Tuesday, August 23, 2022

Hillside Park, Waterloo, ON

19 August, 2022

     It was a beautiful morning, sunny, not too hot, with a light breeze - a perfect day for a nature walk.
     Hillside Park is about a ten-minute drive from our home and one of our favourite spots.


     It was not long before we saw a juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) learning to make its own way in the world, having been reared by surrogate parents of another species.


     A young Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) was similarly occupied.


     Strangely, as best we could tell it was feeding on Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) but whether it was actually eating the flowers or trying to access the nectar we were not sure.
     Himalayan Balsam is a beautiful flower, but it is highly invasive and doesn't belong here.


     It is so widespread I don't think it could ever be eradicated now.


     At least it is used extensively by pollinator insects. Curiously, I have never seen it patronized by a hummingbird.    
     Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria) is another aggressive invasive species that reduces space and nutrients for native plants and degrades habitat for wildlife.


     It was originally introduced in the ballast discharges of sailing ships in the 19th Century.
     Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) is one of our most common mammals and this individual seems to have an inordinately long tail.


     Cup Plant (Silphium perfoliatum) endows the landscape with beauty and brilliant colour.


     Fleabane (genus Erigeron) is equally prolific.


     In the picture above, almost at dead centre, you will note a crab spider in the family Thomisidae, and an enlarged picture is shown below.


     It is a species in the Ambush Hunter Guild, and while I am not a hundred percent certain I am inclined to identify this species as Misumenoides formosipes, lying in wait for an unsuspecting pollinator to claim as its victim.
     Fruiting Dogwoods (genus Cornus) seemed to be everywhere.



     A Red-legged Grasshopper (Melanoplus femurrubrum) is an exceptionally handsome insect.


     Joe-Pye Weed (Eutrochium purpureum) is a native species that attracts many insects to feed on the nectar produced by the flowers.


     It is also the host plant to the larvae of several species of moth.
     The fruit of American Black Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) is harvested for pies, jams and  Elderberry wine.



     I don't think I am being even a touch hyperbolic when I state that Cabbage Whites (Pieris rapae) were seen everywhere, sometimes more than a dozen at a time. This individual, at rest on Bird's Foot Trefoil (Lotus corniculata) seems a little the worse for wear.


     Seven-spotted Ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata) is yet another alien invader, now well established in Ontario.


     Thistles (genus Cirsium) were casting their seeds to the wind having provided excellent nutrition for late-breeding finches.


     We saw a couple of families of American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) and House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus), far too mobile for picture-taking, however.
     A Black Paper Wasp (Polistes fuscatus) went about its business unchallenged by others!


     If one were to spend a lifetime studying flies, identification of a small percentage of species would still only be possible, so I will content myself to stating only that a member of the order Diptera is resting on a teasel.


     Sometimes, the wings of butterflies have been so shredded that it seems impossible that the insect could still fly, as is the case here with this seriously compromised Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (Papilio glaucus).



     But fly it did, or perhaps more correctly fluttered from flower to flower.
     Eastern Tailed Blue (Cupido comyntas) is both small and mobile, with a tendency to visit flowers swaying in the wind, and it was difficult to get a clear picture.


     As we crossed back over Laurel Creek, we were reminded that before too long other cautions will be necessary.


     We passed an extensive stand of Bur-Cucumber (Sicyos angulatus).



     Friendly Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) were not hesitant to pay us a visit.


     It almost gives me goose bumps to contemplate the number of people on my walks who have thrilled at their first experience of having a chickadee land on their hand. Jonah and Walter especially spring to mind, to say nothing of the joyful faces of countless children.


     The first Ebony Jewelwing (Calopteryx maculata) we saw was a female.


     It was not long, however, before a male came to join in the fun.



     Permit me to leave you with a few more pictures of the ubiquitous Cabbage Whites.





     My son-in-law, Andrew, has been a keen astronomer since I first met him when he was a teenager, and recently he took this jaw-dropping picture of the Milky Way.


     The Milky Way is a barred spiral galaxy around 13.6 billion years old. Our solar system orbits the centre of the Milky Way, taking approximately 250 million years to complete a single revolution.
     In all of this unfathomable expanse, it bears remembering that this tiny blue dot we inhabit is the only home we have, the only place we know where life exists, where the conditions necessary for our survival are found. All the kings, rulers, dictators, emperors, peasants, serfs, soldiers, rabbis, bishops, priests, criminals, poets, composers, painters, prostitutes, prophets, chefs, sign painters, doctors and charlatans, all the people who have ever existed, have done so on this one speck in the universe. Every lion, every lizard, dinosaur, bacterium, amphibian, whale, squirrel, chipmunk or racoon, every chimpanzee, every serpent, every leaf on a tree, every blade of grass in a prairie.


     You'd really think we'd want to take a little better care of it, wouldn't you?
David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

I'm a life long birder. My interests are birds, nature, reading, books, outdoors, travel, food and wine.

74 comments:

  1. ...David, you have assembled a fabulous collection here. Purple Loosestrife is a nasty invader here too.

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  2. That grey squirrel was pretty brown to me...maybe the lighting! I do have lots of lighter grey squirrels in my neighborhood, but very few birds, alas!

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    1. It's black actually, Barbara, a northern colour morph of Eastern Grey Squirrel.

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  3. Our planet is in deep trouble indeed, David and all this shoving down the road of solutions will not be timely enough. Lovely photos as always.
    XO
    WWW

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    1. It is difficult to understand that we continue to fail to act, even in the face of impending catastrophic events, already being experienced by way of floods and fires.

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  4. Wonderful pictures of wonderful critters as always and thank you for sharing them. Especially thank you for your son-in-law's Milky Way picture that is both awe-inspiring and humbling.

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  5. Ah yes, dear David, it would be better if people started taking care of the earth, before it really is too late. I'm always pleased to see all the species you find on a single walk. Butterflies have been very rare here this year, but we had a huge amount of wasps, mor than I liked! Your son-in-law's photo of the Milky Way is more than fabulous. Love it! Here it's startig to look like autumn, leaves are falling fast! Have a great day, stay safe, BIG hugs, Valerie

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  6. With reference to that Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (a fabulous butterfly!), David, yes, I too find myself wondering how these creatures manage to fly with extensive wing damage.

    The Red-legged Grasshopper is, indeed, a fine specimen. I was also rather excited by your Ebony Jewelwings - the head-on shot made me smile!

    Your son-in-law's Milky Way photo is superb. I have never seen the Milky Way, but would love to do so.

    Best wishes to you and Miriam - - - Richard

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  7. Not only the birds are to be admired, but there is also a wealth of flowers.

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  8. Not far from here we also have problems with Impatiens glandulifera. I have Lythrum salicaria in my garden, but it have not been a problem here, David. The ubiquitous Cabbage Whites are here as well. I saw many of them today. I like them very much. The Eastern Tiger Swallowtail does not come in my garden, and I am so sorry about it. They are so beautiful.
    Hugs and kisses, Marit

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  9. Hari OM
    Another very fine record of sights seen, often overlooked. Love your ending thoughts!!! YAM xx

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  10. Como me gustaría internarme por el camino de la primera fotografía y ver las maravillas que has captado en tus fotos.

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  11. We are indeed in deep trouble. And are taking out the rest of the world's population with us. Which horrifies and shames me.

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  12. La flore semble bien se porter, beaucoup de jolies fleurs pour les insectes.
    J'ai trouver un encart "abonnement" pour mon blog, je l'ai rajouter tout en bas mais je ne sais pas du tout comment cela fonctionne :( , j'ai cliqué dessus pour voir et je ne comprends pas ce qu'il faut faire, je n'ai rien trouvé d'autre. :(
    Bonne soirée

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  13. Photos might be all we have to remind us of the beauty of our world soon.

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  14. I didn't know Joe-pye weed was a native plant. I have some in my garden , and I want to get some more. I thought I saw some on my last walk down my road (not in anyone's yard), so that would explain why. And we have lots of purple loosestrife. And even worse is phragmites. It is taking over so many wetlands. And your son-in-law's photo of the milky way is amazing. Glad you have a nice walk. And thanks for sharing some views from it with us. Have a great middle of your week. Hugs-Erika

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    1. My son-in-law is coming to visit at the end of September and if the nights are clear I look forward to doing a little star-gazing with him.

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  15. That was an enjoyable adventure! You remind me I spotted some loosestrife in my frogpond and I must take care of it!

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    1. The sooner you can eradicate it the better, Jenn.

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  16. Thank you for sharing Hillside Park David. It looks idyllic! I enjoyed this great collection of nature photos. I learn a lot on my visits here, thank you!

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    1. Thanks, Denise. I am always happy when people learn from my posts.

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  17. So many invasive species crowding our landscapes.

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  18. Maravilloso reportaje querido amigo David, me ha encantado. Un abrazo fuerte.

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  19. This squirrel has a very long tail, our squirrels do not, the color is quite dark brown, here they are light orange.
    The photos of the Milky Way and the Earth are super beautiful, indeed we humans are destroying the Earth, how long will it take if we continue like this?
    It's great that tits come and sit on your hands.
    I have enjoyed your blog again.
    Greetings Irma

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    1. The colour is actually black, Irma. In the northern part of its range Eastern Grey Squirrel has a black colour morph in addition to the standard grey. We also have a red squirrel, appropriately called American Red Squirrel, a beautiful little creature. It has been featured on my blog several times and no doubt will put in an appearance again soon.

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  20. Hi David ... your introduction ... "It was a beautiful morning, sunny, not too hot, with a light breeze - a perfect day for a nature walk." ... a perfect description for a lovely post - yet reminding us what we've done, and continue to do to our living earth. People ... but more importantly thank you for these gorgeous photos and notes ... cheers Hilary

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  21. Hi David.

    I have enjoyed all the beautiful nature you have shown.
    Beautiful birds, flowers, insects and butterflies.
    The Grasshopper is beautiful.
    Gray Squirrel so cute

    Congratulations to Andrew.
    Superb photo of the universe.

    Greetings from Patricia.

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  22. I can see why Hillside Park is one of your favourite places to visit - so much to see and appreciate. There is so much beauty on our Earth and it is indeed a great shame that more people do not care for it.

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  23. Gorgeous wildlife and pictures !
    It's a beautiful park !
    Thanks for sharing !
    Have a nice day !
    Anna

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  24. The cabbage whites are plentiful here too. I have swallowtail caterpillars in my parsley, too. Lovely walk. I see why it's a favorite.

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  25. I love the details you always find, David. Slowly I am learning about the invasive plants here. So many now! The ladybugs too. Nature always has something to challenge us.

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    1. And cast an eye to the night sky once in a while too, Marie!

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  26. Fabulous photos David. I wouldn't think those butterflies with the damaged wings would be able to fly, and yet they do :) How thrilling to have the chickadee come to your hands.
    That Milky Way photo is quite special.

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  27. Forgot to say, I was reviewing spam comments yesterday and found a couple of your comments, as well as from other regular readers that had gone to spam! And then I get proper spam that gets published...go figure!

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  28. Beautiful, educational post as always. Love to travel along with you and you could not have put it better that we need to take care of this little blue dot!

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  29. Just a stunning post. I enjoyed this so much. You are amazing.

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  30. Hello David,:=) Thank you for sharing your morning at Hillside Park. The wildlife, both fauna and flora are very interesting. The invasive plants, although pretty are endangering your own species. I have some in my garden, and I just can't get rid of them. They have acquired deep runner roots, and sprout up everywhere,Grrr!

    I once saw the Milky way. My late husband and I were having a party, and invited lots of friends. When my parents left with a couple of friends, I walked them to their car parked near the lookout. The Milky Way was in plain sight, it was the most beautiful and spectacular sight I had ever seen. The concentration of stars lit up the sky in a steam, or celestial river that was spell binding. I rushed back inside to tell our friends to come outside to witness this once in a life time event. We were all in awe of the wonder of the Milky Way galaxy. Your sun in law's photo is beautiful. I wish I had been interested in photography at the time.

    All the best, Hugs from a very hot Portugal.

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  31. A lovely walk. Back when I was spending a lot of time in Big Bend gawking at the night sky so far away from light pollution, on one trip a fried brought night vision goggles. I thought the sky was full of stars before I put them on! And yes, we are destroying the only planet that we know of that supports life. It's why I think humans will not exist for long, in their current form anyway. Maybe we'll evolve into underground dwellers if we don't all die off first, taking most of the life that remains with us.

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  32. I love those walks in nature....full of peace and joy!!......Abrazotes, Marcela

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  33. I'm still kind of breathless reading this post. The collection of stunning photos is incredible. The third photo of the Ebony Jewelwing is amazing - I don't even know what to say. Your son-in-law is a very accomplished photographer as well. I've seen the Milky Way while winter camping in the desert and it has left me searching for words to describe adequately what it made me feel. It comes very close to your last paragraph. I will never understand why humans behave like we have another planet in the trunk of our cars.

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  34. Beauty is all around us and it was a pleasure to follow you on this nature walk.
    Your photography is amazing.
    Julia

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  35. It looks like a super productive walk, David. I think I have some of that purple loosestrife in my garden, which my neighbor planted for me when I moved in. Fortunately, it hasn't spread too much and it's pretty. I like the other invasive one, too and at least it is pollinating your creatures! Gorgeous photos, as always!

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  36. Precioso reportaje, me has hecho pasar un buen rato leyendo tus aventuras por Hillside Park, con su interesantes especies de plantas y animales. Me ha llamado mucho la atención la ardilla de color muy oscuro, una especie que no conocía. Enhorabuenas David, un fuerte abrazo desde el norte de España. Todo lo mejor amigo mío!!!!

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  37. What a fabulous post with so much of interest in it. I really enjoyed every photo and reading about each one as well. I use the elderberry flowers to make elderberry juice. I find it is the one thing that really helps me when I have a coughing 'fit' which thankfully these days is not as bad as it used to be after having pneumonia. Think we have very same crab spiders here.
    I am trying to get together some photos for another blog but nothing is running very smoothly. My FIL passed on this week so lots to get done. Nigel flew to the UK so is there at the moment, but will come back so we can both drive over for the funeral, no dates at the moment but it seems things move very slowly over there.
    Take care and enjoy your wildlife. Cheers Diane

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  38. David, as much as I enjoy seeing the bird life you show in your posts, this walk was very enjoyable for the plant life, butterflies and other insects. The grasshopper was indeed a magnificent photo opportunity. It has always amazed me how butterflies can have such tattered wings and still flutter around. The Milky Way photos from Andrew were quite spectacular and you certainly saved the best for last.

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  39. I enjoyed this post as always, but especially the picture of the Milky Way and your paragraph at the end. Yes, you would expect that the human race would want to protect the earth ...

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  40. The tattered wing of a tiny flying creature is a sad sight. Cabbage Whites … I had no idea that is what we humans decided to name them. They seem so much more fragile than a cabbage. Speaking of fragile … the last photo of the Milky Way is breathtaking and yet again highlights that we are a speck within a speck within a speck in one world that we inexplicably keep trashing!

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    1. Hi Maria: The name Cabbage White is not derived from any resemblance to a cabbage, but refers to the species' preference for host plants in the family Brassicaceae which includes cultivars such as cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli.

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  41. So many beautiful faces. Thank you for joining FFO.

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  42. I am always taken by the close-up photos you manage to get. Your camera must be amazing. That grasshopper was out of this world. Simply unbelievable. I see grasshoppers in my garden and they hop when I get too close t them.

    As an Earth Day baby, I have to completely agree with you on how we are treating our earth/planet. I was a baby when we learned about aerosols destroying the Ozone. Apparently, that was not enough of a wake up call though, because we are still abusing this wonderful place we call our home. So glad you shared your thoughts on that, David.

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    1. Hi Elizabeth: Our camera is a pretty basic Canon Powershot SX70. The real factor in our success is Miriam who will doggedly pursue her quarry, sometimes simply waiting for it to land close to her on a host plant she knows the insect favours. That's why it sometimes takes us a half hour to travel 50 metres!

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  43. I used to belong to an astronomy institute at the University of Hawaii, which sponsored monthly lectures on campus by notable astronomers. Anyway, I learned that Earth was formed more than 13 billion years ago from a single molecule. Loved that shot of the Milky Way. And your shots of the butterflies.

