Tuesday, September 13, 2022

WRN Outing to SpruceHaven, 10 September, 2022

 "They are not brethren, they are not underlings; they are other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the Earth."
Henry Beston

Leader: David M. Gascoigne

Members: Julie Arnold, Miriam Bauman, Alice Buehrle, Lynne Conway, Sharon Dillon-Martin, Bob Fraser, Angie Koch, Denise Leschak, Bev McBride, Ian Martin, Alan Morgan, Anne Morgan, Elaine Mowbray, Chris Petersen, Manfred Petersen, Pauline Richards, Mary Ann Vanden Elzen, Don Voisin, Mary Voisin, Judy Watson

Guests: Marianne McIntosh, Kathy Mostardi, Janet Valentine, Paul Valentine

Kathy, Lynne, Angie, Alan, Anne, Mary Ann, Janet , Denise, Chris, Manfred, Pauline, Sharon, Don, Ian, Paul, Marianne, Bob, David, Mary, Alice, Elaine, Judy


     It is a given that when the fall outing to SpruceHaven takes place an enthusiastic group of participants will be there to enjoy the splendours of a September day. The weather, as it turned out, was as near perfect as one might hope for.
     A Monarch (Danaus plexippus) greeted early arrivals.


     
As usual, we started in the barn, with an explanation of the Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) colony there, and the recent expansion by American Cliff Swallows (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota). The birds have already departed of course and are by now well on their way to South America, but here are a couple of pictures from our files.

Barn Swallows almost ready to fledge

Hungry young nestlings

American Cliff Swallow at the lip of its nest

     The birds may have left but their absence did not diminish the enthusiasm for hearing about their lives at SpruceHaven. Alan Morgan captured the moment in the following photograph.


     American Robins (Turdus migratorius) were feeding outside as we started our meander through the property.


     Let me say that we were singularly unsuccessful in taking pictures of the birds we saw, so the images used throughout this post are from our archives.
     As we made our way along the edge of Sanctuary Field adjacent to the New Forest it seemed that we barely had to turn our heads to see Brown-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia triloba).


     Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis) is both prolific and beautiful, well patronized by pollinators and a myriad of other insects.


     This plant is routinely afflicted by three types of gall, two of which are shown below.


     At the left is the gall of the Goldenrod Elliptical-Gall Moth (Gnorimoschema gallaesolidaginis), sometimes referred to as a spindle gall on account of its shape.
    The round gall on the right is produced by the Goldenrod Gall Fly (Eurosta solidaginis).
     This Bluet (family Coenagrionidae) is difficult to narrow down as to species.


     Glancing skywards often revealed Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) cruising overhead, many now already in migration.


     Jagged Ambush Bug (Phymata americana) is not at all uncommon.


     There are many species of goldenrod and I am not familiar with them all. We may have to be content with knowing this one with no greater precision than Solidago sp. 


     The larvae of the Carrot Seed Moth (Sitochroa palealis) feed on Wild Carrot (Daucus carota).


      Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) are quick to exploit this rich resource and I am grateful to Alan for this great image from his files.


      Large compound eyes help to identify this handsome insect as a Common Drone Fly (Eristalis tenax).


     Staghorn Sumach (Rhus typhina) remains one of the most appealing plants for me, especially in the fall when the leaves turn a vivid shade of red and the fruit clusters are filled to bursting with winter food for various birds and mammals.


     The grasses (family Poaceae) of Sanctuary Field are diverse and beautiful; our tall grass prairie restoration is cause for great satisfaction.


     Wild Carrot is not to be denied.


     A sea of goldenrod is a sight to behold.


     Humans become insignificant in landscape such as this, causing us to reflect on what it must have been like for early European explorers to experience the grasslands of the Americas with its abundant wildlife. 


     
Sadly, other than for a few small pockets, it is lost to us forever.
     Wild Bergamot (Monarda fistulosa) brings joy to all who see it.


     Alan captured it wonderfully in the following shot, still in the full flush of its inflorescence. 


     Several species of grasshopper exploded from beneath our feet, Red-legged Grasshopper (Melanoplus femurrubrum) perhaps laying claim to the most distinctive.

Picture courtesy of Alan Morgan
     
     American Crow (Corvus brachyrynchos) frequently called out its greeting to us.


     A Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) prompted a discussion of the extreme variability of the plumage of this familiar species.


     Large numbers of Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) were passing through in migration - a visual delight for everyone.


