Nature Moncton Nature News: Aug 28 2020

NATURE MONCTON INFORMATION LINE, Aug. 28, 2020 (Friday)

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

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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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** Eric Wilson spotted a GREAT EGRET [Grande Aigrette] in the Saint George marsh on Thursday while he was pulled over on Rte 2. He only had a cell phone camera for a photo, but did note the large size, yellow bill and black legs.

** Jane LeBlanc got more nice flight shots of peeps moving about St. Martins harbour on Thursday morning. Jane also had a RED-EYED VIREO [Viréo aux yeux rouges] visit her yard, and noted that the water plant ARROWHEAD is blooming in her yard pond.

** Brian Stone passed through Memramcook area on Thursday, stopping by Memramcook Lake that he had never visited before. There were ducks and birds there, but too far away to see without a scope. An adult BALD EAGLE [Pygargue à tête blanche] hovered effortlessly over the lake, taking advantage of the very strong winds to just park itself up there and survey the area. Brian checked the Arthur St. lagoon and saw a number of RUDDY DUCKS [Érismature rousse] present. Some males were still into their modestly bright breeding plumage while others seemed to be starting to molt into non-breeding plumage.

** Aldo Dorio has some young-of-the-year EASTERN BLUEBIRDS [Merlebleu de l'Est] coming back to his Neguac yard for a revisit on Thursday. A pair of Eastern Bluebirds were successful in fledging a family earlier in the season.

** We dropped by Hay Island on Thursday and it was surely windy! There were a good number of shorebirds, but most were hunkered down behind stands of vegetation. They appeared to be predominantly GREATER YELLOWLEGS [Grand Chevalier], SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS [Bécassin roux] and LESSER YELLOWLEGS [Petit Chevalier]. Two RED KNOTS [Bécasseau maubèche] did allow a wind-tossed camera to capture them. I am assuming that these are the same birds Aldo Dorio found a few days ago and are remaining to refuel for a bit.

** We have approximately 40 COMMON MILKWEED plants in our Little Southwest Miramichi camp yard. However, there is no evidence they were visited by MONARCH BUTTERFLIES [Monarque] this year whereas there were numerous visits last year. SMALL MILKWEED BUGS are present in small numbers and were photographed. Adults of this species suck nectar from flowers of various herbaceous plants and possibly feed on milkweed seeds. Also, they have been reported to feed on Honey Bees, Monarch Butterfly caterpillars and pupae and Dogbane Beetles. Nymphs are red as well, but they sport a spotting pattern that is different.

** It’s Friday, and time to review next week’s Sky-at-a-Glance, courtesy of sky guru, Curt Nason. And yes, this time next week, we’ll be well into September!

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2020 August 29 – September 5
The Summer Triangle is at its highest in early evening. Vega pokes through the twilight overhead, followed by Altair to the south and Deneb to the east. All three are the brightest stars of their respective constellations of Lyra, Aquila and Cygnus. Although it is the dimmest of the trio, Deneb is actually much brighter but it is about 60 times more distant. If it were as close as the other two it would be more than ten times brighter than Venus.

I occasionally sit out on the deck shortly after sunset and just look up at the blue sky, waiting for Vega to appear. Easily amused, the blue background gives me a three dimensional view of my eye floaters. Then, with a little concentration, I look for a Maltese cross of pale yellow and blue light. Haidinger’s Brush isn’t in the sky; it is a phenomenon of the eye caused by the polarized light overhead. If you are really keen to learn about this see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Haidinger%27s_brush.

This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 6:36 am and sunset will occur at 8:02 pm, giving 13 hours, 26 minutes of daylight (6:42 am and 8:06 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 6:45 am and set at 7:49 pm, giving 13 hours, 4 minutes of daylight (6:51 am and 7:53 pm in Saint John).

The Moon is full on Wednesday and it will be just below Mars very late next Friday night. Jupiter and Saturn are at their best for observing around 10 pm, at their highest in the south, and Mars is rising at that time. Telescope users can catch Jupiter’s Great Red Spot this Saturday at 10:30 pm, and on Tuesday its moon Ganymede emerges from behind the planet at 8:42 pm and disappears into the planet’s shadow at 9:35 pm. Venus is up bright and early in the morning sky, rising at 3 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