Finding Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS

 

In the Astronomy world --- there has been great anticipation to see Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS  (Would it be pronounced Shoe-Shin-Shan? ) . It was supposed to be (and perhaps "is") a naked-eye comet. But --- this might assume you have 20-20 vision and clouldless, dark skies (no light pollution).  I was hoping to see it for the last two-three days as it has become visible in the northern hemisphere since Saturday --- but of course --- cloudy skies! Tonight - ((Canadian) Thanksgiving night ) I was finally able to see it after patiently waiting for cloulds to recede along the western horizon to give me brief but diagnostic views of this Oort cloud ice-ball. 

I attempted to view this from somewhere in Windsor that would afford me a view of the Western Horizon. I went to the top of the Malden Park hill in Windsor - which gives me a view of the western horizon. Sadly, lots of Detroit industry pollutes the views of the skyline but I guess this is the price we have to pay for industry, capitalism and local steel production.  

It would be nice to see this from Point Pelee Drive (or the tip / west beach of Point Pelee) this week. Looking west at the horizon just after sunset should afford stunning views of this comet!

If you care to find this  - I would recommend simply looking at the western horizon after the sun sets. (probably this week  Oct 14th to 18th). If you take a photo of the horizon with a wide angle camera - you might find it better by looking at an image --- as your camera may see it better than your eyes can see it. Also - if you see a yellow-ish star above the horizon (Arcturus)--- it may be just below it and to the right (see my stellarium-web photo below).

More from Oct 16th, 2024:

Astronomy Highlights this year:

Comet 12P/Pons-Brooks March 2024   [link]
Total Solar Eclipse - April 8, 2024  [link]
Northern Lights May 10th, 2024  [link]

Comet 13P/Olbers July 2024 [link]
Northern Lights Oct 10th, 2024
Comet C/2023 A3 Tsuchinshan-ATLAS - Oct 14th 2024  [link]

Older Comet Postings- 

https://dwaynejava.blogspot.com/2023/02/photographing-comet-c2022-e3-ztf-feb.html

https://dwaynejava.blogspot.com/2021/12/comet-leonard-dec-4-2021-other-recent.html

https://dwaynejava.blogspot.com/2020/07/comet-neowise-some-underwing-moths.html

Good Astronomizing!

Dwayne

A backyard Purple Finch from this weekend

Southern Dogface Butterfly Visits Southwestern Ontario

 

This last week of early to mid September had a chance sighting of a southern butterfly species called a Southern Dogface butterfly. I had seen this butterfly in the past (as I have been to Texas as well as several other states in the southern US)  --- but only this week did I come to realize this butterfly's namesake and most interesting field mark!

I had always assumed the field mark was a sharp pointed forwing! But it turns out - this butterfly has its upper forwing as completely black for the outer 1/3 of its wing. This black outline makes the silouette of a dog, complete with a black spot for its eyes. Compare this outline with Orange Sulphur or Clouded Sulphur. In flight, its make a distinct black-yellow display as the butterfly flaps its wings.

As luck would have it - I had seen a Grey Hairstreak as well --- just north of the NW beach parking lot. This area was a little more shady (literally) and perhaps my camera's exposure had been set 1-2 stops too dark. It was an exciting find as I had not seen a hairstreak for a good 1-2 months.  I was at Pelee after work on Friday Sept 13th - and met a Toronto area butterfly enthusiast who I was able to point this out to. 

A few Fiery Skippers were around as well. I captured this photo below with my cell phone. Its a first of year sighting of this particular species. 

Good butterfly watching!

Dwayne

Final Images:  Great Plains Ladies Tresses Orchid --- At the Ojibway tallgrass preserve + Fringed Gentian. Both are extraordinarily late bloomers...

Olive Sided Flycatcher, Comet 13P/Olbers July 2024 and Stuff

Olive Sided Flycatcher @ South Cameron Woodlot in Windsor ON

I have been trying to "birdwatch" in my backyard for the last few days --- and its been really good! For late August and the whole month of September - I have come to find that there are usually a few warblers in my back hedgerow behind my house. My yard list is growing! This gorgeous Olive sided Flycatcher caught my interest, mid-afternoon, when it was flycatching off a dying White Oak behind my house. It was an unmistakable ID. It was neat to see it catch bugs and then eat them while I was sitting on my back porch. 

Edit: This bug might be the famous "Giant Ichneumon Wasp" (long ovipositor)

Some neat birds seen over the last 3 days:

Monday Aug 26th:   Bobolink (new bird to yard list), Olive Sided Flycather. Least Flycatcher

Sunday Aug 25th:  Tennessee & Nashville Warblers, Least Flycatcher, Ruby throated Hummingbird

Saturday Aug 24th: Cape May Warbler, Warbling Vireos, Least Flycatcher, Baltimore Oriole

 

Female Bobolink - a new yard bird!

Nashville Warbler

Cape May Warbler 

A while back, I had made a few attempts to photograph Comet 13P/Olbers. Using star-mapping software --- I was able to find it. You start by finding brighter nearby stars, then star-hop until you get an exposure of the comet. This photo has the comet in the center of the frame but only appears as a tiny fuzzy blur. 

Some Neat butterflies that I had seen this summer - Zabulon Skipper and Horrace's Duskywing were seen which was really nice.  These photos below are not about a month old. It was neat to see two broods for Zabulon Skippers. 

