"If we love our children, we must love our earth with tender care and pass it on, diverse and beautiful, so that people, on a warm spring day 10,000 years hence, can feel peace in a sea of green, can watch a bee visit a flower, can hear a sandpiper call in the sky, and can find joy in being alive."
Hugh Iltis
MacGregor Point Provincial Park is on the shore of Lake Huron, making this the third of the Great Lakes we have visited this summer. We had talked about spending a few days on Lake Superior too, but I doubt that will happen this year.
Each provincial park is fabulous in its own way and we are very fortunate to have ready access to these magnificent places.
Almost as soon as we began our first walk we noticed a moth that we did not recognize. It was difficult to get a picture, but by perseverance and doggedly following it, Miriam succeeded with an excellent shot.
It was only when we got home and were able to do a little research that we were able to identify it as a Shiny Grey Carpet Moth (Stamnodes gibbicostata). Little is known about this species which primarily inhabits the midwestern United States. Probably poorly named since its habitat is reported as forest, it is unlikely that this is an indoor species.
Rushes (genus Juncus) help to stabilize the ponds, regulate temperature and provide food and shelter for countless organisms.
We soon arrived at a beach along the shore of Lake Huron, looking out over this huge inland sea. It boggles the mind that indigenous people crossed the lake in birchbark canoes. Their craft were ruggedly built and they were skilled paddlers, but at times it must have been a daunting venture.
One might imagine the joy of people on the shore welcoming brave young men in their canoes returning with food.
Even at a first glance there were familiar species and those that were unknown - or seldom seen and unremembered.
We kept glancing out over the lake fully expecting a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) or two to put in an appearance, but we had to be content with gulls.
Nodding Ladies' Tresses (complex Spirnathes cernua) have been subject to much taxonomic discussion over the past several years. The following flower is probably Sphinx Ladies' Tresses (S. incurva), but I am not sure.
We had expected that we would see a number of warblers migrating through the area, but we saw none at all. The presence of a Merlin (Falco columbarius) might have accounted for their absence in one section of the park, but wherever we went there were no warblers - nor thrushes nor flycatchers for that matter.
The abundance of flowers was, therefore, especially welcome.
This fine specimen is found among the Wormwoods and Sagebrushes (genus Artemisia).
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) is a classic bloom of southern Ontario, found from August through November.
Greater Fringed Gentian (Gentianopsis crinita) reminds me a little of a decorative flower vase, the very kind in which it might be placed to tastefully grace a table.
The mere mention of the word "buckthorn" can cause normal, sane naturalists and foresters, ( and even university professors that I know) to froth at the mouth and enter into paroxysms of rage.
This highly invasive plant (genus Rhamnus) thrives in a variety of habitats and forms dense thickets that displace native plants. It alters nitrogen levels in the soil, promoting its own growth and inhibiting the growth of native species.
Its berries have a strong laxative effect and pass through a bird quickly, thereby promoting rapid spread.
Numerous methods of attack have been tried by armies of zealous buckthorn destroyers in an attempt to eradicate this intruder, with little success unfortunately.
It was interesting to see this approach, new to me.
Here is another example of nature bedecking the woodland with unrivalled beauty.
Canada Rush (Juncus canadensis) is a very attractive component of a wetland ecosystem.
Blue-fruited Dogwood (Cornus obliqua) provides habitat and food for a diverse range of wildlife, and is important in wetland restoration and erosion control projects.
The Huron Fringe Birding Festival is held annually at MacGregor Point, and I gave a presentation there a couple of years ago. It's good to see them looking to the future.
American Robin (Turdus migratorius) was very common throughout the park, and this youngster was learning to make its own way in life.
You may see here how fungi occupies dead and rotting wood. There appears to be more than one species with Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) predominant.
I would like to have met the person who first assigned the moniker Twice-stabbed Stink Bug (Cosmopepla linteriana). What a wonderfully descriptive name!
Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) was highly valued and revered by Native People, for utilitarian, medicinal and spiritual reasons.
The whole world is familiar with birchbark canoes, but the tree also provided the material for baskets, bowls, cradles and other items essential to indigenous life.