     False Sunflower (Heliopsis helianthoides) is a beautiful plant, dotting the grassland here and there.



     To the best of my recollection Angie and I were the only two to see a Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) flying back and forth.


     Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) is highly valued by pollinator and human alike.


     This is the web of the whimsically named Bowl and Doily Spider (Frontinella pyramitela).


     The web of an Araneoid Spider (Superfamily Araneoidea) provided a contrast in spider web architecture.


     Having already discovered two of the three types of goldenrod galls we were delighted to come across the third form, the Goldenrod Bunch Gall Midge (Rhopalomyia solidaginis), sometimes referred to as a Rosette Gall.


     This lonely snail eludes any identification that I can come up with.


     A Seven-spotted Ladybug (Coccinella septempunctata) by comparison is a piece of cake!


     I was explaining the success of our nest boxes and the programme of monitoring adopted by WRN Teens when a moment of mirth seems to have overtaken us. Quite what caused it I am not sure!

Photo courtesy of Alan Morgan

     Angie spotted a bird on the communications tower and remarked, "It must be a Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura) - look at that small head." And she was right!


     Alan's keen eyes spotted a False Milkweed Bug (Lygaeus turcicus) and a picture was soon in the bag so to speak.


     Despite its name it primarily feeds on the seeds of False Sunflower, and as we have seen earlier, there was no shortage of host plans for this striking species.
     I extracted the nest of a Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) for everyone to examine, and again Alan obliged with a picture.


     You will note the abundant use of feathers by Tree Swallows, a key to identifying their nests.
     A thistle head was releasing its seeds to the wind, captured artistically by Alan.


    Guelder-rose (Viburnum opulus), often referred to as High Bush Cranberry has a full crop of fruit in the fall.


     Birds such as American Robin and Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) will consume these berries, but it seems to be a food of last resort.
     At the edge of the grassland, hard up against the woodlot, a couple of Savannah Sparrows (Passerculus sandwichensis) took the opportunity to remind us that they will soon be leaving us.


     It was very satisfying to be able to lead this group on an exploration of the treasures of SpruceHaven. There was engagement and enervated discussion at every step of the way. Curiosity and the thirst for knowledge bubbled over.



     In the woodlot, fungi were in evidence. In the shot below you see Orange Mycena (Mycena leaiana) and a species of Puffball (family Lycoperdaceae).


     A tiny American Toad (Anaxyrus americana) did its best to distance itself from giant two-legged animals.


     It has been so dry that I had difficulty finding an Eastern Red-backed Salamander (Plethodon cinereus), but finally located a singleton in a rare wet spot.


     It was time to make our way to the house where Dave, Jamie and Sandy welcomed us with refreshments and scintillating conversation. It had been a wonderful morning and we owe sincere appreciation to our generous hosts for once again facilitating this exquisite fall outing.
    As always, I need to express my thanks to Miriam for being willing to do the photography (coincidentally it is twenty years ago today that I first met her), and to Alan Morgan for sharing his pictures too. Alan also kindly explained the geology of the area, further enhancing the experience for all who shared the morning together.
     Most of all, I am grateful to the participants who demonstrated their love of nature and permitted me to benefit from their enthusiasm. 
     Until next year my friends! À l'année prochaine mes amis.
David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

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

76 comments:

  1. What a beautiful collection of photos, David. All my favorites are there. The Monarch have Miriam captured very well. You are indeed a lucky man who have her by your side. Congrats to your 20 years together.
    Hugs and kisses, Marit

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  2. ...the hungry mouths are neat!

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  3. Son todas las fotografías fabulosas. Te felicito por tu buen reportaje.

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  4. hello David
    here you almost have to dig in and hide to see a wild animal, with you it is a blessing for every animal lover..
    Greetings Frank

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  5. That must have been one of the biggest groups that you have led in recent years, David. Your fame is obviouly spreading rapidly. I guess the attraction of a place as special as Sprucehaven helped to swell the numbers,however.

    I was amused by you describing the web of an Araneoid Spider as an item of architecture. It appears to be totally random to my eyes!

    Keep up the good work - my very best wishes to you and Miriam - - - Richard

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  6. Hoi David,

    I really liked this post. It seemed as if I was walking behind you and your group in that beautiful country of yours. Staghorn Sumach is unknown to me. More things are unknown, but that's what makes it so interesting. Awesome group photos too.

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    1. You will have to come and visit, Aritha, and I will give you a private tour!

