Large Milkweed Bugs, Laurel Creek, Hillside Park and COVID Walks

At Home     

     Since discovering a Large Milkweed Bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus) a couple of weeks ago on the Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) at the front of the house we have been keeping a watchful eye on the plant.

     It has now produced an extensive array of seed pods, and Large Milkweed Bugs are known to feed on seeds of various species of Asclepias. Furthermore, since this bug goes through four instars, individuals in different stages of development may be found feeding on the same seed pod. In fact, it is believed that the first bug to arrive at the pod and begin feeding, releases a signal, in the nature of a pheromone perhaps, that is picked up by others who quickly join the feeding frenzy.

     Large Milkweed Bugs are capable of producing one to three generations per year depending on climate and geographic location, so the variation on a single pod may be significant.

     Upon finding a follicle, saliva is injected to predigest the seed, enabling it to be sucked up.

     We have seen no predation at all of this species and have concluded that as is the case for Monarchs (Danaus plexippus), (that other better known milkweed denizen, whose colouration is the same), aposematic protection is afforded and the bugs may feed with impunity, in plain sight.

     At our latitude the population is migratory and it has been fascinating to have been able to observe this activity before the insects depart for the year.

Laurel Creek C.A., Waterloo, ON

     Over many years we have observed Pied-billed Grebes (Podilymbus podiceps) at this location and they have bred there every year for as long as we have visited Laurel Creek. A few individuals were spotted in the spring, but since then we have hardly been able to locate a single bird. They obviously bred, however, well concealed from prying birders' eyes, for several are now out on the water, with this year's crop of young vigorously pursuing their parents for food.

     The pictures are not the best, but the lighting that day was quite awful.

     A mere four Double-crested Cormorants (Phalacrocorax auritus) were present, having once again been subjected to an unreasonable, unwarranted, ill-considered, unnecessary and obscene cull. The politicians and their servile, slavering lapdogs who support this travesty in Ontario should hang their heads in shame.

     As before I apologize for the quality of the picture, but it is not entirely inappropriate that the image reflects the dark and gloomy state in which this species finds itself.

Hillside Park, Waterloo, ON

     The delicate, appealing blooms of Jack-in-the Pulpit have been replaced by their fruit, and these bright red berries dot the woodland floor. There is no surer sign of approaching fall.

     A walk through Hillside Park without a Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) or two would be a rare event.

     We are getting into the margins of my meagre knowledge of plants, but I believe this is a Guelder Rose (Viburnum opulus) shrub.

     It was quite widespread and there appears to be a bumper crop of fruit for berry-eating birds.

     Several species of grasshopper can be found springing along the ground and feeding voraciously on the vegetation, much as birds and other predators seek to feed on them. Red-legged Grasshopper (Melanoplus femurrubrum) is one of the most common species and they were abundantly present at Hillside park.

     The Woolly Bear Caterpillar is the larval stage of Isabella Tiger Moth (Pyrrharctia isabella) which will overwinter here as a caterpillar.

     A Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) was one of scores of its kind seeking the rich nectar of Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera). There was a bit of a breeze and that, combined with the swaying of the flower when the bee alighted, means that the picture is a little fuzzy.

     We came across an American Red Squirrel (Tamiascurius hudsonicus) that had found a walnut and was working hard at getting to the good parts.

     In the waning hours of daylight a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) was hoping for a final snack before roosting for the night.

     As we drove home it was clear that the sunset was going to be quite spectacular and we deviated from our normal route so as to be better positioned to view and appreciate its splendour.

     And just before darkness closed in we saw this cloud formation that resembles a cow.

     Is this perhaps the cow that jumped over the moon? It made me recall how much fun I had during my first childhood making creatures and scenes from clouds, and we must be sure to introduce Lily to this magical world of creative and fanciful interpretation.        

     It won't be long!

COVID Walks at Columbia Lake, Waterloo, ON

     It has been a source of concern as to how to keep the members of Waterloo Region Nature involved in the affairs of the Club, when virtually all activities were cancelled, courtesy of the pandemic.

     I came up with the idea of leading multiple walks with small groups rather than a single walk with twenty participants. So, I organized five outings to Columbia Lake, alternating between morning and evening, with a limit of four participants per walk, plus Miriam and me, when it would be easy to maintain social distancing while also permitting everyone to see the birds we found. Knowing that we would need a scope to enable everyone to have good looks at the finer points of shorebird topography especially, but other species too, we soaked cloths in isopropyl alcohol and wiped down the lens surround, the focus wheel and the directional handle, between views, leaving each person to determine whether that was in their zone of comfort.

     Within a couple of hours of making the announcement all spots were taken and there was a waiting list. The Pandora's Box of pent-up demand had been sprung loose it seemed!

