This and That

 At home, Waterloo, ON

     Here is a whole new look at a European Crane Fly (Tipula paludosa) gazing at us from the outside of a rainy-spattered (okay and a little dirty too) window.

     Perhaps it was longing to come inside where it was dry.

Health Valley Trail, St. Jacobs, ON

     Visit any waterway in this area and you are almost certain to find a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) or two. 

     This individual was perched too high to be feeding, but I have seen them snatch very large fish from the Conestogo River and perhaps it was digesting a previous meal.

     Once the breeding season is over American Robins (Turdus migratorius) seem to disappear for a couple of weeks. Adults are no doubt undergoing a full post-breeding moult, and juveniles are shedding body feathers, wing coverts and tertials - a good time to remain out of sight of predators.

     Once the moult is complete these delightful birds are present again in great numbers feeding on lawns and in woodlots.

     There has been a substantial movement of warblers of late, but these neotropical migrants are frustratingly difficult to photograph. Miriam did manage this quite decent shot of a Bay-breasted Warbler (Setophaga castanea) in winter plumage.

     The fruit of Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) becomes a bright red colour before the plants go dormant.

     It's almost hard to believe that this is what the plant looked like in the spring.

     It is a fascinating plant. Perhaps I'll get into its life cycle in another post sometime.

     American Goldfinches (Spinus tristis) are late breeders, waiting for the full flush of thistle seeds to feed their young, but they are for the most part free of parental duties by mid September.

    Slugs (class Gastropoda) are a taxon I know very little about but there is an interesting variety of them locally, some quite beautiful.

      We are very fortunate to have a number of lakes, ponds, rivers and creeks in Waterloo Region. The Conestogo River looked exceptionally tranquil and inviting on a warm late summer's day.

     If you don't pay much attention to Rock Doves (Columba livia) perhaps you should.

     They are very handsome birds and have served mankind throughout history with little in the way of reciprocity.

     I am a huge fan of geese in general and Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) in particular, and a flock just passing the time of day is always a welcome sight in my world.

     Viceroy (Limenitis archippus) uses aposematic colouration to maximum advantage to dupe predators who might consider it a tasty snack.

     Orange Sulphur (Colias eurytheme) is not a butterfly I see often, and at times can be easily confused with certain forms of Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice). The following indivdual, however, bears the unmistakable hallmarks of an Orange Sulphur.

     We have noticed several times that flowers are often placed on this bench in memoriam to a departed loved one. 

     When I think of the mindless vandalism that seems to take place all too often, it is remarkable that we have never seen them tampered with.

     I hope that I will always be able to say that.