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  7. Hari Om
    Happy 'meetversary' Miriam and David - such a NATURal team!!! YAM xx

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  8. What a wonderful outing. I'm sure the participants appreciated your input as much as you enjoyed their enthusiasm :)

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  9. A lovely post and photographs, what a great outing.
    Happy 20 years to you and Miriam :)

    All the best Jan

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  10. We can tell you had a splendid time together.
    Magnificent pictures as usual.: )

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  11. Hola David, un placer poder saludarte de nuevo. Me encanto este hermoso recorrido, las fotos espectaculares y lo que en ellas se ve maravilloso. Un enorme abrazo para ti y para Miriam. Enhorabuena.

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  12. How I would love to join this group - though I suspect I would be too busy simply looking in awe and delight to remember my camera. Huge thanks to you and to Miriam - and happy anniversary.

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  13. I didn't remember barn swallows fledged at this time ofyear. That photo is just fabulous. So many lovely ones, but I'm drawn, of course, to the Monarch. What a terrific walk and experience you share!

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    1. They fledge much earlier, Jeanie, and have all departed by now. These are pictures drawn from our files to illustrate what takes place in the barn during the breeding season.

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  14. What a wonderful excursion - how I would love to join one of those. I have always admired Miriam's photography, but Alan's pictures are excellent as well.
    Why do the nestboxes have Chinese numbers on them? The one in the picture has the number 9 - but why in Chinese?

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  15. There are several kids of Asian heritage in the Teens Club and I can only assume that one of them numbered the box. On the opposite side it shows 9.

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  16. Swallows and crickets are adorable.

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  17. Wonderful selection of photos you've chosen to show us. Good gathering and what fun you all must have as you all walk along spotting this and that...wonderful.

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  18. The blue Jay particularly stands out.

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  19. Enjoyed your photos and the information you provided.

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  20. Une belle sortie de groupe, il y'a beaucoup de fleurs, c'est un beau partage et une journée très enrichissante. Bonne journée

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  21. Glad you had such a great time with your group of faithfull followers. You saw many different species. And congratulations on 20 years with Miriam, you got a good one there! Have a great day, hugs, Valerie

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  22. Hello,
    What a great outing, you had a nice sized group on this outing. Miriam's photos are all beautiful. My favorite is the Red-tailed Hawk. Happy Birding. Take care, enjoy your day!

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  23. Hi David - what a lovely day you all had ... and great to have so many eyes to spot things ... wonderful selections of insects, birds, plants, benign tumours, the red ladybird and all your people!! ... and yes congratulations to you and Miriam - here's to many more. Cheers Hilary

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  24. Geweldig David om met een groep gelijk gestemde mensen zo op pad te gaan de natuur in en dan z.on heerlijke uitleg te krijgen.

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  25. A big group of friends. And Myriam is taking the photo ? Nice photos. Thank you for your friendship and support David.

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    1. Miriam takes most of the pictures, Caroline, and a few are mine. For this outing Alan Morgan contributed some too.

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  26. You have the eye for capturing even the smallest creature.
    We are headed to Quebec next week for 4 nights, staying outside Montreal in an AirBnB in Beloeil. Any recommendations for hikes/walks in that area?

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    1. I have never birded that area, Marcia, but I have stayed in Beloeil and it is a charming little town with pleasant walks along the river.

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  27. That was a delightful walk exploring nature. From the birds to the spiders and insects, all are fascinating. And who doesn’t like the occasional salamander? I never see any salamanders here.

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    1. I am pretty sure that two species are found on PEI, Marie. Go into the forest and turn over some logs and you are sure to find them. You have to search, however. You will not find them casually along a trail.

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  28. What a lovely collection of photos, David.
    I think it would be great to go out with such a group and I think it is also very instructive.
    I love the swallows with the open mouths.
    Greetings Irma

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  29. What a sweet excursion for you all! I always love seeing the photos--even if you have to borrow from archives. ;)

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  30. Maravillosa entrada amigo David. Me he llevado una gran satisfacción de descubrir algunas plantas por primera vez, nunca antes las había visto y me parecen todas magníficas. Que mágica y amble es la naturaleza. Siempre nos muestra lo mejor de ella y eso que no paramos de maltratarle.
    Seguro que todos quedaron sumamente encantados con esa excursión.
    Un gran abrazo querido amigo de tu siempre admirado Juan.

