Wednesday, October 09, 2024

A Day at The Pinery, Lambton Shores, ON

 26 September, 2024

     Having already visited locations on Lakes Ontario and Erie this year, we decided to spend the day at The Pinery, an ancient oak savannah on the shore of Lake Huron.


     We arrived around 10h:00 so the first order of business was to find a space to have a coffee and a muffin.


     This would do perfectly!


     The sheer number of oak trees makes this a very agreeable destination, but I am woefully inadequate at identifying the various species, so through this post they will all be in the genus Quercus, but no more specific than that.


     Having finished our snack we set off to find a trail.

Cedar Trail


     Despite being the Cedar Trail there was an abundance of oaks.


     White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginanus) are noted for their voracious, indiscriminate eating habits and these deer exclosures were interesting.


     In most areas deer are not subject to any form of natural predation and experience explosive growth, often quickly eliminating their food sources, and in the process damaging fragile ecosystems. The idea of a cull is anathema to most naturalists, but faced with winter starvation, it is sometimes a necessary solution to a vexing problem.
     This is a splendid example of lichen, probably a form of Typical Shield Lichen (subfamily Parmelioideae), but I am getting way beyond myself when I attempt identification of these fascinating organisms.


     Here is a beautiful example of a Sow Thistle (genus Sonchus), thrusting up from the forest floor.



     This fearsome insect is a type of Spider Wasp, family (Pompilidae).


     You probably don't want to get on its bad side!


     There must have been a recent emergence of the larvae of the Hickory Tussock Moth (Lophocampa caryae) for their caterpillars were "everywhere."


     Here is a species of Common Flower Fly (genus Syrphus).


     There were several groups of birds, some migratory, some resident, but pictures were not easy to come by. Here is a Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula).


     Strangely, a wetland hosted not a single duck, not a grebe, not a gull, not a goose.


     Asters (genus Symphyotrichum) are always lovely - a great mood enhancer in my world.


     Here is a fine example of the fungus known as Chicken of the Woods (Laetiporus sulphureus).


     Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) were common and very vocal, both residents and migrants.


     Many White-throated Sparrows (Zonotrichia albicollis) were moving through the area.


     And a few White-crowned Sparrows (Zonotrichia leucophrys) too.



     And what would a woodland walk be without an Eastern Grey Squirrel (Sciurus carolinensis) or two?


     It was time for lunch and it didn't take us long to find a suitable spot.


     In fact, we had the whole picnic shelter to ourselves.
     The exciting discovery at this location was a Metric Paper Wasp (Polistes metricus), a species that has only recently occurred in Southwestern Ontario.


     Initially, it landed inside Miriam's lunchbox, but she managed to coax it outside. Here you see it sitting atop a Babybel cheese.


     A trail led from the picnic area down to the lake, with a highly descriptive name as you see!


     

     There were many birds here, mainly Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) - 


     - and Myrtle Warbler (Setophaga coronata).


     A narrow trail was bounded by snow fencing on either side, a device to help hold the dunes in place and to deter people from climbing onto sensitive areas, I assume.


     The views of Lake Huron were impressive.


     As you might imagine, Miriam occupied herself by taking pictures.


     The stones formed a sort of natural mosaic and were extremely pleasing to the eye.


     Dune grass serves to anchor the sparse soil and prevent erosion.


     White Poplar (Populus alba) is able to eke out a living in this harsh environment.


     A Northern Paper Wasp (Polistes fuscatus) foraged successfully on goldenrod (genus Solidago).


     This Celery Leaftier Moth (Udea rubigalis) stubbornly refused to perch any way other than upside down!


Nipissing Trail

     Never having done this trail before we were keen to discover its treasures.



     So we set off.



     Here is an excellent example of the process of decay and renewal so vital to the health of a forest ecosystem.


     Another Celery Leaftier Moth proved that late September is the time to see them!


     The berries of a Greenbrier (genus Smilax) looked especially ripe and appealing.


     Once again we observed the regeneration of a forest taking place before our eyes.


     I don't think I have ever seen two tussock moth caterpillars so close together.




Riverside Trail



     Mushrooms are fascinating organisms, but an identification challenge for the non-expert. I am able to narrow this species down to the genus Stereum.


     Here I am a little more successful with a more colourful and distinctive species, Stereum lobatum.


     Running Strawberry Bush (Euonymus obovatus) will soon be withered and limp on the forest floor, gathering strength for spring.


