Catching up.....Episode 5

27 April, 2024

Benjamin Park, Waterloo, ON

     It was very agreeable to encounter a female Purple Finch (Haemorhous purpureus) almost as soon as our feet hit the trail.

     Yellow Trout Lily (Erythronium americanum) was both prolific and beautiful.

     Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum) does not have the same wow factor as Yellow Trout Lily, but it is no less valued as it appears in spring.

     Red Trillium (Trillium erectum), on the other hand, punches well above its weight.

     Early Blue Cohosh (Caulophyllum giganteum) was emergent here and there throughout the woodland.

     Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis) is without doubt one of my favourites of the spring ephemerals; it fills me with pleasure year after year.

     Lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis) was ubiquitous.

     I am fairly sure this is Black Cherry (Prunus serotina).

     Daffodils (genus Narcissus) are very common and are scattered throughout the forest.

     They are not native, of course, and it's a bit of a mystery how they got there. It's not as though there were just a couple of plants either.

     Whatever their origin they are an attractive addition to the floral landscape.

     Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) needs no further explanation, except to say that no plant is more subject to rampant discrimination.

     It is a welcome addition to my world.

     An American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is almost as common as a dandelion - not subject to discrimination, however!

     A Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) is always a welcome visitor.

     Neotropical migrants are expected in spring, many moving farther north where they will find their breeding territories eliminated by wildfires last year - and already fires are raging again. Black-and-White Warbler (Mniotitla varia) may breed locally and avoid such tragedy, although it breeds sparsely in southwestern Ontario.

     Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula), by contrast is almost exclusively a northern breeder, rarely nesting south of the Canadian Shield.

     Bristly Buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) is nothing if not cheery.

     And what is more glorious than a Large-flowered Trillium (Trillium grandiflorum).

30 April, 2024

Benjamin Park, Waterloo, ON

     Identifying beetles can be challenging to say the least. The best I can do with this one is to narrow it down to the genus Meloe, a species of oil beetle.

     Red Deadnettle (Lamium purpureum) was coming along nicely.

      These green patches of Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum) will soon be bedecked with beautiful little pink flowers.

      Yellow Trout Lily continues to be a source of great delight.

     White trilliums carpeted the forest floor and impressed everyone with their serene beauty.

     Lungwort thrives as it always does.

     At times it seemed that we could hardly take a step without a Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta) fluttering in front of us.

     Ostrich Ferns (Matteuccia struthiopteris) formed their characteristic fiddle heads, so much prized by gastronomes.

     I saw three Rose-breasted Grosbeaks (Pheucticus ludovicianus), all well hidden by emerging foliage, but I was able to get a picture of one of them.

     I first heard, and then saw a Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus).

     This is exceptionally early for this species and may reflect changes in its phenology as it relates to climate change.

     There will be more soon. You can see why we like to walk this trail!