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  31. It is indeed nice to be able to get together and more so be outdoors and exploring all sorts of bird life, plant life and insects as well. I enjoyed the photos and the details and look forward to fall walks in our area. Congrats to you and Miriam on your meet-up anniversary. We celebrate ours every year.

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    1. We don't celebrate in any formal way, but it's a date that is easy to remember (especially for me who doesn't know what day it is half the time). We met on Friday the 13th, got married on Friday the 13th and bought our house on Friday the 13th. Who says it's an unlucky day?

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  32. A grand group of people and spectacular photos. Thank you for sharing with us.

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  33. Hi David,
    Great day out! Beautiful birds, bugs and flowers. A lot of information to share. Very interesting to read. And nice to stroll trough nature with like-minded people.
    Regards Maria

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  34. You make the walks so interesting that I feel I am there with you.

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  35. So many detailed and wonderful shots! That photo of three hungry birds is amazing, as is the instinct to get fed at the start of life.

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  36. I love the pictures of the young nestlings!.....wonderful day out!.......Abrazotes, Marcela

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  37. Though I miss out on the wonderful conversations and explanations of all the wonders that you find on your Outings, I learn, learn and learn more because of your terrific sharing of knowledge and photographs. What a delight ! My favorite photo, the singing (probably more like squawking) nestling Barn Swallows. We had Barn Swallow nests when I still lived at the lake ... I miss all of that wonderful nature. So thankfully I don't have to wait until next year but only next week for more afternoon delights (not of the kind that they sing about:) I think your devotion to and involvement in nature will keep your alive and kicking for a long time, David.

    Andrea @ From the Sol

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  38. How nice to see the large group that you form for the excursion.
    I liked seeing the Solidago canadensis and its gills and the wonderful photo of the black-headed chickadee eating the larva, impressive shot!
    Birds and flowers in a spectacular combination that I really liked.
    Hugs and kisses.

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  39. Thank you David for joining Friday Face OFF.

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  40. Beautiful series of photos, David!
    How wonderful to spot all this beauty!🦋🌼

    Have a great weekend!

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  41. Hi David,
    Another succesful visit to Spruce Haven. It looks like it wasn't a coincidence that you payed a lot of attention to flowers this time. It fits perfectly with Miriam and you being together for twenty years. Congrats.
    Greetings, Kees

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  42. Dear David,
    that looks like a lovely autumn outing, and while you had to pull most of the bird photos from the archives, you brought back a lot of good pictures of plants, insects, etc. Your grasslands appear to have many plants that we are trying to cultivate here in our gardens. For example, I have goldenrod and wild carrots in my front yard, and there was echinacea here for years, but something seems to have supplanted it. In any case, it was a pleasure for me to accompany you virtually.
    You wrote in your last comment that you are exhausted just reading about our action-packed summer. I think you'll be happy to read that this summer also featured some very quiet outings. In my current post, I'm telling you about a trip we took in early July where we visited an exhibition about a specific river region, and then we went out into nature and saw a white stork colony and wild horses.
    Hugs and all the best,
    Traude
    https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2022/09/ausflug-nach-marchegg-schloss-storche.html

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  43. The carrot seed moth larvae and the ladybug are my favourites. Looks like a great outing.

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  44. The day does look near perfect. Goldenrod hasn't started blooming down here yet. And we have always had flickers around here but this year I don't think I've seen a single one.

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  45. Hello David,
    Fantastic report on your group bird outing. The photos are beautiful, Miriam's photos are always wonderful. Some of my favorites are the Barn Swallows, the Flicker and all the flowers. 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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  46. I love the blue jay, David. How beautiful! Here they have pink wings and are very cute, because they often imitate the meow of a cat. I hate solidago because it is a weed here and it propagates very quickly in the garden.

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    1. It spreads easily here too, Nadezda, but since if verges on a wonder plant for pollinators and is favoured by hummingbirds too, I welcome it.

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  47. Wonderful pictures as always. I feel as though I were present on that walk. I especially liked the sumac. Reminds me of my childhood when a large stand of it grew just next to the front yard of our farmhouse. Apparently, it doesn't grow around here. At least I've never encountered it.

