Nature Moncton Nature News: August 2 2019

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, August 2, 2019 (Friday)

To view the photos mentioned in this edition go to http://nminfoline.blogspot.ca

Please advise editor at nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com if any errors are noted in wording or photo labeling.

For more information on Nature Moncton, check into the website at www.naturemoncton.com

Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca

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

To respond by e-mail, please address your message to the information line editor nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com.

** Mark your calendars for a Nature Moncton shorebird workshop and field outing coming up on August 24^th, with timing arranged to expect the most variety of shorebirds. The write-up is attached below, and is on the Nature Moncton website at www.naturemoncton.com.

HERE COME THE SHOREBIRDS

WORKSHOP AND OUTING

Date: August 24^th, 2019

Time: Workshop will begin at 10:00 AM at the Sobey’s Community Room off Elmwood Dr. (77 Filles de Jesus Ave) in Moncton

The group will leave at 1:00 PM from the parking lot of Sobey’s for an outing at Petit-Cap (with possible first stop at Riverview Marsh)

Presenter and Guide: Roger Leblanc

Cost (for workshop): $8.00

Registration (for workshop): Louise Nichols, nicholsl@eastlink.ca

** Those interested may choose to participate in the workshop alone or in the outing alone.

Even though we are smack in the middle of a beautiful hot summer, autumn migration has already started. No, not so much those confusing autumn warblers or hard-to-differentiate flycatchers yet, but shorebirds. Now the simple mention of shorebirds brings a glazed look to the eyes of many who are just starting out birding, and for good reasons. There are dozens of species and they are often seen in mixed flocks. Plus here in the Maritimes, we mostly see them at a time of year when they have gone (or are going) into drab basic or winter plumage that is essentially the same for all: a bicolored combination of dark gray on top, alternating with pale gray on the bottom -- great for hiding from predators but not so good for birders. Add to that that they are more often seen far out in marshes or mud flats, and it is understandable that some just call them peeps and move on to more “reasonable” birds. But shorebirding can be lots of fun and we are in fact fortunate in our region to be close to some shorebird migration phenomena that are world class and of global importance. So how are we supposed to identify those little gray birds all the way out there on the mud flat that just won’t stand still and kind of all sound the same?

Once again Nature Moncton is coming to the rescue. On Saturday August 24th we will offer a practical workshop on shorebirds, focusing on the 15 or so species that we can reasonably expect to see here now. Our own Roger Leblanc will lead this workshop/outing and will share with us the tricks of the trade that he has honed over several decades for putting names on most of the shorebirds of autumn. In the morning workshop he will focus on ID field marks, but also habitats, behaviors and other clues that help birders more easily identify the birds. So if you have been hoping to find something to do bird-wise to bridge the extravanza of spring birding and the allure of autumn rarities, this is your chance. Don’t miss it. All are welcome, Nature Moncton Member or not.

** Bring a lunch and a scope if you have one.

** Lois Budd had a WATER PLANTAIN [Plaintain d’eau] plant go into full flower in her nearby brook. The very large basal leaves and the 3-petalled flowers help to identify this plant that likes to have its feet wet.

An interesting milkweed patron scenario for Jane LeBlanc in her St. Martins yard on Thursday. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird and a Monarch Butterfly arrived at the same time to her milkweed patch with each taking the attitude the other should butt out. She was not sure if the Monarch Butterfly was chasing or being chased by the Hummingbird.

Bob Blake keeps daily morning temperature records, daily high temperature records, and monthly rainfall records at his Second North River home. A table to compare Bob’s records for July of 2018 and July of 2019 is attached below.

Weather stats for July

2018		2019
morning temperatures	daily highs and rainfall	morning temperatures	daily highs and rainfall
+14-4days +15-1 +17-2 +18-2 +19-3 +20-4 +21-3 +22-1 +23-4 +24-2	+23-1 +25-1 +26-2 +28-1 +29-2 +30-3 +31-5 +32-4 +33-1 +34-3 +35-1 73 mms. rain	+13-1 +14-3 +15-3 +16-2 +17-4 +18-5 +20-3 +21-2 +22-3	Hi’s +23-2 +24-4 +25-1 +26-2 +27-2 +28-2 +29-2 +30-2 +31-2 +32-1 +34-2 89 mms. rain

** Brian Stone has been finding RED-BELTED BUMBLEBEES showing up in his laundry room. They are 1 cm in length. The species is a smaller bee, but this small may suggest that it’s a worker bee. It’s a common native New Brunswick species. I’ve seen them teaming around milkweed blooms with other species.

** Brian also revisited the Gorge Rd milkweed patch on Thursday. This time he found 7 MONARCH BUTTERFLY [Monarque] caterpillars, some at approximately 1.5 cm, and some just hatched from the egg. The hairs on the underleaf of the plant show well. This is the first thing the newly hatched caterpillars feed on after hatching. One photo nicely shows the newly hatched caterpillar beside the egg it emerged from. Brian also came across a COLORADO POTATO BEETLE [Doryphore de la pomme de terre] larvae as well as a male COMMON YELLOWTHROAT WARBLER [Paruline masquée] watching over the activity. PIN CHERRY [Cerisier de Pennsylvanie] were also in bright red fruit.

** This week’s Sky-at-a-Glance is added to this edition, courtesy of sky guru Curt Nason.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2019 August 3 – August 10
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, also known as Collinder 399 or Brocchi’s Cluster.

This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 6:03 am and sunset will occur at 8:46 pm, giving 14 hours, 43 minutes of daylight (6:10 am and 8:49 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 6:12 am and set at 8:36 pm, giving 14 hours, 24 minutes of daylight (6:19 am and 8:39 pm in Saint John).

The Moon is at first quarter on Wednesday and passes near Jupiter on Friday. Jupiter is at its highest and best for observing in twilight, and telescope users might see its Red Spot around 10 pm on Friday. Saturn transits the meridian around 10:30 pm. Mercury rises before 5 am and is well placed for locating in morning twilight. On clear mornings you might catch some late meteors from South Delta Aquariid shower or some early Perseids.

The annual star party at Mount Carleton Provincial Park takes place on August 2-3. The Saint John Astronomy Club meets in the Rockwood Park Interpretation Centre on August 3 at 7 pm. All are welcome.

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

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton