Nature Moncton Nature News: December 27 2024

NATURE MONCTON NATURE NEWS

Dec 27, 2024

Nature Moncton members as well as any naturalist in New Brunswick or beyond are invited to share their photos and descriptions of recent nature sightings to build a fresh (almost) daily edition of Nature News

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Proofreading courtesy of Louise Nichols at nicholsl@eastlink.ca

**Shannon Inman was cruising the Harvey neighbourhood to spot and get very distant photos of a pair of Meadowlarks. She will try and relocate them tomorrow for possible better photos.

(Editor’s note: what a pleasant addition this would be to the Riverside-Albert Christmas Bird Count coming up in a few days!)

We consulted with Jim Wilson for his comments as to Eastern or Western Meadowlark, and his comments are too good and informative not to quote directly:

“As most know, any winter meadowlark in NB can be exciting and an ID challenge. I'll assume these two photos are of the same individual. Unfortunately, they aren't the best because of the distance and angle of the light, but they are certainly better than no images.

We can see some areas to examine:

1. The head and face - the head stripes appear to be quite dark and distinct, suggesting an Eastern Meadowlark. The cheek appears to be clear and un-mottled, also suggesting Eastern. Hard to evaluate the extent of yellow of the throat but it does appear to be restricted, again favoring Eastern.

2. Flanks - Ground color of flanks appears to be buffy which would be good for Eastern but relative boldness of spotting/streaking on flanks is hard to judge.

3. Back - very hard to judge due to angle of view and lack of light in photo. But to me it appears there are black spots mixed into the back pattern that also suggest Eastern rather than Western.

4. Tail - We can see some white in the tail that could be either species but tail not spread enough to judge the amount of white in the outer feathers.

So - based on what I see in Shannon's two photos (I sure would like to see more of them), I lean toward this being an Eastern Meadowlark. The fact that there were two of them might also favour Eastern but I wouldn't place a lot of weight on that as meadowlarks from different areas could cross paths in suitable habitat in winter and hang out together.”

**Louise Nichols has been noting the number of Red-tailed Hawks in the Tantramar Marsh this year and also at Beaubassin. On Thursday, she saw five of them, along with one Rough-legged Hawk on Aulac Rd. and up the road to the research station at Beaubassin. She attaches photos of three Red-tailed Hawks. She then went to Sackville and walked around some of the retention pond area, where she saw a Northern Mockingbird that was obviously frequenting a backyard on the other side of the railway tracks. She saw several Song Sparrows and American Tree Sparrows in bushes along the edge and among the cattails.

Earlier that day at home, Louise spotted three Canada Jays in their Aulac woods. Two flew off before she was able to get her camera on them, and the third stayed out of clear view behind some branches at the top of a spruce.

(Editors note: Canada Jays bond for life with the same mate. Some studies have found that a pair will let one of their offspring travel with them for the first several months of life which is the reason, when we are lucky enough to see them, we often see a threesome this time of year.)

**On Thursday morning, someone apparently dumped out the remains of their Christmas dinner roast in a parking lot in Saint John. It was discovered by a Turkey Vulture who had no hesitation in making a meal of another bird called Turkey.

Richard Blacquiere was there to photograph the festive event.

**Sharon Blake spotted a White-breasted Nuthatch going in and out of a hole in a tree outside their bedroom window Wednesday morning.

The White-breasted Nuthatch does nest in tree carries, so is it already thinking spring or seeking a warm nook?

**Take note of Curt’s paragraph on daylight. It’s all downhill from here as every day’s daylight is getting just a little bit longer ever since the Winter Solstice on December 21!

This Week’s Sky at a Glance, 2024 December 28 – 2025 January 4
This time of year the brilliant winter constellations really catch the eye, but this is also a good time to revisit some favourites of the past seasons. If you have a good view to the north, go out around 8 pm to observe two of the best known asterisms in the sky. To the northwest the Northern Cross stands upright, with its base star Albireo about ready to set. The cross forms most of Cygnus the Swan, now making its signature dive into what I hope is an unfrozen lake. To the northeast, the Big Dipper stands on its handle. In a rural area you can probably see the rest of the stars that make up the Great Bear, Ursa Major.

Stretching overhead are the autumn constellations of Cassiopeia, Andromeda and Perseus. With binoculars look for a miniature version of Draco around the brightest star in Perseus; the galaxy M31 in Andromeda; and if you draw a line across the tips of the W of Cassiopeia and extend it by about the same distance into faint Camelopardalis you might chance upon a string of about 20 stars called Kemble’s Cascade. From a dark area, try to pick out the Milky Way running from Cygnus through Perseus and the feet of Gemini, to Canis Major in the southeast.

This Week in the Solar System
Saturday’s sunrise in Moncton is at 8:01 and sunset will occur at 4:41, giving 8 hours, 40 minutes of daylight (8:03 and 4:49 in Saint John). Next Saturday the Sun will rise at 8:01 and set at 4:47, giving 8 hours, 46 minutes of daylight (8:03 and 4:55 in Saint John). The Earth is at perihelion, its minimum distance from the Sun, next weekend.

The Moon is new on Monday and near Venus at noon on Friday, a good opportunity to see Venus in daylight. Look for it above the Moon with binoculars and then try to see it with just your eyes. The following day it cruises just below Saturn between noon and 1 pm; try for Saturn with a telescope. Mercury rises around 6:30 midweek and is seen easily low in the southeast with binoculars, and without when you know where to look. On Thursday evening telescope and binocular users might see Jupiter’s moon Ganymede disappear behind the planet at 5:53 pm and emerge at 8, and then enter Jupiter’s shadow at 8:26 and emerge at 10:44. Mars is brightening as it retrogrades through Cancer, heading toward opposition in mid-January. The short-lived Quadrantid (Bootid) meteor shower is near its peak on Friday morning, with meteors emanating from below the handle of the Big Dipper.

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