Nature Moncton Nature News: June 19 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, June 19, 2020 (Friday)

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Edited by: Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Transcript by: Louise Nichols nicholsl@eastlink.ca

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

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** A BLACK VULTURE [Urubu noir] has shown up in Jolicure, first seen by Sean Blaney a few days ago and reported on eBird since. Louise Nichols saw it on Thursday morning at the top of a barn very close to the road. It stayed put for a long photo shoot. Later, she saw it on a fence post, and it flew to the middle of the field, allowing her to briefly see the silver wing tips. Louise got some incredible photos when it was aside the road.

** Gordon Rattray got some great plant photos in Albert County on Thursday to include INDIAN CUCUMBER ROOT [Concombre sauvage], CHAMOMILE, and a YELLOW LADY’S SLIPPER [Cypripède jaune] in its alkaline habitat in the gypsum area near Hillsborough. Two butterfly species he photographed were the NORTHERN SRING AZURE [Azur estival] and a very special butterfly that appears to be a WESTERN-TAILED BLUE [Bleu porte-queue de l’Ouest] that is not expected in this area of the province, but more likely in the north of the province and in Sothern Ontario and in Western Canada. Jim Edsall comments one was reported in the Cocagne area so they may be expanding their range. These are easy to pass of as the other common Blues but Gordon Rattray’s sharp eye noted a difference.

** Aldo Dorio got a nice photo of a surprisingly cooperative SWAINSON'S THRUSH [Grive à dos olive] on Thursday at Hay Island. Note the bland brownish tone of the tail, mantle and the head, plus the hint of a white spectacle mark over the eye. It is a good one to learn the vocalization for in order to know when one is in the area as it is not a real common thrush to find. Aldo also got one of the differing from normal variety of plumage in wild ROCK PIGEONS [Pigeon biset] that we see today that has resulted from releases/escapees mating with wild stock from pigeon loft reared stock.

Aldo photographed a day-perching ROSY MAPLE MOTH, one of the smaller colourful silkworm moths, yet still a good size. Its larval host plant is Maple and Oak, but it has obviously chosen a different place to day perch as the adult stage which will last for a few weeks.

Aldo also got a photo of a 1st summer male AMERICAN REDSTART. The male of this species does not achieve adult male plumage until its 2^nd year of life. Gilles Belliveau comments “The yellow/orange patch on the sides of the base of the tail is generally a dead giveaway for this species. The bright orange patch at the front of the flanks and the black blotch forming right below the eye indicate this is a first year male rather than a female.”

** Jack Perry got an interesting reaction on his yard trail camera in west Saint John. Photograph # 1 shows a WHITE-TAILED DEER [Cerf de Virginie] and a RACOON [Raton laveur] meeting at approximately 5:30 AM, then a sudden scramble to go in different directions; however, the deer returned to its same spot feeling much more at ease. Jack also had a LUNA MOTH day perch on his patio in west Saint John on Thursday. The very large feathered antennae would probably make it a male. It is used to seek the pheromones of potential females. The Luna Moth seems to be having a great year with many yard sightings. Bob Blake had one as well to his Second North River yard with no photo, but I suspect we could all recognize them now with the many photos posted. Fred Dube also had a Luna Moth arrive to his Niagara Rd. yard in Riverview; day perching on Friday morning, also with very large feathered antennae is suggestive of a male.

** Eric Wilson was very pleased to hear the distinct downward spiral vocalization of a VEERY [Grive fauve] in his Moncton backyard. Eric is in a subdivision on the outskirts with some wooded area, but still urban, to give him a very special patron nearby for the evening chorus.

** Jane Leblanc got a unique photo of a GARTER SNAKE as it wandered across a walkway ahead of her on Wednesday that seemed to study her as she photographed it. Jane comments “apparently it had never seen a Nikon before.”

** Anna Tucker visited the Jolicure area and High Marsh Rd on the Tantramar Marsh on Wednesday. An active OSPREY [Balbuzard pêcheur] nest was noted in the Silver Lake area of Sackville with a bird on nest watch. They also took a photo of a BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête blanche] monitoring the marsh. There has been some concern about Bald Eagles up in number so well that they are taking a look at Osprey chicks as potential prey. They seem to be competing well in the Jemseg area.

** As the 3% waning crescent moon rose early Friday morning very low in the north/east, it was hiding the planet Venus behind it (occulting it). At 5:12 AM, the moon uncovered Venus as it sank towards the horizon on its way towards the new moon on June 21^st. Brian Stone missed the actual moment of exposure of Venus but got a shot of it a few minutes later. Venus was only 8% lit and just a thin crescent.

** It’s Friday and time to review the coming week’s Sky-at-a-Glance courtesy of sky guru Curt Nason with some interesting information about seasonal changes coming up in a few days as well as a new moon on evenings that don’t get dark until very late.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2020 June 20 – June 27
Seasons are the result of the earth’s rotational axis being tilted about 23.5 degrees off the vertical, with respect to its orbit. The first day of astronomical summer is this Saturday. The “astronomical” qualification is used because meteorologists have taken to confusing people with meteorological seasons based on temperatures. Meteorological summer in the northern hemisphere includes June, July and August because they have the highest average temperatures for the year.

On the summer solstice, the Sun rises and sets at its most northerly points on the horizon. For those of us at 45 degrees latitude, at midday (1:20 pm in Moncton) the Sun is about 67.5 degrees above the southern horizon; its highest altitude for the year. If we lived at latitude 23.5 degrees the Sun would be directly overhead at midday on the solstice. Several millennia ago the Sun was “in” the constellation Cancer on the solstice, hence that latitude is marked on maps as the Tropic of Cancer. The dim constellation does resemble a crab somewhat, but there is speculation that the Sun’s forth and back movement along the horizon at that time of year was reminiscent of a crab’s sideways walk.

Prior to being in Cancer at the start of summer, the Sun was in Leo. Lions tended to gather by the Nile in the dry season around the solstice. Now the summer solstice point on the ecliptic, the Sun’s path through the constellations, lies in Taurus, just within its boundary with Gemini. The roaming solstice is due to Earth’s axis wobbling like a top, making one revolution every 25,800 years in what we call the precession of the equinox. Enjoy your summer, whenever it starts.

This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 5:27 am and sunset will occur at 9:13 pm, giving 15 hours, 46 minutes of daylight (5:36 am and 9:15 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 5:30 am and set at 9:14 pm, giving 15 hours, 44 minutes of daylight (5:38 am and 9:16 pm in Saint John). Astronomical summer begins at 6:44 pm this Saturday.

The Moon is new early Sunday morning and, with ideal sky conditions and binoculars, the 18-hour crescent might be spotted in early twilight that evening. Mercury will be a binocular width to its left but likely too dim to be seen in bright twilight. By midweek Jupiter and Saturn are rising less than 90 minutes after sunset, but they will not give good views in a telescope until well past midnight. Mars will give its best views in early morning twilight, and while you are there look for the crescent Venus rising just after 4 am.

With astronomy meetings and outreach activities on hold, you can watch the local Sunday Night Astronomy Show at 8 pm, and view archived shows, on YouTube at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAEHfOWyL-kNH7dBVHK8spg

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

nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

Nelson Poirier,

Nature Moncton