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  48. ¡Cuánta diversidad habéis visto en esa salida!, una gran diversidad de plantas en floración y buena cantidad de aves hermosas en sus formas y colorido. Parece que se disfrutó mucho de esa salida veraniega además junto a personas que aprecian la naturaleza como tu. Me gustaron las de nidos de golondrina, ya están llegando las primeras y desde hace unos 5 o 10 días las plantas ya empezaron a brotar, la primavera aquí empieza siempre una o dos semanas antes de la fecha dictada por la astronomía.
    Saludos cordiales

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  49. Every part of this post was special to me because every single thing is so familiar. Just to focus on the goldenrod galls. I use goldenrod gall flies in school, in the spring, and we hatch them out of the galls, of which I have a bazillion on my land. I have yet to find an elliptical gall in the spring to watch the moths. I found 3 bunch galls forming this summer. And the next day? They disappeared! I'm still pondering that one but hopefully I can find them in the spring to get that critter.

    The carrot seed moth. I get them at the lights every year but never found larvae. It's gorgeous! I absolutely have to find one of those. I need more wild carrot in the fields.

    I'll end with flickers. Every day, especially this time of year, they have parties in my big driveway. Until I drive up and they all dive into the woods. In 20 years, I think I only have one poor photo of one after lying in ambush for them.

    Thank you!

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  50. What a wonderful outing and it does look like you had perfect conditions! I love all the photos you've shared and really enjoyed seeing the Cliff Swallow and the nests!

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  51. Incredible!! All!! My favorite is the blue jay. Such great coloration and shadowing. In regards to the elegant tern, even EBird rare birds have the elegant tern .
    I appreciate you taking time to add your link this weekend.

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  52. Nature is fantastic in all its aspects, whether in animal or plant life. Beautiful flowers, insects and birds.
    These outings are incredible, not only for the contact with nature, but also for all the information that you are making available.

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  53. You had quite a group for this outting. And from the pictures I can tell you had gorgeous weather indeed. Flowers, Birds, Butterflies and more. Fantastic pictures. Though some of the pictures had me sneezing, lol. Wonderful as always.
    Sandy's Space

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  54. Great shots! The hungry nestlings are adorable.

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  55. You always find the best life forms on your walks David. This looks like a beautiful day for a nature walk or hike. I just got back from my trip this past weekend and I even have a bird I am confused with. It might be an osprey. Not certain. Anyhow, when I post it, after I finish going through photos, I'll let you know. It doesn't look like a typical osprey, if there is such a thing. Anyhow, I hope life has been good. hugs-Erika

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  56. I'm sorry David, but I simply can't write my comment again, I'm exhausted with the heat, and after writing it twice only for it to disappear I am giving up. Maybe next time. Congratulations to you both on your twenty years of marriage.

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    1. Blogger is playing its games again, Sonjia. It seems to get worse, not better!

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  57. Bonjour cher David.
    Tu conduits les sorties naturalistes comme un chef ! Tout est expliqué à merveille.
    Nous avons eu un couple d'hirondelle rustique cette année sous la terrasse. Il y avait 5 jeunes. Après la première vague de chaleur il a beaucoup plu et une satané mouche avait pondu dans le nid. Les larves ont sucé tous les petits jusqu'à la mort. Obligée de les enlever du nid, je pleurais quand je voyais les adultes venir chercher leurs petits. L'année prochaine nous serons plus vigilants.
    Bravo Alan, les photos sont superbes.
    Bisous mon ami

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    1. How terrible, Nathalie. I know it would have upset you greatly. David xo

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    2. Hi Nathalie: I hope you come back and read this. I am unable to get into your blog. A message tells me that it is private and I do not have permission. If there is a way to get around this please let me know - davidmgascoigne@gmail.com.

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    3. Sorry David. The mistake is mine ! I hope everything is back to normal

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  58. What a rich, wonderful post. I'm envious as can be of your goldenrod. It's still too early for ours, it seems -- or I've been in the wrong places to see it. I was especially taken with your identification of the goldenrod galls. I have photos of two examples of the large round one, but hadn't been able to figure out what they were. The big excitement for me on Sunday was finally (!) spotting a tiny toad in the woods. It couldn't have been more than a half-inch long, and it blended into the tree bark so well I wouldn't have seen it unless it moved. Unfortunately, it moved too quickly for a photo, but I saw it!

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  59. Perfect pictures of birds, insects and flowers.
    Greetings.

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  60. I'm still way behind in my blog reading, so by now, you're off to other adventures, but this did look like a splendid outing. Happy "Meeting Miriam" anniversary!

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  61. David - that was quite a large group for an outing - all the better to spot things with that many eyes!!! I admired the polka-dots of the larvae of the Carrot Seed Moth. And I was amazed by the berries on the High Bush Cranberry - they did not look real!!!

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Land Acknowledgement

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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