Tuesday, September 10, 2024

MacGregor Point Provincial Park, 28 August, 2024

     "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.
    

     Unusual for a moth it perched with wings upright like a butterfly.
     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.



     There is nothing quite like a wetland to put an extra bounce in a naturalist's step.



     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.


     Water posed no challenge to a juvenile Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis).


     The vegetation was diverse, colourful and extremely interesting.


     Even at a first glance there were familiar species and those that were unknown - or seldom seen and unremembered. 


     Bellflowers (genus Campanula) were lovely, nodding in the breeze.


     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.


     We were very happy to see Field Sagewort (Artemesia campestris).


     It is hard to surpass the scintillating splendour of Fen Grass of Parnassus (Parnassus glauca). 


     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).


     Shrubby Cinquefoils (genus Dasiphora) are gorgeous, each bloom a burst of joy.


     New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) is a classic bloom of southern Ontario, found from August through November.


     Rain and a spider web combine to produce a dazzling display of nature's beauty.


     An American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus) rested at the water's edge.


     I don't remember having seen Sticky False Asphodel (Triantha glutinosa) before.


     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.


     Goldenrods (genus Solidago) were everywhere, bursting with exuberance.


     White Turtlehead (Chelona glabra) was a jewel in the landscape.


     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.


     Perhaps it will succeed where other tactics have failed.
     Here is another example of nature bedecking the woodland with unrivalled beauty.


     It is breathtaking, isn't it?
     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 fruit of Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris) look like miniature pincushions!


     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.


     Solomon's Seal (Maianthemum racemosum) produced a good crop of fruit.


     Brown Knapweed (Centaurea jacea) sometimes seems to resemble an ice cream cone.


     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!


     You can see the marks of the dastardly deed!


     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.


     This is the kind of habitat where you may find them.


     Here is an excellent example of forest recycling, where new life is spawned by the dead and dying.


     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.


     Our lunch was wholesome and delicious - it always is!


     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.



     Seeds scattered on the ground, however, were gathered up with alacrity.
     We had been hearing Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) all morning and they came around, but remained in the trees.


     We were thankful that this fellow didn't decide to come for a snack - it might have been us!


     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!


     After lunch we found another trail to explore.


     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!


     Cherry-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum internum) is very handsome, don't you agree?


     A Jagged Ambush Bug (Phymata americana) lies in wait for unsuspecting and unwary prey.


     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.


     White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra) is exceptionally appealing in my opinion.


     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.


     I bet it would be spectacular!
     Common Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum) is not as bold as many other plants, but is none the less welcome in our world.


     Common Selfheal (Prunella vulgaris) is a never-ending source of delight.


     And Milkweed Tussock Moth (Euchaetes egle) larvae are so enchanting you want to take them with you - okay, maybe not!


     It was time to go home - and we left without caterpillars.
     We did have visions dancing in our heads, however; of this.....


     ..... and this.


     We will be back!
David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

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

58 comments:

  1. I love that first quote - and yes, being able to photosynthesise would be pretty special too. Something to aspire to.

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    1. When some people photosynthesize it will be the first useful thing they ever did!

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  2. ...David, thanks for taking me on this nature hike this morning. It a great way to start the day.

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  3. Thank 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

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  4. Those wild flowers are beautiful. That Cherry-faced Meadowhawk looks truly handsome, David.

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  5. El mejor legado que podemos dejar a nuestros hijos, es preservar esas zonas de la contaminación.
    Un abrazo.

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  6. A pleasant trip, with many things seen in a wild environment.

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  7. Wonderful pictures. Thanks for the tour.

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  8. Beautiful series of photos David.
    I really like the wild flowers, my favorite this time is photo fifty.
    Greetings Irma

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  9. 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.

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  10. The report is truly impressive. It's full of great photos.
    Thank you for showing us those magnificent parks and providing so much interesting information.
    Greetings

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  11. I 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

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  12. Thanks for the tour, David. I enjoyed seeing what you saw. Nature sure is beautiful.

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    1. When you and Shari make your visit to Southern Ontario, Bill, I’ll take you for a walk. Come soon!

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  13. Beautiful. Lovely wildflowers. :)

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  14. Superb 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

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  15. Potentilla 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!

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    1. Not so much desperate as creative and resourceful.

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  16. Thank you for showing the beauty that surrounded you both on this lovely hike. It's a wonder to have eyes that see!

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  17. Your opener was purrfect.
    So many wonders in this post. How many miles do you two normally trek when you are out and about?

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    1. 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.

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    2. You cover a lot of ground on your outings.

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    3. It 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.

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  18. What 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.

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  19. Hi 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
    The 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!

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  20. 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.

    Love,
    Janie

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  21. What a pleasant area. The photos of the raindrops on the cobweb, now that's awesome.

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  22. Hi David,
    Looking 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

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  23. 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!

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  24. Kiitos David ja Miriam runsaasta kuvasadosta ja matkakertomuksesta. Olen ihan haltioitunut - taas kerran. Loistavia kuvia!

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  25. I 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.

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    1. We visited Plitvice Lakes a few years ago so I will look forward to your coverage.

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  26. I love the carved binocs and the bird. Awfully cute.

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  27. The 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.

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  28. Hi David, beautiful parc. Is the beach near the parc ? I like the squirrels. Beautiful photos. Greet Caroline

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  29. Ooh 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.
    Your 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.

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  30. What a beautiful trip!....I love that it has a beach....it makes a the landscape complete!.......Abrazotes, Marcela

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  31. What 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.
    Question: 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.

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    1. 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.

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    2. Thank 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

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  32. By 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.

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    1. Thanks 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.

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  33. I too like that first quote.
    I also enjoyed your photographs.

    All the best Jan

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  34. 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!
    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  35. Hello David
    a 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

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    1. We’ll get back to birds soon, Frank. During the summer they are quiet and secretive.

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  36. Each 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.

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  37. Siempre encantada de venir por aquí. Gracias y abrazos.

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  38. Hello David :)
    The 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

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  39. 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

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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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