Nature Moncton Nature News: Nov 18 2022

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

November 18, 2022

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

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

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

Edited by Nelson Poirier nelsonpoirier435@gmail.com

**Tomorrow, Saturday is finally forecasting a clear sunny day for this postponed Nature Moncton field trip!

NATURE MONCTON FIELD TRIP – NORTHUMBERLAND COAST OUTING: PORT ELGIN TO CAPE JOURIMAIN

Date: Saturday, November 19^th

Time: 8:15 AM (or 9:00 AM) to late afternoon (or as long as folks want to stay)

Meeting Place: a) Behind Burger King at Champlain Mall (8:15 AM)

b) Shell gas station, Port Elgin (9:00 AM)

Guide: Roger Leblanc

When you think of great birding, what comes to mind first is the migration periods of May and September. But although those are times when birds are moving in big numbers with such breathtaking phenomena as the return of warblers in spring and the passage of shorebirds in fall, did you know that statistically the best month for mega-rarities is actually November? But at any time, location, location, location is the magic word. And one of the best places to go looking around here in November is the most south-easterly part of the province along the Northumberland coast from Port Elgin to Cape Jourimain National Wildlife area. And so that is where Nature Moncton is proposing a full day outing.

What to expect and where

At this time of year, variety will be lower than it would be in spring, but lots of species are on winter territory or still on the move, in particular water-loving birds like ducks and gulls that can be in huge numbers at specific spots. For that reason, our first stop will be the Port Elgin water treatment lagoon where high numbers of sea ducks and Bonaparte’s Gulls could be present with whatever else might have followed them there. From there we will follow the coast, stopping at many well-known spots (and some maybe not so well known) on the shore but also inland. There we will look again for water birds but also upland species. We will continue our adventure with a stop at Cape Tormentine where the village and the infrastructure of the closed down ferry terminal as well as the still active wharf have proven time and again to be attractive at that time of year to many interesting species. We will then finish our day with a stop at the Cape Jourimain National Wildlife Area where the many ponds and trails on the peninsula have also been magnets in the past for some very good birds in late fall. So all in all, we should be in for a good number of species and who knows what “rare one” might be present at some of those spots that have proven over the years to be very productive in November.

Where to meet and when

Those in the Moncton area who wish to carpool to Port Elgin can meet Roger Leblanc at 8:15 AM behind the Burger King in the Champlain Mall parking lot. Others can meet at 9:00 AM in the parking lot of the Shell gas station on Hwy 16 at the Port Elgin roundabout where Roger will meet them to begin the outing.

Bring a lunch. All are welcome, Nature Moncton member or not.

** Sybil Wentzell reports that a Yellow-breasted Chat that was first observed in their neighborhood a week ago is still with them. On Thursday, Sybil put out some Common Elderberry sprigs she had frozen with the intention of making a syrup later this season. Sybil comments she was glad she had them on hand to share with the chat which seemed to enjoy the fruit offering. Wondering what its plans are now that the colder weather is upon us. (Editor’s note: We had a Yellow- breasted Chat that went between our feeder yard and the neighbor's feeder yard, arriving at about this time of year several years ago, and it stayed content and happy, leaving us in March.)

The chat spent most of the day on the peanut butter suet and was very protective of it, putting the run to several other birds and especially the woodpeckers.

Sybil was able to get beautiful photographs of the action!

On Thursday, they had another rare visitor (for this time of year) — a swallow hovered briefly at their large picture window trying to pick off a fly. Trouble was the fly was on the inside. It was such a quick sighting that the only species identification clue they were able to notice, other than clearly being a swallow, were spots on the fanned tail so they are calling it a Barn Swallow.

**John Inman got a photo of one of his 2 Fox Sparrows, a Dickcissel, and 2 Rusty Blackbirds that remain as patrons to his Harvey, Albert County feeder yard.

One Rusty Blackbird appears to be a female while the other appears to be a male.

**On Monday, Clarence Cormier had his first American Tree Sparrow (bruant hudsonien) appear to his Grande-Digue feeder yard to enjoy the menu on hand all day.

As per Clarence's bird journal, there will be 3 to 5 by the end of November; 5 to 15 in December; and up to 40 in January.

Clarence looks forward to having them as patrons for the winter.

Also, a small flock of 10 Evening Grosbeaks (gros-bec errant) visited for sunflower seeds.

**Georges Brun photographed a flock of several Northern Pintails (predominantly male) in the Chartersville Pond (Dieppe) after visiting the Chartersville Cemetery. He left home with the beginning of the snow squall event on Wednesday. The amount of snow gradually increased as one can see by the photo of the Canada Geese at the ballfields next to Vaughan Harvey and Assomption Blvd.

**In a recent Nature Moncton presentation, Neil Vinson pointed out the diversity that is created when yard leaves are left as they fall in your yard.

A report from Wayne Corcoran in Chelmsford very much demonstrates the validity of Neil’s comments. Wayne sends a photo of a very plump American Robin he had at his feeder yard on Thursday. This fall when the leaves fell Wayne didn't rake them up and the robins are very plentiful getting the earthworms from under the leaves. He watched one on Thursday for a time and it kept turning the leaves searching for the worms. Wayne finally got a picture of one getting a worm. Wayne comments “so wonderful what nature does when you leave it alone”. (Editor’s note: I have 4 bags of leaves that I was planning to cut up with the mower today. I'm going to spread them out whole instead and watch for activity!)

**It’s Friday already and time to review what next week’s night sky will have in store for us on clear nights, all courtesy of sky guru Curt Nason.

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2022 November 19 – November 26
Like Nate the pirate in the Overboard comics, some people do not want to let go of summer. I usually don’t succumb to the cold right away, waiting for -10 C before my winter coat gets worn regularly. But you must accept the inevitable, so around 8:30 pm this week don your coat and imagination to say goodbye to the summer constellations as they sink below the western horizon.

The first thing you might notice is the Summer Triangle, balanced on Altair and tipping to the right. Aquila the Eagle, with Altair at its head, is flapping furiously and futilely to stay above ground, a battle it will lose over two hours. To its right, Hercules is diving headfirst, hopefully into a lake. Between them, if you are in the country, you might see the haze of the Milky Way spilling over the ground, perhaps to become frost. Four smaller constellations form a line above Altair, highlighted by Lyra to the right with its brilliant star Vega. Foxy Vulpecula, Sagitta the Arrow, and eye-catching Delphinus the Dolphin are balanced across the eagle’s wingspan. While you are at it, try for the triangular head of Equuleus the Little Horse, who leads his big brother Pegasus by a nose.

This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 7:25 am and sunset will occur at 4:43 pm, giving 9 hours, 18 minutes of daylight (7:28 am and 4:50 pm in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 7:34 am and set at 4:37 pm, giving 9 hours, 3 minutes of daylight (7:37 am and 4:45 pm in Saint John).

The Moon is new on Wednesday, allowing for several moonless evenings of deep sky observing. Saturn is seen best in early evening, and Mars is now rising in twilight between the horns of Taurus. On Sunday evening binocular and telescope users can watch the giant moon Ganymede disappear into Jupiter’s shadow at 6:21 and reappear from the shadow at 9:04. Jupiter is stationary on Thursday, after which it resumes eastward motion against the stars. A brief outburst of meteors from the Leonid shower might occur around 2 am this Saturday.

On Sunday evening at 8 pm, tune in to the Sunday Night Astronomy Show via the Facebook page or YouTube channel of Astronomy by the Bay.

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