NATURE
MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, February 1, 2019 (Friday)
Please advise editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com if any errors are noted in wording or
photo labeling.
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Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca
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** Brian Stone and I went to Shediac to
join the Nature Sud-est group’s regular Thursday bird outing day. The cold weather cancelled the day; however,
Rose- Alma Mallet took us around to some interesting spots. We visited the home of Carmella Melanson who
still has her CAROLINA WREN [Troglodyte de Caroline] as a regular patron. It put on a great chorus displaying its song
which is unmistakable. It was less
cooperative photographically. The
attached site gives a YouTube video of the calling like we heard it.
https://youtu.be/7GLIFUtXj2M
A drop by the home of Denise Theriault
was made who had a BALTIMORE ORIOLE [Oriole de Baltimore] at her feeders from late November until
the January 20th ice storm.
She also has up to 18 HOUSE FINCHES [Roselin familier] which is a surprising number to be
hosting. A visit to Elaine Gallant’s
feeder yard was busy with regulars, but her two NORTHERN FLICKERS [Pic flamboyant]
and melanistic Ring-necked Pheasant
chose not to appear while we were there.
But a magnificent Snowy Owl was seen in flight. Actually, it’s there all the time – but in a
picture frame in Elaine’s living room!!!!!
A drop by for a hopeful audience with
the RED-BELLIED
WOODPECKER [Pic à ventre roux] that
has been visiting a suet feeder there at Cornwall Point was not successful as
it chose to come at another time, probably just after we left. To cover for its non-appearance, I’m
attaching a photo of my Red-bellied Woodpecker enjoying its favourite suet
block on Thursday.
A very cold stop at the Foch bridge by
the big lobster had some open water that was very busy with COMMON MERGANSERS [Grand
Harle],
but also a few BARROW'S GOLDENEYE [Garrot d'Islande] were there with the COMMON GOLDENEYE [Garrot
à oeil d'or]. Note the sharply slanting forehead, half-moon
facial mark, and piano key white side striping to easily differentiate males of
the Barrow’s Goldeneye and the Common Goldeneye.
A 1st winter Iceland Gull was contentedly
loafing with some kin in the bitter cold.
A crossing of the Anderson Rd. to
Sackville on to the Tantramar Marsh was very quiet for bird activity, but a
stop at Chateau Moncton en route home netted a bypass from a NORTHERN HARRIER [Busard
Saint-Martin] on
the Riverview Marsh.
A Sundog made the awesome seasonal
bright sun more special.
** This week’s Sky-at-a-Glance is included in this
edition, courtesy of sky-guru Curt Nason. Note especially Curt’s comment that
we are now halfway between the winter Solstice and spring Equinox. It’s all
downhill from here!
This
Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2019 February 2 – February 9
Groundhog Day is on or near one of the cross-quarter days of the year, which lie halfway between a solstice and an equinox. Solstices are what we call the first days of summer and winter, when the sun rises and sets at its farthest points north and south. The name implies the sun is stationary, like a yo-yo that has reached the end of the string. Equinoxes occur when the sun rises due east and sets due west. Prior to the reformation of the calendar under Pope Gregory XIII, the spring equinox occurred on March 16, six weeks after February 2, hence the tongue-in-cheek prediction of the groundhog adopted in North America.
Pagan cultures celebrated the solstices and equinoxes and, always up for a party, the cross-quarter days as well. Many considered this day to be the start of spring, a reasonable belief in warmer climates than we enjoy. Bears emerging from their dens, ewes lactating prior to birthing, and the lengthening days were all signs that winter had been broken. Irish folk celebrated Imbolc at this time to honour the coming of the spring lambs.
Other cross-quarter days occur around the beginning of May, August and November, yielding such festivities as Walpurgis or May Day, and All Hallows Day with its more famous celebration of Halloween. The August quarter day has a related festival in Greece. For those who bemoan our long winters, take heart in knowing that our spring to autumn period is a week longer than autumn to spring. Earth is at its farthest from the sun in early July, therefore it travels more slowly in its orbit at that time.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:40 am and sunset will occur at 5:25 pm, giving 9 hours, 45 minutes of daylight (7:43 am and 5:32 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:31 am and set at 5:35 pm, giving 10 hours, 4 minutes of daylight (7:34 am and 5:42 pm in Saint John).