     

     Another fungus in the genus Stereum.


     Bluestem Goldenrod (Solidago caesia) was still blooming prolifically.


     The meandering trail ultimately brought us to the the Ausable River.


     It is always such a pleasure to see rivers in their natural state, unchanneled and meandering as they should. There is a rare beauty about them, and a sense of tranquility too.
     Midland Painted Turtles (Chrysemis picta marginata) basked in the warm rays of late September sun.



     Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) were emblematic of the scene laid out before us.


     Several Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) were seen overhead, probably migrating.


      Recreational boaters and kayakers made their way along the river, quietly observing the wildlife no doubt.


     A Pure Green Sweat Bee (Augochlora pura) is always a delight to see.


     I think someone may have declared Northern Paper Wasp (Polistes fuscatus) Day for we saw many of them.



     Autumn Meadowhawks (Sympetrum vicinum) were abundant.



     Nodding Beggartick Bidens cernua) is a welcome addition to moist areas.


     It's getting late in the season for Ospreys (Pandion haliaetus) to still be here, but this individual patrolled the river for a while and then perched on a branch overhanging the water.


     These Midland Painted Turtles lined up in formation.


     Pretty soon they will be entering brumation (sort of like hibernation) until next spring, so doubtless they are enjoying these last warm days.
     Brown Stink Bugs (Euschistus servus) will try to get into your house to overwinter - but it's better to keep them out!


     I believe these creatures are Oleander Aphids (Aphis nerii).


     They seem to be north of their normal range, but I can't figure out what else they might be.


Exeter, ON

     The claim to fame for this small Ontario town is a population of Eastern Grey Squirrels possessing an inherited condition that causes their fur to be white.


     We had never seen this rarity before and were very pleased when we found one almost right away. It was quite cooperative too, keeping its distance, but showing no sign of fleeing.


      It really seemed to us that we had hit the jackpot when it was joined by the "normal" black and grey morphs.


     It was a brilliant curtain-closer on a day with nature.



David M. Gascoigne,
David M. Gascoigne,

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

61 comments:

  1. The trees you show are all so beautiful, and so is the fungus David. So many different ones there are. The Blue Jay is one of my favorite birds. It was nice to see a picture of it again. Yes, it must be called jackpot to see white and black squirrels at the same time! They are both beautiful.
    Hugs and kisses, Marit

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  2. I enjoyed taking this stroll with you and learning about so many different types of insects, bees, etc. that I know nothing about. Beautiful photos of the birds and trees. We recently were vacationing in South Carolina and the maple oak trees were exquisite. We saw a tree that was in someone's yard that was close to 280 years old.

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  3. ...it's interesting that a tiny acorn can become a giant oak. Thanks for showing me the natural details that you found.

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  4. Hello David,
    A great series of photos of your walk in The Pinery.
    The shield lichen is really beautiful.
    I find the spider wasp a creep and we don't see the Blue Jay here in the Netherlands.
    The white squirrel is very special, I've never seen this before either.
    I enjoyed your photos.
    Greetings Irma

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  5. Hari Om
    I swear I could almost smell the fungi and woodland compost odours... Such beauty... YAM xx

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  6. I love water scenes more than earth scenes. You are fortunate to see those three lakes. I have a number of oil paintings of the sea and bays and lakes hanging in my home. Water is so refreshing. Sorry to read about the culling of deer. Seems so inhumane.

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    1. I am amazed to hear you say this, Gigi. The animals are culled only as a last resort to prevent starvation in the winter when already overgrazed food is in very short supply. You willingly eat beef and chicken that have been factory farmed for the exclusive purpose of proving you with animal flesh as part of your diet. That's what's inhumane.

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    2. But who eats the deer that have been culled? We eat meat to survive. I understand the reason for culling though I don't like it.

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    3. Let's not beat this to death, but you eat meat because you like to eat meat, Gigi, and its origin or method of demise probably never crosses your mind. You can survive perfectly well without meat - many would argue even better without meat.

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  7. Great park to spend some time...
    Great pictures !
    Love the black and white squirrels !
    Have a interesting !
    Anna

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  8. Hi David Fantastic walk! Beautiful photos. Love it al but special the white squirrel, the white-throated Sparrow and the two photos of the Stereum.
    Lovely landscape and stunning finds.
    All the best, Maria

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  9. I remember first seeing one of the great lakes, Ontario, and being amazed that it was so big it had a horizon! My European outlook hadn't grasped that of course it would.