This is an interesting view of a lighthouse, shimmering in the distance.
Boreal Paradise Spiders (Habronattus borealis) move very quickly and you have to be ready with the camera to get a picture.
I am reminded of Robin Wall Kimmerer's memorable declaration, "One day, after I am a daffodil, I will be able to photosynthesize. It's something to look forward to."
Perhaps a Common Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) would do just as well.
There is something uniquely appealing about tiny American Toads (Anaxyrus americanus) hopping around on the forest floor at this time of year, learning to survive in world that is often hostile, with many hazards in their path.
They have to learn how to find food, stay out of harm's way and find a place to hibernate. And we have teenagers that experience angst after five minutes without their phone!
I am pretty sure these are Bonnets (genus Mycena).
Goldenrod Crab Spiders (Misumena vatia) are not especially difficult to find, but it's always a thrill when I do. They are very striking arachnids.
Carrot Seed Moth (Sitochroa palealis) is an invader from Europe, first sighted in North America in 2002.
Since then it has spread rapidly, ironically due to the widespread availability of Wild Carrot (Daucus carota), know colloquially as Queen Anne's Lace, another alien from Europe.
The plant forms a fruit cluster comprised of oval fruits with hooked spines, forming the familiar "bird's nest." It is inside these "nests" that you will find the larva of the Carrot Seed Moth.
It was well past lunch time and our stomachs were reminding us of that fact, so we found a place to eat.
You will not be surprised that we were joined by a whole entourage of perky Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus); they know that gangly two-legged creatures often bring food.
In fact, I had sunflower seeds in the car and I went to get them. A regular shuttle service then swung into high gear as they scooped up the seeds with gusto.
Perhaps the word had reached chickadee world about Miriam's focaccia bread too, for they gleefully scooped up crumbs and scraps.
A couple of American Red Squirrels (Tamiasciurius hudsonicus) joined the fray, but they were not quite bold enough to climb up on the table.
We had been hearing Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) all morning and they came around, but remained in the trees.
Many of you are familiar with the app called Merlin, and use it as an aid to identifying bird song. As I mentioned earlier we had been hearing a Merlin on and off all morning, and suddenly heard it again while we were having lunch. So here is Merlin identifying Merlin!
It turned out that this was not really a trail, but a link between trails. It served our purpose well, however.
Ants (genus Formica) fascinate me, and impress me with their industriousness and the organization of their society, but my ID proficiency is very limited.
In the following picture I am unsure whether the spider is about to make lunch of the ant or the other way around!
Basil has grown exceptionally well at home this year, so I have no need for Wild Basil (Clinopodium vulgare) but perhaps I should try it sometime.
You will note a small insect at the lower right, and I think this is found in the genus Eusphalerum.
They are commonly known as Ocellate Rove Beetles and as far as I can remember this is the first one I have come across.
Whenever I see Greenbottle Flies (genus Lucilia) I imagine how they would look encased in amber.
Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) is not as bold as many other plants, but is none the less welcome in our world.
And Milkweed Tussock Moth (Euchaetes egle) larvae are so enchanting you want to take them with you - okay, maybe not!
We did have visions dancing in our heads, however; of this.....
I love that first quote - and yes, being able to photosynthesise would be pretty special too. Something to aspire to.
ReplyDeleteWhen some people photosynthesize it will be the first useful thing they ever did!
Delete...David, thanks for taking me on this nature hike this morning. It a great way to start the day.
ReplyDeleteThank you for all the lovely photos, David. I am amazed at the great variety of plants that grow near the Great Lakes. Many of them are sold as perennials here. It is interesting that so many of them come from that area. Hugs and kisses, Marit
ReplyDeleteThose wild flowers are beautiful. That Cherry-faced Meadowhawk looks truly handsome, David.
ReplyDeleteEl mejor legado que podemos dejar a nuestros hijos, es preservar esas zonas de la contaminación.
ReplyDeleteUn abrazo.
Don’t count on it. We are humans after all.
DeleteA pleasant trip, with many things seen in a wild environment.
ReplyDeleteWonderful pictures. Thanks for the tour.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful series of photos David.