The Moon is near Saturn this Saturday morning and is new on Monday. Venus and Jupiter compete for attention in the morning, with Venus heading toward a rendezvous with Saturn in a couple of weeks. Mars holds its sunset position in the southwest, setting around 11:30 pm and awaiting some company from Mercury.
The Saint John Astronomy Clubs meets on February 9 at 7 pm in the Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre. All are welcome.
Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
Groundhog Day is on or near one of the cross-quarter days of the year, which lie halfway between a solstice and an equinox. Solstices are what we call the first days of summer and winter, when the sun rises and sets at its farthest points north and south. The name implies the sun is stationary, like a yo-yo that has reached the end of the string. Equinoxes occur when the sun rises due east and sets due west. Prior to the reformation of the calendar under Pope Gregory XIII, the spring equinox occurred on March 16, six weeks after February 2, hence the tongue-in-cheek prediction of the groundhog adopted in North America.
Pagan cultures celebrated the solstices and equinoxes and, always up for a party, the cross-quarter days as well. Many considered this day to be the start of spring, a reasonable belief in warmer climates than we enjoy. Bears emerging from their dens, ewes lactating prior to birthing, and the lengthening days were all signs that winter had been broken. Irish folk celebrated Imbolc at this time to honour the coming of the spring lambs.
Other cross-quarter days occur around the beginning of May, August and November, yielding such festivities as Walpurgis or May Day, and All Hallows Day with its more famous celebration of Halloween. The August quarter day has a related festival in Greece. For those who bemoan our long winters, take heart in knowing that our spring to autumn period is a week longer than autumn to spring. Earth is at its farthest from the sun in early July, therefore it travels more slowly in its orbit at that time.
This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:40 am and sunset will occur at 5:25 pm, giving 9 hours, 45 minutes of daylight (7:43 am and 5:32 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:31 am and set at 5:35 pm, giving 10 hours, 4 minutes of daylight (7:34 am and 5:42 pm in Saint John).
The Moon is near Saturn this Saturday morning and is new on Monday. Venus and Jupiter compete for attention in the morning, with Venus heading toward a rendezvous with Saturn in a couple of weeks. Mars holds its sunset position in the southwest, setting around 11:30 pm and awaiting some company from Mercury.
The Saint John Astronomy Clubs meets on February 9 at 7 pm in the Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre. All are welcome.
Questions? Contact Curt Nason at nasonc@nbnet.nb.ca.
nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com
Nelson Poirier,
Nature Moncton
COMMON GOLDENEYE AND BARROW'S GOLDENEYES (ADULT MALES). JAN. 31, 2019. BRIAN STONE
COMMON GOLDENEYE, BARROW'S GOLDENEYE, AND COMMON MERGANSERS (ALL MALE). JAN. 31, 2019. BRIAN STONE
COMMON GOLDENEYE (1ST WINTER MALE ON LEFT-ADULT MALE ON RIGHT). JAN. 31, 2019.. BRIAN STONE
COMMON MERGANSERS. JAN. 31, 2019. BRIAN STONE
COMMON MERGANSERS. JAN. 31, 2019. BRIAN STONE
DOWNY WOODPECKER. JAN. 31, 2019. BRIAN STONE
Groundhog Morning
ICELAND GULL(1ST WINTER). JAN. 31, 2019. BRIAN STONE
MOURNING DOVES ( water heater made from saucepan with 60 watt bulb under). JAN. 31, 2019. BRIAN STONE
NORTHERN HARRIER. JAN. 31, 2019. BRIAN STONE
RED-BELLIED WOODPECKER (MALE). JAN 30, 2019. NELSON POIRIER
SNOWY OWL. JAN. 31, 2019. VIA BRIAN STONE
SUNDOG. JAN. 31, 2019. BRIAN STONE