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  10. It was certainly a beautiful walk and a day well spent, with beautiful birds that always bring us a touch of joy.
    Greetings,
    JR

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  11. Oh my gosh, look at that white squirrel!!!!! Another day filled with nature's wonders. Thanks for letting us tag alone.

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  12. Great selection of photos David. I am sure neither you nor Miriam would get on the bad side of that wasp or any other wasp. I really love the photo of the wasp on the cheese! And the other insects too. The birds and the mushrooms are wonderful too. Enjoyed these photos :-D

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    Replies
    1. A while ago I stepped into the shower and unknown to me there was a wasp there. I inadvertently stepped on it and it stung me on the bottom of my foot. Not an experience I would recommend!

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  13. Impressive, each and every one of them is magnificent. I thought the green mushrooms were great.
    The day of the wasp has been very profitable...
    Hugs

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  14. Thank you both. I could almost see/hear/smell the delights of this walk.

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  15. A wonderful outing spent walking and enjoying nature's offerings.

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  16. Buena actividad y entretenimiento, te proporciona los paseos por la Naturaleza. Las imágenes siempre son maravillas.
    Un abrazo.

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  17. I loved this walk with you, some of the fungus are spectacular. What you call a Common Flower fly is what we call Hoverflies, some of them are beautiful. Lots of wasps! That white squirrel is beautiful and great to see all three colours at the same time.
    Bisous mon ami, Diane

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    Replies
    1. There is a population of white squirrels in or near Enterprise, Kansas, USA. I have seen them there, but this was my first time in Canada. Very special, Diane.

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  18. The tussock moth caterpillars are common here this year. It is a great time of year for mushrooms too. Love those turtles!

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  19. Wow, that white squirrel is really cool. You were lucky to find one so quickly. And I forget how you're able to visit so many of the Great Lakes without having to make it a long long trip. (Of course some areas would be a longer drive because I know those lakes are large.) And you mentioned the bog in Orono, Maine in your comment on my post, and I've been there. It's a very cool bog. And bogs are very cool places for certain. Have a great end of your week.

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  20. Oh, such beauty. And all for free. Far better than any made made amusements in my book. Thank you for taking us along.

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  21. Nice to see the squirrels getting a bit of love! You may recall my fondness for them! I'll see you the identification of oaks and raise you the identification of gum trees! If ever there was a group of trees to make a nonsense of the simple species concept they are it!
    Hope all is well. Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

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  22. A wonderful walk, and a lovely red dragonfly.

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  23. Hola! good evening David, how much i learn from your explanations, a lot, a lot! ev´ry corner of the path becomes a jewel for the attentive observer. There is a sense of harmony in each scene & wow, the white squirrel, how pompous!! i love it, a divine rarity.

    Have a beautiful october full of energy and wonder 🌻✨🌿🍋💛🌼🟡🐤

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  24. Hello David,
    Here in Germany, such beautiful paths are hard to find and if they are, they are only in tourist regions which are completely overcrowded (and full of rubbish). But with you, I see pure nature on easy-to-walk paths. Another great trip with perfect reporting, I really enjoyed it.
    Greetings, Frank

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    Replies
    1. Litter and garbage are a worldwide problem, Frank, but humans seem to care less each year.

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  25. Thanks for taking us along. Such a lovely place for a walk to see the birds, and such.
    The photos are wonderful.

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  26. Oh, to start the day with a coffee and a muffon at 10 that would I also have done ;))
    It was certainly a beautiful walk and a day well spent, with beautiful birds ( the white throated sparrow was a special one we don´t have here in Sweden) that always bring us a touch of joy. And the grey (or white) squirrel was special as well.
    Greetings,

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    Replies
    1. And they are Miriam’s wonderful homemade muffins too!

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  27. Great post and nature photos. It is cool to see the white squirrel.
    Take care, have a great day and happy weekend!

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  28. I just killed two stink bugs....they are annoying. I have never seen a grey squirrel..here we only see the brown one.

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    Replies
    1. You couldn’t just put them outside rather than kill them?

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  29. You had a nice hike, dear David. I love the little black-capped chickadee. There are a lot of great tits and blue tits here in my area. They have been bathing heavily in the water basin for the birds all summer long and the food provision will soon continue.
    And yes, I love these narrow forest and field paths. Thank you for your great photos and the Mittelland ornamental tortoise and the Canada geese show me that this is not my area... best regards for you both.
    p.s. Great white squirrel addition to this beautiful day. So nice. Thank you very much.
    I'm happy to see.