     As it turned out the walks were spectacularly successful, with all participants expressing great pleasure in them, and urging me to do it again! And so I will!

Walk No. 1

Monday 07 September 2020, 09h:00 - 11h:30

Participants: Claire Asling, Charles Foley, Meg Slater, Diana Spearn

Claire, Charles, Diana, David, Meg

     This Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) put on quite a show for us enabling everyone to appreciate all its field marks.

     It was joined by a second bird for reinforcement.

     A single Great Egret (Ardea alba) has been present for several days; we know it is the same bird because of the bands on its legs.

     Here I am explaining the finer points of something or other.....

     ..... and wiping down the scope before the next person uses it.

     It seems that we can hardly go on a walk of late without spotting Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus).

     At the end of the excursion it was interesting to see this American Crow (Corvus brachyrynchos) working away on a bone it had picked up somewhere, aggressively drilling at the ends to get to the nutritious marrow.

All bird species counted: Mallard, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Ring-billed Gull, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, American Goldfinch, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle.

Walk No. 2

Tuesday 08 September 2020, 17h:30 - 20h:00

Participants: Michelle MacMillan, Bev Raimbault, Roger Suffling (A fourth member cancelled at the last minute).

Bev, Roger, David, Michelle

     Several Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) were seen feeding on the seeds of cattails.

     Roger spotted this Spotted Lady's Thumb (Polygonium persicaria), an interesting plant, and pointed it out to everyone.

     It is the time of the year when Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) are gathering in large aggregations in preparation for migration, and we saw several such groups.

     A Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) was very cooperative and allowed everyone to appreciate it through the lens of the scope.

     Least Sandpipers (Calidris minutilla) were a little farther away.

     A female Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) dazzled everyone, at one point plunging into the water and coming up with a fish.

All bird species counted: Canada Goose, Mallard, Mourning Dove, Killdeer, Least Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Ring-billed Gull, Double-crested Cormorant,  Turkey Vulture, Belted Kingfisher, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Barn Swallow, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Goldfinch, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Black-throated Green Warbler, Northern Cardinal.

Walk No. 3

Wednesday 09 September 2020, 09h:00 - 11h:30

Participants: Lynn Conway, Victoria Ho, Marg Paré, Andrew Wesolowski, Lorraine Wesolowski.

     

Lynn, Marg, Lorraine, Andrew, David, Victoria

      Several Greater Yellowlegs presented themselves for all to see, as they had on previous walks.

     The lone Great Egret was still present and we initially saw it in the water.

     While we were watching, the Great Egret and all the Mallards (Anas platyrynchos) took to the air, and our eyes immediately looked skywards to see what had caused the commotion. The arrival of an adult Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) was enough to cause panic in the ranks. The eagle finally perched and order was restored to the pond.

     The Great Egret decided that staying high in a tree was the safest place while the eagle remained in the vicinity.

     A Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) had not yielded its position in the water despite the threat the eagle might have posed.

     We had moved along only a short distance before seeing a juvenile Bald Eagle perched on a transmission tower, no doubt hoping for an easy meal.

     Andrew took the time to capture a group shot as we meandered along.

     Meanwhile, Lorraine, ever vigilant, captured this Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) before it dived into dense cover.

     Miriam spotted this Common European Amber Snail (Succinea putris) making its way among the leaves.

     Mallards were spotted anywhere there was water, a common species, but always delightful.

     Lorraine was a dedicated photographer, pursuing her quarry with vigour.

     Her final success of our outing was a Black-throated Green Warbler (Setophaga virens), probably a first year female.

All bird species counted: Canada Goose, Mallard, Mourning Dove, Killdeer, Least Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper, Greater Yellowlegs, Lesser Yellowlegs, Ring-billed Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Turkey Vulture, Belted Kingfisher, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Barn Swallow, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Goldfinch, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Black-throated Green Warbler, Northern Cardinal.

Walk No. 4

Thursday 10 September 2020 17h:30 - 20h:00

Participants: Jim Bowman, Rosalie Foyle, Curtiss MacDonald, Janet Ozaruk

Jim, Curtiss, David, Janet, Rosalie

     For whatever reason, this walk proved to be the least rewarding in terms of observations, but it was pleasant to get together with old friends again, and to make a new one in Rosalie.

     A Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius) was a little distant, but with the aid of the scope everyone was able to see it well.

     New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) is dotted throughout woodland verges and meadows at this time of the year, a welcome source of nectar for Ruby-throated Hummingbirds (Archilocus colubris) preparing for their long migration to Mexico and beyond.

     The Tamaracks (Larix laricina) have a bumper crop of cones, so if we are fortunate enough to have crossbills (Loxia sp.) move south in the winter there will be a ready supply of food awaiting them.

