Astronomy Club
meets in the Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre on August 5 at 7 pm.
All are welcome.
Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
Aquila_2017
LARGE MARSH GRASSHOPPER (STETHOPHYMA SP).JULY 24, 2017.BRIAN STONE.
LEAST SANDPIPER.JULY 25, 2017.NELSON POIRIER
RED BANEBERRY.JULY 24, 2017.BRIAN STONE. JPG
RED BANEBERRY.JULY 24, 2017.BRIAN STONE. JPG
ROBBER FLY.JULY 24, 2017.BRIAN STONE
YELLOW WARBLER. JULY 27, 2017. GORDON RATTRAY