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  44. Nice place to have a beautiful walk! The birds and plants are adorable. Beautifl grasshopper ans cute log-tailed squirrel.
    We must cherish it as long as it is here...
    Adrew made a remarkable image of the Milky Way. Love it.
    Say hello to Miriam and have a nice weekend.
    Maria

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  45. hello David
    Whenever I do my tours, I look around and think to myself, where are all the birds that I always see while blogging, I think they are hiding from me...;-)) I'll stick with deer, rabbits and foxes...
    Greetings Frank

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    1. You'll just have to come and visit us, Frank, and we'll make sure that you get to see birds - and some new mammals too!

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  46. Het is voor het eerst dat ik van de grijze eekhoorn hoort en ik vind hem prachtig wat een staart super en wat een geweldig park.

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  47. Hello David,
    What a beautiful park, the first photo is lovely. The flowers, insects and butterflies are beautiful too. The Chickadee and Grosbeak are a couple of my favorites. The Milky Way image is just amazing! Thank you for linking up and sharing your post. Take care, have a happy weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.

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  48. Dziękuję Ci bardzo za porcję sierpniowych fotografii. Widzę duże podobieństwo w gatunkach kwitnących teraz i w kanadzie, i w Polsce, a i tez te same problemy z roślinami inwazyjnymi.

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  49. OMG David, do you really know all the names of things by heart or do you have to look them up when you download your pictures. I used to know names, but those memories have faded so I depend on a few handbooks to keep me informed. Ohhhh ... all the beautiful pictures. I love wild flowers. Even the maligned Dandelion has a place in my heart. And the insects ... most of them except the cabbage whites, of course not seen often around me so I so enjoyed all of it. Our Chickadees were always friendly and ever present when I lived on the lake. I never tried feeding them on my hand ... I think I may have missed an opportunity. And sadly, your ending piece (the photo taken my your son-in-law is indeed jaw dropping). I live near Chicago so the sky is lit up by millions of lights so we don't get a good view of the stars and I do so miss that. But the truth is mankind has lost his way when come to all things natural and our mother earth is paying the price now ... as we will in the end. I can only hope some miracle will happen and people will suddenly understand and act before it is too late (they could use a little kick in the pants politically as well :). So once again I stand in awe of your photography, your knowledge and you kindness in sharing. Stay well David ... I look forward to your every post.

    Andrea @ From The Sol

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    1. Andrea, your comments almost move me to tears, I appreciate them so much. I would say that I know the names by heart for about 75% of the organisms, and I have a huge reference library to help me when I don't know, or am in doubt. Naturally, I know some taxa better than others, with birds being at the top of the list. I hope to learn the common and scientific names of a new species on the day that I die! In the meantime, please move to southern Ontario, and let's go on some walks together. Hugs - David

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    2. Oh that I could, I would ... perhaps the time will come when I could travel up your way, but as of now my travel time is limited by my FH's ability to care for our pets when I am gone and also a commitment to join my son on a trip to Australia which has been postponed another year for the same reason. But, I never say never and I would love nothing better than to join you on one of your excursions. I will keep it in mind ... Hugs back ... Andrea

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  50. Joining your walk today was a terrific pleasure! Many of the same plants and creatures also live around us in Michigan, but it's really fun to take advantage of your familiarity with all the names and families of these insects, especially.

    best... mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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  51. Every time I see another of your hand-feeding Chickadees, I grow envious. But, I have several of them coming to my feeders now, and the enjoyment of watching them is considerable. I especially enjoyed the photos of the battered butterflies. It is amazing to see how those tiny creatures can persevere despite such damage. And of course it's always fun to see species we share, like the Joe Pye Weed.

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  52. Preciosa y maravillosa entrada amigo David en todos los aspectos. La naturaleza sigue siendo bondadosa y sabia a pesar de maltratarla el ser humano.
    Tengo preparada una publicación de una planta que acabo de ver en esta tu publicación donde está posada una mariposa, su flor de color amarillo, es una herbácea anual, se llama Scorpiarus muricatus, conocida en mi tierra por Granillo de oveja.
    Un fuerte abrazo, queridos amigos y compadres.

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  53. It's easy to see why this is one of your favorite spots. The Milky Way photo by your son-in-law is breathtaking! And your summary of life on earth is powerful!

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We acknowledge that the land on which we are situated are the lands traditionally used by the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Neutral People. We also acknowledge the enduring presence and deep traditional knowledge, laws, and philosophies of the Indigenous Peoples with whom we share this land today. We are all treaty people with a responsibility to honour all our relations.

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