NATURE
MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, October 19, 2018 (Friday)
Please advise editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com if any errors are noted in wording or
photo labeling.
Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca
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** Beth Rathmussen reports she spotted a SNOW GOOSE [Oie des
neiges] on Thursday in company with a CANADA GOOSE [Bernache du
Canada] flock, seen from Assumption Blvd. when looking into
the front ball field. Perusal of Canada
Goose flocks is always indicated at this time of year to scout for interesting
tag-alongs.
** Leon Gagnon got a nice photo of a juvenile NORTHERN SHRIKE
[Pie-grièche grise] on October 8th at his Wilson Point
summer place in Miscou. With no internet
at the time, he was not able to share it until today. Note the brown tones of the immature of this species. Always pleasant to see this species arrive to
spend the winter with us. We can soon
expect to see other species that do the same, like the AMERICAN TREE SPARROW
[Bruant hudsonien], ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS [Buse pattue], SNOWY OWLS [Harfang des
neiges], BUFFLEHEAD [Petit Garrot], LONG-TAILED DUCKS [Harelde
kakawi], RED-THROATED LOONS [Plongeon catmarin], HORNED GREBES [Grèbe
esclavon], and others.
** Always great to get photos of CANADA JAYS [Mésangeai du
Canada], our national bird. Pleasantly, there seems to be more photos of
them coming in. Hopefully, they have
heard of their recent recognition of stature and are more willing to come to
our yards. Aldo Dorio had two visit his
Neguac yard. Bread may not be the best
food for them, but they surely are attracted to it. Often bits of dog kibble will bring them back
if they come for bread as Aldo’s did. He
said that one came to his hand to take a piece of bread in the characteristic
bold nature of our Canada Jay.
** Roger Leblanc and Brian Stone did a scouting
trip of the Caledonia Gorge Protected National Area on Thursday to find it to
be a very special spot for Nature Moncton’s Sunday group visit. The roadway in is a bit rocky in spots that
would deter a low-riding car, but no problem for a truck or a higher
vehicle. There were puddles, but Brian
comments they were able to easily walk around without rubber boots, but it’s a
good idea to have them. There is a spot
with a higher culvert, but it is an easy walk after that. They didn’t have time to go to the covered
bridge, but say that will be no problem to get to on Sunday. There were lots of mushrooms along the route,
awesome fall foliage colour shows and birds about. As the weather forecast has improved for
Sunday, all is a go. Brian sends some
photos of the area. Brian also sends the
attached video clips of Crooked Creek and another of what we will not see on
Sunday – snow!
** There are still a few duck nest boxes available,
free of charge, courtesy of Ducks Unlimited.
Let me know at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com if you would
like to pick some up.
** This week’s Sky-at-a-Glance is included in this
edition, courtesy of sky-guru Curt Nason.
The shorter days are giving more evening viewing opportunities to be
able to see Mercury and Jupiter just after sunset, and Mars and Saturn in
mid-evening, but this week’s full Hunters’ Moon will make for a brighter
evening sky.
This
Week’s Sky at a Glance, October 20 – October 27
With the Square of Pegasus appearing higher in the east after twilight, look under it (or outside the first base line of the diamond) for a circle of fainter stars. This asterism is the Circlet of Pisces and it forms the head of one of the two fish that make up this zodiac constellation. Below left of the circlet is the Vernal Equinox, the point where the Sun crosses the equator to mark the beginning of our spring season. It is often called the First Point of Aries despite having moved well to the west of the zodiacal ram.
The fishes represent Aphrodite and her son Eros, who tied their ankles together with a cord before changing into fish and leaping into the sea to escape the fearsome Typhon. The star where the fishes’ tails meet is called Alrescha, which means “the cord.”
