Grass Lake and F.W.R. Dickson Wilderness Area

08 June, 2025

Grass Lake, Cambridge, ON

     We were delighted to have Victoria join us for a pleasant excursion to search for some of the signature birds of the area.

     Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) is almost guaranteed given the abundance of suitable habitat.

     It is an enchanting little bird and an enthusiastic chorister.

     Bobolink (Dolichonxy oryzivorus) is suffering from serious loss of habitat throughout its range and is barely hanging on in some locations. Fortunately Grass Lake remains a stronghold for this species.

     We heard the "clarion bir-rrrrrrt calls of the adults," (Johnsgard 1981), frustratingly distant, however, but finally a single Sandhill Crane (Antigone canadensis) glided over a distant copse of trees.

      A while later we watched a single crane land in a bare field (we assume it was the same bird) and it paraded around for a while much to our delight.

F.W.R. Dickson Wilderness Area, Cambridge, ON

     Dame's Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) is an invasive species, yet undeniably beautiful

     This ghostly insect has me baffled. It is is the order Lepidoptera but I am unable to tell you more than that.

     A Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens) was well concealed.

     Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) was very common, never shy about approaching a two-legged creature that might have food.

     Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) were their usual elegant selves.

     An Eastern Wood-Pewee (Contopus virens) announced its presence with song before we spotted it.

     The fearsome insect shown below is a member of the Common Flesh Flies (genus Sarcophaga).

     A Great Crested Flycatcher (Myiarchus crinitus) joyfully announced its presence with its characteristic emphatic "weep" call, but it was a few minutes before we spotted it, not well posed for a picture unfortunately.

     Several Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) were spotted, including two posturing males.

     Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) is keen to befriend humans and it came as no surprise that several kept us company, and were quick to gather up their share of the sunflower seeds we distributed along the rail.

     Contemplative humans.

     Guelder-Rose (Viburnum opulus) was at its floral best.

     Muscoid Flies (superfamily Muscoidea) were in profusion.

     So many birds perched on snags, silhouetted against a wan sky, making it difficult to get good definition on the photographs, as seen here in this image of a Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula).

      Sassafras (genus Sassafras) is beautiful.

     Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) is sometimes seen in very odd plumages as evidenced by this individual.

     Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) were their normal energetic selves.

     Many of the birds were quite far off, this Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) being no exception.

     Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata), on the other hand, did not stray far from the boardwalk where the possibility of food provided by humans was a lure.

     A female Eastern Forktail (Ischnura verticalis) is a splendid insect.

     Horsetails (genus Equisetum) are a bane to the gardener, but very attractive in their native habitat.

     When one sees an Eastern Phantom Crane Fly (Bittacomorpha clavipes) it's sometimes difficult to figure out how all the parts go together!

     F.W.R. Dickson Reserve has become a reliable location to find Tufted Titmouse (Baelophus bicolor), a species which I am convinced is undergoing a range expansion, and is almost certainly now breeding locally.

     A Swamp Sparrow (Melospiza georgiana) posed briefly.

     A male Ruby-throated Humingbird (Archilocus colubris) guarded his territory from a high perch and chased away all intruders.

       A Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) kept returning to the same spot on a distant snag.

     It was far too slender for a potential nest site, so I assume that plentiful insect larvae were there for the taking.

     A carpenter ant (genus Campanotus) patrolled up and down the wooden rail, wandering aimlessly as far as we could tell, with no sign of nestmates.

     I had the great pleasure recently of meeting the great dipterist, Stephen A. Marshall, and chatting for a while. Would that he had been with me to identify this fly (order Diptera) who seemed to take a liking to my hand.

     A Short-horned Click Beetle (Danosoma brevicorne) stopped by the car as we left for home.

     In fact, if my memory serves me well, s/he rode along with us. Perhaps s/he was looking for a vacation in Waterloo - and after all, who can turn down a free ride? Sometimes a change of scenery is just what you need!