The Pond on Platinum Drive and The Mill Race Trail

26 August, 2023     

     There is a pond on Platinum Drive in Waterloo, seemingly awaiting the ever expanding housing developments that continue to gobble up land for wildlife, but for the moment it harbours many gulls and other species.

     As you may see, every plumage stage is represented here, and for those who take delight in teasing out the ages of gulls, the challenge awaits you.

      Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis) predominate, with American Herring Gulls (Larus smithsonianus) in the minority.

American Herring Gull (Juvenile)

American Herring Gull (adult)

Ring-billed Gulls (juvenile)

27 August, 2023

Mill Race Trail, St. Jacobs, ON

      What could constitute a more delightful start to the excursion than a Monarch (Danaus plexippus)?

     Well, a Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) might have something to say about that.

     It looks so captivating, probing for nectar on Red Clover (Trifolium pratense), an image of exquisite sublimity if ever I saw one.

     A Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) teamed up with Chicory (Cichorium intybus), each synergistically enhancing the beauty of the other.

    The ever reliable Slender Spreadwing (Lestes rectangularis) was our companion for much of the time we spent along the trail.

     I was recently having an online discussion with a fellow blogger about clades. Bees are found in the clade Anthophila, containing over 16,000 known species. Some are extremely difficult to identify, especially from a single photograph, and this is the case with the individual below.

     Once in a while it's good to contemplate the familiar aspects of life and to acknowledge how much you love their very familiarity, the constancy of their presence. So it is for me with Mallard (Anas platyrynchos).

     Eastern Black Carpenter Ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) prefers moist woodlands where soft, rotting wood is easily chewed, but it has the potential to cause structural damage to buildings.

     Most people are familiar with Harvestmen (order Opiliones), but they are often confused with the superficially similar Crane Flies (superfamily Tipuloidea), all being referred to as Daddy Longlegs! I knew a woman once who called them Harry Longlegs in a rare overture of personification.

Genus Leiobunum

     In the picture below you will see a Small Carpenter Bee (genus Ceratina) on the left and a Canadian Potter Wasp (Symmorphus canadensis) on the right.

     My knowledge of  Gastropoda is sadly limited, but I enjoy them nevertheless, and embrace every opportunity to learn a little more about them. I am quite confident that the example below is found in the genus Trochulus, a genus of small air-breathing land snails.

     I don't have much in the way of reference materials for Mollusca, but I find the now ancient book, The Eastern Land Snails, John B. Burch (1962) very useful.

     This sparklingly attractive fly is found in the suborder Brachycera - Brachyceran Flies.

          Cluster Flies (genus Pollenia) are big enough that they might be able to escape the sticky clutches of its web, but better to stay clear of it in the first place.

     Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) is prolific, long lasting and easily found.

     These leaves of Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum) have already turned a deep red, but I suspect this is a result of stress rather than a true advance into fall.

     For regular readers of my blog, Northern Leopard Frog (Lithobates pipiens) is becoming an old friend.

     Common Water Striders (Aquarius remiges) hold a fascination for us that is hard to explain, but is nonetheless true.

     Asian Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis), yet another invader from afar, has become extremely common.

     It was initially introduced in North America to control aphids and scale insects, but the usual adverse knock-on effects followed. It overwinters indoors, often in human dwellings, in large numbers, and readily bites humans. It has a voracious appetite and easily outcompetes native species, sometimes consuming them.

     Well established now, it is probably a permanent part of our landscape, yet it represents another case of humans interfering with nature, without taking account of the long-term consequences.

     Who would dare to challenge the belief that Goldenrod Leaf Beetle (Trirhabda canadensis) is one of the Jim Dandies of the insect world?

     A Hairy-banded Mining Bee (Andrena hirticincta) was hard at work.

     The undeniably attractive Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is highly invasive. Its high nectar content allows it to outcompete native species for pollinating services.

     Marsh Snipe Fly (Rhagio tringarius) is not a species we often see.

     Canadian Petrophila (Petrophila canadensis) is a striking diurnal moth.

     Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens) lives up to its name; it is common!

     The wasp below is in the genus Ectemnius in the family Crabonidae.

     They excavate nest tunnels in dead wood, sometimes in quite large aggregations.

     A Traverse-banded Flower Fly (Eristalis transversa) is very attractive.

     During the summer months a local tourist train runs between St. Jacobs and Waterloo and it happened to pass by as we were walking along the trail.

     We exchanged cheery waves with the driver. (is that what you call him?)

     Cross Orbweaver (Araneus didematus) is a pretty common spider.

     Common Jewelweed (Impatiens capensis) and Red Clover (Trifolium pratensis) growing together are exceptionally appealing.

     When I see Ichneumon Wasps (tribe Ichneumonini) my thoughts often turn to Berndt Heinrich, that most consummate of naturalists, who cut his teeth even as a young boy collecting them for his father. Here we see one with a carpenter ant.

     At the parking lot we came across this scene.

     Talk about the old and the new!

28 August, 2023

The Pond on Platinum Drive, Waterloo, ON

     Once again there were gulls aplenty.

     The stars of the show this time around, however, were Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura).

     What truly interesting birds they are.

     One was feeding on the desiccated carcass of a long dead bird; a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) perhaps, but it's hard to be sure.

     A few Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) and Mallards rounded out the crew.

     It's always worth stopping there; you never know what you might find.