On Tuesday the near full Moon is passing through Pisces. In mid-evening it will be a fist-width to the right of the planet Uranus, which reaches opposition that day. With a planetarium app or a star map like one available on the Sky & Telescope website you can track down Uranus with binoculars. Although the planet is officially within the constellation Aries it will spend next month skimming the border of Pisces. Through a telescope Uranus appears as a tiny, pale green ball.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:43 am and sunset will occur at 6:24 pm, giving 10 hours, 41 minutes of daylight (7:46 am and 6:30 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:52 am and set at 6:12 pm, giving 10 hours, 20 minutes of daylight (7:56 am and 6:19 pm in Saint John).
The Moon is full on Wednesday, the traditional Hunter’s Moon and the Mi’kmaw Animal Fattening Moon. Venus is at inferior conjunction on Friday and will visible in the morning sky late next month. Mercury sets around 7 pm all week and it will be a few degrees below Jupiter on October 27. Saturn and Mars are still well placed for evening observing. The Orionid meteor shower peaks on Sunday afternoon so early risers on Sunday and Monday have a chance at seeing a few extra shooting stars.
October 20 is International Observe the Moon Night. RASC NB is giving Moon-related talks from 11 am to 4:30 pm at Moncton High School, followed by evening observing (7:30 pm) at the high school observatory. As well, UNB Fredericton will be hosting public observing at the Physics building from 8:00 to 9:30 pm.
Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
With the Square of Pegasus appearing higher in the east after twilight, look under it (or outside the first base line of the diamond) for a circle of fainter stars. This asterism is the Circlet of Pisces and it forms the head of one of the two fish that make up this zodiac constellation. Below left of the circlet is the Vernal Equinox, the point where the Sun crosses the equator to mark the beginning of our spring season. It is often called the First Point of Aries despite having moved well to the west of the zodiacal ram.
The fishes represent Aphrodite and her son Eros, who tied their ankles together with a cord before changing into fish and leaping into the sea to escape the fearsome Typhon. The star where the fishes’ tails meet is called Alrescha, which means “the cord.”
On Tuesday the near full Moon is passing through Pisces. In mid-evening it will be a fist-width to the right of the planet Uranus, which reaches opposition that day. With a planetarium app or a star map like one available on the Sky & Telescope website you can track down Uranus with binoculars. Although the planet is officially within the constellation Aries it will spend next month skimming the border of Pisces. Through a telescope Uranus appears as a tiny, pale green ball.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:43 am and sunset will occur at 6:24 pm, giving 10 hours, 41 minutes of daylight (7:46 am and 6:30 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:52 am and set at 6:12 pm, giving 10 hours, 20 minutes of daylight (7:56 am and 6:19 pm in Saint John).
The Moon is full on Wednesday, the traditional Hunter’s Moon and the Mi’kmaw Animal Fattening Moon. Venus is at inferior conjunction on Friday and will visible in the morning sky late next month. Mercury sets around 7 pm all week and it will be a few degrees below Jupiter on October 27. Saturn and Mars are still well placed for evening observing. The Orionid meteor shower peaks on Sunday afternoon so early risers on Sunday and Monday have a chance at seeing a few extra shooting stars.
October 20 is International Observe the Moon Night. RASC NB is giving Moon-related talks from 11 am to 4:30 pm at Moncton High School, followed by evening observing (7:30 pm) at the high school observatory. As well, UNB Fredericton will be hosting public observing at the Physics building from 8:00 to 9:30 pm.
Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
CALEDONIA GORGE. OCT. 18, 2018. BRIAN STONE
CALEDONIA GORGE. OCT. 18, 2018. BRIAN STONE
CALEDONIA GORGE. OCT. 18, 2018. BRIAN STONE
CALEDONIA GORGE. OCT. 18, 2018. BRIAN STONE
CANADA JAY. OCT 18, 2018. ALDO DORIO
CANADA JAY. OCT 18, 2018. ALDO DORIO
NORTHERN SHRIKE (JUVENILE). OCT 8, 2018. LEON GAGNON
Uranus_Pisces