ReplyDeleteI really like the wild flowers, my favorite this time is photo fifty.
Greetings Irma
Even on an overcast day, you have captured so much beauty with your cameras. The variety of wildflowers at this time of year is just amazing.
ReplyDeleteThe report is truly impressive. It's full of great photos.
ReplyDeleteThank you for showing us those magnificent parks and providing so much interesting information.
Greetings
Es un placer, Fernando.
DeleteI now have visions dancing in my head of yellow spiders, of which I have never seen before and the wicked spider is quite handsome. my todays favorite is the spiderweb with rain drops just because I love the way it looks. each and every flower is perfection.. you hit the mother lode of flowers this trip. out of all the flowers the striped one is my favorite. about half the flowers I have never seen before
ReplyDeleteProbably mine too.
DeleteThanks for the tour, David. I enjoyed seeing what you saw. Nature sure is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteWhen you and Shari make your visit to Southern Ontario, Bill, I’ll take you for a walk. Come soon!
DeleteBeautiful. Lovely wildflowers. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd more.
DeleteSuperb quote to start off with! These photos are amazing. Loving the insects and the gulls. The web looks amazing too. Rain and ice make them look fantastic. The flowers are lovely too. And a healthy lunch! What a great time and you came away with brilliant photos :-D
ReplyDeleteNature has fabulous artwork all its own.
DeletePotentilla and New England Aster are the plants of my garden. David. A beautiful walk among the flowers of August. I liked the photo of the raindrop on the web. Birch trees give a lot of valuable wood and bark. The natives were desperate people!
ReplyDeleteNot so much desperate as creative and resourceful.
DeleteThank you for showing the beauty that surrounded you both on this lovely hike. It's a wonder to have eyes that see!
ReplyDeleteYour opener was purrfect.
ReplyDeleteSo many wonders in this post. How many miles do you two normally trek when you are out and about?
It varies considerably as you might imagine, but I would say on average about 8 - 10 km (5 to 6 miles). Sometimes from home we only walk local trails and that would represent 3 to 5 km (2 to 3 miles). It is not unusual, however, for us to go out morning and afternoon, so double that.
DeleteYou cover a lot of ground on your outings.
DeleteIt is beyond dispute that time spent in nature is therapeutic so I have no doubt there is great benefit in what we do apart from the physical exercise.
DeleteWhat an amazing park, and some amazing photos too. I really like the water droplets and some of your various flower photos. And the birds and insects too. I'm also quite impressed by your lunch boxes. I have never seen anything like those, but I love how they are all divided. It sounds like you had a great day out.
ReplyDeleteWe like those lunch boxes very much too.
DeleteHi Miriam & David, que tal! i'm hallucinating with this extraordinary walk but goldenrod crab spiders... it's another level!! very beautiful (i never thought could say that about a spider) :O lol
ReplyDeleteThe perseverance to capture the beauty of a moth, the echoes of ancient canoes crossing the Huron, etc, remind me of how rich are the treasures that the natural world offers us, beautiful.
Happy Tuesday night, chicos!
I love the quotation at the beginning of your post. The only Great Lake I've seen is Superior (when I was a child), and it was impressive. I'd love to see the others some day.
ReplyDeleteLove,
Janie
What a pleasant area. The photos of the raindrops on the cobweb, now that's awesome.
ReplyDeleteHi David,
ReplyDeleteLooking at the pictures it looks like that this is a NP where people being fond of flowers can have a great time. Of course the park offers a lot more, so that it is interesting for every wildlife lover. It must feel great to have such areas in your neighborhood.
Greetings, Kees
Beautiful views of the lake and the wildflowers. Love the cute Chickadee. The sculpture of the bird on the binocs is cute! Great collection of photos. Take care, have a great day!
ReplyDeleteKiitos David ja Miriam runsaasta kuvasadosta ja matkakertomuksesta. Olen ihan haltioitunut - taas kerran. Loistavia kuvia!
ReplyDeleteI love that lake! Since Hawaii is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, I love the water. Next Wednesday, I'll write a post about beautiful Plitvice Lakes in Croatia.
ReplyDeleteWe visited Plitvice Lakes a few years ago so I will look forward to your coverage.