     The caterpillar of the Hickory Tussock Moth (Lophocampa caryae) will spend the winter in a furry cocoon under leaf litter and other debris.

     With help from Janet, I think we narrowed down this plant to Great Willowherb (Epilobium hirsutum).

      I am not quite sure of the identity of this seed cluster, but as far as I can tell it belongs to the Asteraceae.

    

All bird species counted:  Canada Goose, Mallard, Killdeer, Least Sandpiper, Spotted Sandpiper, Ring-billed Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Northern Flicker, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Kingbird, Blue Jay, American Crow, Common Starling, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Northern Cardinal.

Walk No. 5

Saturday 12 September 2020 09h:00 - 11h:30

Participants: Jenny Lorette, Bill Prociw, Liz Prociw, Tracey Rainer

Jenny, David, Tracey, Liz, Bill

     All the keen naturalists who joined this group are quite new to the Club and it was my first time, and great pleasure I might add, in meeting them. They were enthusiastic and quickly became engaged with the whole exercise. As it turned out, they were the beneficiaries of the greatest variety of birds of the whole series, with some outstanding species too.

     There were but four Double-crested Cormorants on the water, joined by a fifth when they took flight, but Miriam managed a nice shot of one swimming by.

     I think that as long as we were close to the shore we were never out of sight or sound of Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus).

     The Great Egret that has been seen at Columbia Lake for a couple of weeks now could be seen off in the distance, adding to the excitement of the moment for these four relatively novice birders. Do you see the white "bump" in the background about two thirds of the way across the picture?

     Well, here it is close up.

     And the Greater Yellowlegs wanted in on the act too.

     A Great Blue Heron meandered stealthily through the shallows ready to spear anything that moved.

     Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) reveals a rare beauty when seen close up.

     Some might consider the presence of an Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) on 12 September unusual, but migration patterns of numerous species of birds are undergoing modification, as the effects of climate change influence their behaviour.

     How could anyone ever tire of New England Aster?

      This Western Bumble Bee ( Bombus occidentalis) was finding it exactly to its liking.

   
     Columbia Lake is a delightful place to ramble on a beautiful September morning.

     As I pointed out earlier, this was a keen group, and Tracey is animated in her discussion of something that has caught her attention.

     The most exciting find of the day, in fact of the entire sequence of these walks, was an Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi), high atop a snag, where it stayed for several minutes.

     A Northern Flicker showed why the form in the east is known as Yellow-shafted.

     Milkweed pods are filled with seeds waiting to be dispersed when the pods burst open.

     And Wild Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum was looking exceptionally splendid bathed in sunlight.

     I am not quite sure what I was pointing out here, but I hope it was worthwhile!

     We were almost at the end of our walk when a red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus) entertained us greatly as it battered a caterpillar into submission before gulping it down.

     Miriam and I puzzled over this dragonfly for quite a while, both in the field and at home, finally concluding that it a Black Saddlebags (Tramea lacerata), a fairly common migrant species. 

     I have been unable to find much information on the breeding cycle of this species, but I am wondering whether this is a teneral waiting for its exoskeleton to harden, and for its colour to develop. It showed no inclination to move as three people photographed it, but I am unclear as to whether teneral forms are present in September.

     Bluets (Coenagrionidae sp. were very common, but I find it just about impossible to narrow these damselflies down to the species level.

     A Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) is much easier!

     Midland Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta marginata) were happy to catch the rays on a mild September morning.

     After a successful morning enjoying the wonders of nature we headed back to our vehicles.

     It seemed appropriate that an American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) came to see us off; perhaps this wise bird was congratulating us on our success.

All bird species counted: Canada Goose, Mallard, Rock Dove, Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Ring-billed Gull, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Turkey Vulture, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Northern Flicker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Eastern Kingbird, Red-eyed Vireo, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Common Starling, Grey Catbird, American Robin, American Goldfinch, Song Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Common Grackle, Northern Cardinal, Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

Acknowledgements

      My thanks are due to the Board of Directors of Waterloo Region Nature for signing on to this first attempt to renew our field trips, and having the faith that the format would work, without exposing anyone to undue risk. I am grateful to all who came out on the five walks; my days were enhanced by their company.

     Most of all I am especially appreciative that Miriam took part in every single outing and is responsible for most of the pictures used in this account.  In many respects she acted as a second guide.

      Finally, I received this postcard from my good friend Valerie-Jael Tups who lives in Düsseldorf, Germany. The card is Valerie's own design, and with its fanciful birds and its message of peace it seems especially appropriate for the times.

     Keep well everyone, and for those of you who live locally, stay tuned for news of the next series of walks.