Zabulon Skipper

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail nectaring on Dense Blazingstar

Horraces' Duskywing - Seen at the Ojibway Tallgrass Prairie

Good Birding & Butterfly Watching!

Dwayne

European Common Blue - a chance sighting in Downtown Toronto

 

I was in New Brunswick for about a week at the end of July. While stopping in Toronto, I was at a library in downtown Toronto and a friend mentioned that I check for locations of European Common Blue butterflies. Using I-naturalist I realized there were sightings within a few kilometers from the location I was at.  I was willing to walk to other locations, but figured I would first try the field adjacent to the library (see map below) . Fort York Library is along the train tracks just a few blocks south of Union station (concrete jungle). Within a moment of inspecting the adjacent field, a bright flashy blue butterfly species was observed, and I was able to get some modest, diagnostic photos with just my cellphone. 

Much like an Azure butterfly in flight (or perhaps a blue morpho), there are blue-ish "flashes" as the male flies around. For this butterfly - its strikingly "brighter" flashes of blue than the typical Azure species. These butterflies were strongly associating with bird’s-foot trefoil.

Here is something neat about this butterfly: (It has a symbiotic relationship with ants! Note: The extirpated Karner Blue butterfly also has this trait!)

"Not always, but sometimes, something amazing happens: ants take the European Common Blue caterpillar into their nest. The ants will protect the caterpillar from predators and parasitoids and feed it ant eggs and larvae. In exchange, the caterpillars secrete (from specialized glands) a sweet liquid or honey - dew. This mutualistic relationship is called “myrmecophily,” and it occurs between specific species of ants and other organisms, especially other lycaenid butterflies. Luckily for the European Common Blue, there is a native species of ant, the Turfgrass or Labour Day Ant (Lasius neoniger), that has adapted to tend it. This ant species has also been seen to partake in myrmecophily with a native butterfly species, the Silvery Blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus)." (ROM)

New Blue on the Block | Royal Ontario Museum (rom.on.ca)
https://www.rom.on.ca/en/collections-research/magazine/new-blue-on-the-block 

Good butterfly watching!

Dwayne

Science Writer Becomes a Birdwatcher - CBC the Current Podcast

This is a 20 Minute interview with a Science Journalist who fell in love with birdwatching. I shared this here as I thought many readers might enjoy this 20-minute talk --- its always interesting to hear about birding from another perspective. 
 

Golden-Winged Warbler + Olive Sided Flycatcher - May 12th Ojibway Park

This morning, I was heading out toward Black Oak Herritage Park and I was driving along the northern boundary of the Ojibway Park Forest. I drove slowly, listening for anything interesting - and sure enough, a Golden Winged was singing his heart out!

Later at Black Oak Heritage Park , an adjacent park that I like to frequent - I had a decent morning --- one of my highlights was an Olive-sided Flycatcher!

Both of these birds are sadly becoming more and more endangered, at risk. 

On Saturday, I had attempted to bird at Point Pelee for a bit. Someone had reported a Cerulean Warbler in Cactus Field - and sure enough, it was being seen by many upon arrival. Another Highlight was seeing some Hummingbirds nectar from Eastern Redbud Tree Blooms. 

Its the most beautiful time of year. 

Good birding,

Dwayne

 

I took tonnes of photos of the Cerulean Warbler here - but sadly, my White balance was set to "indoor" so the colours are not the best.  Still - this is not bad for 25m away and 20 meters up.

Northern Lights in Windsor ON - May 10th 2024

At about 10pm - Friday May 10th 2024, I received an alert from the Point Pelee Birding Group about Northern Lights being visible in Leamington (not to be confused with the fusia grow lights light pollution).... And to my utter amazement - I went outside and looked up to see a stunning band of green colour across the sky.

This was one of my buck list items and to think of the chances of me witnessing this. A 1-in-20 year solar storm, solar particles flying through space for 150,000,000 km, and a clear sky, between 9:30 and 11pm (dark waking hours).... the chances are incredible. Luckily with tech , I was given a warning by some keen observers via whatsapp. 

I quickly attempted to drive out to the county (mcgregor) to get darkers skies, but --- by the time I made it out there, the show was fading out and coming to an end. I didn't realize this show would be so fleeting and in hindsight, I should have stayed put and just enjoyed the show from my yard.

Nature , natural history, astronomy are so incredible to behold. I would argue that its the greatest show on earth. I was simply happy to be a humble witness to this incredible phenomena. 

Yellow Bellied Sapsucker + Birds, Beer Cans & Burgers

 

I had a great look at a pair of Yellow bellied Sapsuckers today. A sexually dimorphic pair - male and female. 

 

Now - you might be asking about the strange title of this posting. Am I suggesting to drink and bird. Or to birdwatch inebriated? No. I just noted recently that there are beer cans and bottles all over the place and --- I wonder if anyone ever bothers to pick them up.

I have a little box in the trunk of my car, and - (this may be silly) - but I have been picking up littered beer cans and my goal is -- to make a 10x10 grid of beer cans. That would be worth $10! What could you buy with an extra ten dollars every month or so?  A burger perhaps?

This was a camp fire someone left some beers at. These cans, along with others nearby make a loonie when returned to your local beer store. Kids seem to leave beer cans near natural areas. I picked these up. I think I could easily fill up a box with beer cans like this.