DeleteI love the carved binocs and the bird. Awfully cute.
ReplyDeleteThe blossoms are gorgeous. Evening primrose is finished here already. The insects photos are wonderful as always. Glad you didn’t find the bear but I bet Miriam would have had a great photo of it.
ReplyDeleteHi David, beautiful parc. Is the beach near the parc ? I like the squirrels. Beautiful photos. Greet Caroline
ReplyDeleteThe beach is in the park, Caroline.
DeleteOoh and aah... Lake Huron is one of those that always makes me dream. Especially when compared to "my" narrow bay, it surely looks like a sea, mysterious and exciting.
ReplyDeleteYour bird photos are always excellent but I have a feeling you nowadays post more photos of plants than before. They are wonderful.
And your lunch boxes look great. :)
Thank you for your comment today: it's poetical in its beauty.
What a beautiful trip!....I love that it has a beach....it makes a the landscape complete!.......Abrazotes, Marcela
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful collection of plant photos, David - thank you, thank you. I was most delighted of the trunk on the ground, regrowing new life. This circle is so fantastic.
ReplyDeleteQuestion: I noticed that the scientific names of birds sometimes have a part describing a location, like the Larus delawarensis in your post. Does this reflect where the bird was first "discovered" or where its native habitat is or where the "discoverer" comes from or...? I see it in plants, too, where is makes kind of sense to me, like our very own Eschscholzia californica, but then the California Poppy is not exclusively native to California. I'm confident you have a reply for this. Thank you in advance and big hugs - Carola, another alien from Europe.
There is no real logic to it, Carola. Sometimes it does reflect the place where the bird was first discovered, but it is just as likely to be named after a person. The person who first discovers the organism has naming rights. So, for example, if I were to discover a new warbler I could name it Setophaga carolaensis, or some such similar specific epithet.
DeleteThank you for explaining this, David. Since there is no real logic to it, "carolaensis" would be perfect since I am not known for much logic. - Carolachen
DeleteBy the way - the quote at the top of your post really spoke to me. You always have these great quotes and I seldom say anything about them, but this one - spot on. These are often my thoughts, albeit not expressed in such an eloquent way.
ReplyDeleteThanks for commenting on this, Carola. I appreciate it very much. These epigraphs are always based on something I have read that has moved me, or at the very least seemed particularly appropriate. I do not troll the internet for them.
DeleteI too like that first quote.
ReplyDeleteI also enjoyed your photographs.
All the best Jan
Wonderful post. Any time spent by water is time well spent. I have to constantly remind myself that these large bodies of water are not the sea!
ReplyDeleteCheers - Stewart M - Melbourne
Hello David
ReplyDeletea great view of the plant world, a completely different post but just as interesting. The area also looks very beautiful but the packed lunch is the best, looks very tasty..
Greetings Frank
We’ll get back to birds soon, Frank. During the summer they are quiet and secretive.
DeleteEach photo is enjoyable and an education. A poignant quote from Hugh Iltis, one I enjoyed immensely, very moving. Thank you for once again opening up my world David, always very much appreciated.
ReplyDeleteSiempre encantada de venir por aquí. Gracias y abrazos.
ReplyDeleteHello David :)
ReplyDeleteThe Mac Gregor Point Provincial Park is very special indeed with a lake which resembles the sea, a beach, and an abundance of wildlife.All the flowers are new to me, and all interesting blooms, but I prefer the blue and the purple ones, but must admit that the lovely Fen Grass of Parnassus is a striking flower, unforgettable, and easily recognisable if I see it again. The images of the raindrops on the spiders web are nature's jewels, and such a breathtaking sight.The yellow spider, Chickadees, and Squirrel are beautifully photographed, and your lunch looks appetising too.What a wonderful day out, many thanks for sharing it with us.
Hugs and xxxxxx
Sonjia
A very productive outing in the observation and photographic recording of multiple species, it was a great delight to see the images and read them. I liked the great variety of flowers, the one I liked the most was the Parnassus. I didn't know that place existed, like many of the reserves in your area. Very good post
ReplyDeleteSo much beauty!
ReplyDelete