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  30. Wonderful trails, trees, flowers, pebbles, insects and especially birds!
    The photo of a Babybel cheese made me happy as well. They were my son's favourites when he was a kid.
    Even though you made these walks in September, you would be very welcome to join this month's photo challenge.
    Have a great weekend!

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  31. Hi David, excellent blog, a great variety , I like the grey squirrels. They live in the town of my niece in Canada too. Have a nice weekend !

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  32. Hi David, excellent blog, a great variety , I like the grey squirrels. Have a nice weekend !

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  33. A really wonderful route with lots of interesting birds and insects to photograph.

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  34. Great report about that beautiful place located close to lake Huron. I would like to walk along those soft paths. I also like that small wooden bridge. Great photos of the spider wasp.
    Dune grass is very important, as it anchors sand and cut coastal winds. In Italy it is protected by the penal law.

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    1. You are right. Dune grass is critical. I hope the law is strictly enforced.

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  35. What a wonderful day you had. It's always good to find a new place with exciting finds. That blaCK SPIDER wasp is definitely not top of my favourites! But the white squirrel is beautiful. Lake Huron is huge and very impressive, wow! Hope you soon find another new place to explore. Hugs, Valerie xxxxxxx

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  36. From white and black squirrels to spider wasps we live in a world of marvels. Your forest walk encapsulates well the richness of life!

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  37. Wonderful pictures as always. I especially like the fungi and I agree that the stones create a marvelous mosaic, worthy of framing.

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  38. A gorgeous time of the year to go on a walk. You certainly gave us a wonderful site-seeing tour. I liked the Pure Green Sweat Bee making a filigree out of that leaf and the fungi. You must have very sharp eyes to see all these wonderful insects. Thank you David!

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  39. Delightful tour! I want to see a white squirrel.

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  40. The trails look so delightful and easily walkable, David. The photos of the lichen and the fungus are exquisite and so interesting. I'm not sure that I have seen so many different ones on just one walk. Their names are wonderful, too - Chicken of the Woods. Who came up with that? The only fungus I know by name is Turkey Tail which is a very fitting name. I'm a bit envious that you have such an abundance of lovely trails not too far away from your home. I love our trails as well, but unfortunately the majority is in more difficult terrain and I prefer to not walk them on my own. I had a couple falls and since then my confidence has slipped a little bit. I'm working on re-building it. Hugs to you and big thank you that you always take us on your walks - Carola

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  41. Kiitos David ja Miriam, olipa jälleen mielenkiintoista olla retkikumppaninanne. Polku oli pitkä, mutta sieltä tuli runsas ja upea kuvasato. Kiitos.

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  42. What a beautiful place! You managed to walk so many trails and experience natural history up close. Your photos are so beautiful — and informative.
    best, mae at maefood.blogspot.com

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  43. Gracias David por esta fabulosa entrada y excursión por la naturaleza. Un paseo precioso por las fotos de Miriam, que son perfectas. Me encantó el arrendajo azul y las ardillas. También había buitres.
    Todo en Monfragüe impresiona amigo. Si alguna vez venís avísadnos, nos gustará acompañaros.
    Buen fin de semana.
    Un abrazo.

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  44. White squirrel!
    I never thought she would be so beautiful!

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  45. Beautiful photos, nature is wonderful. I like the line up of turtles on the tree. Lovely views of the lake and trails. The White Squirrel is a neat sighting. Thank you for linking up and sharing your critter post. Take care, have a great weekend. PS, thank you for leaving me a comment.

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  46. He disfrutado mucho con todo el reportaje, pero lo que más me ha gustado ha sido ver esa ardilla blanca, es una preciosidad ¡qué suerte haberla encontrado! y gracias por publicar ese encuentro.
    Muchos besos y abrazos.

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  47. Queridos amigos me encanto el paseo, todo es maravilloso , pero sin duda la ardilla blanca es preciosa, nunca ni en fotos había visto algo tan bonito. Espectaculares fotos. Besos para ti y para Miriam.

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  48. Un gran reportaje querido amigo. Las ardillas me encantaron. Abrazos.

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  49. I did enjoy my walk with you.
    The reflections in the water was as beautiful as seeing the variety of nature and wildlife.
    That white squirrel is amazing.

    All the best Jan

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