Health Valley Trail, St. Jacobs, ON

21 July, 2025 

     I am not sure whether this female Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) turned her back in disdain, or wanted to show off her dorsal features.

     Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) is surely one of the most common plants in an Ontario meadow.

     At the top right you will see a Common Red Soldier Beetle (Rhagonycha fulva), almost as ubiquitous as the plant itself.

     Fly Honeysuckle (Lonicera xylosteum) is spectacular, and an Asian Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis) is happy to hang out there.

     A female Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) is probably through with her maternal duties for the year.

     The evidence of Gall and Rust Mites (family Eriophyidae) is commonly seen.

     I think that most people are familiar with spittle masses, commonly known as "cuckoo spit", but  probably do not know the insect whose nymph creates it. Here is one of those species, the aptly named Meadow Spittlebug (Philaenus spumerius).

     Orbweaver spiders in general are easily found, Cross Orbweaver (Araneus diadematus) being one of the most common species in our area.

     Most gardens will harbour one or two webs.

     Marsh Snipe Fly (Rhagio tringarius) was introduced from Europe and seems to be displacing the native species R. hirtus.

    A glance along the river revealed two likely suspects.

Spotted Sandpiper (Actitis macularius)

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

     Female Narrow-winged Damselflies (family Coenagrionidae) are not always easy to narrow down to species.

     I believe that this is a Green-legged Orbweaver (Mangora maculata) with Miriam's hand behind to see the details a little more clearly.

     Bee-mimic Robber Flies in the complex Laphria canis are very hard to distinguish as to species in the field.

    They are almost indistinguishable from bumble bees at a first glance, a trait that serves them well as they pursue their carnivorous diet, feeding on wasps, beetles and other insects. 

     An alert Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) would not hesitate to make a quick meal out of them.

     A male Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta) is just one of a host of dapper dandies in the odenate realm.

     Surely even the most arachnophobic among you will fall in love with a member of the Orchard Spiders and Allies (genus Leucage).

     Bracket Fungi (family Polyporaceae) are found in a variety of forms and sizes, often massed together on downed trees.

     When people ask, "What is your favourite (insert a word)?", it's a basically impossible question and should never be posed! Chicory (Cichorium intybus) would rank highly on my list, however, if the category were flowers.

     Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus) is nothing short of majestic.

     Sadly, it's almost impossible to find a mature, old growth tree today, most of them having been harvested long ago, especially in southern Ontario.

     American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) seems to be eternally perky and cheerful, and is a welcome companion on most of our local rambles.

     Eastern Harvestman (Leiobunum vittatum) suffers from an identity crisis, often being mistaken for a spider or a crane fly.

     There is something uniquely elegant about the name of Eastern Calligrapher (Toxomerus germinatus).

     Important work is being done to rid the area of invasive Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica).

     American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is an opportunist in the selection of a nest site.

     It was exhilarating to see efforts being made to provide habitat for pollinators - vitally needed as the world faces steep declines in their abundance. 

     As we were about to leave an American Crow (Corvus brachyrynchos) was cawing loudly. Was it saying, "Good riddance!" or "Thanks for being a friend."

     We can only hope it was the latter!

Book Review - Following the Bend: How to Read a River and Understand Its Nature - Princeton University Press

 

     I have been a fluviophile for as long as I can remember, going back to the earliest recollections of childhood when walking along the banks of a local stream was a favoured activity, and to fish for minnows in the shallows was the very essence of joy. Along the way I observed birds, newts, snakes, mammals that came to the water to drink or lived alongside it, and learned more than a little about riparian vegetation. I distinctly recall going to the library at a very young age to borrow books, and always being instructed to wash my hands first! Good advice to this day.

     Obviously, at that stage my involvement was primarily experiential, but the die was cast for a lifetime of fascination with rivers, and I learned what makes a river a river, and came to understand some of the forces involved in the dynamics of a river, estuary, watershed, or floodplain. For some reason sedimentation has been a particular focus, although I am not sure why.

     I have been horrified more than once at the degradation I have witnessed as magnificent rivers are turned into sewers and repositories of all manner of human junk, especially the pernicious, never-ending stream of plastic waste. 

      This book, therefore, is a veritable source of wonder for me. Ellen Wohl is a distinguished scientist who has received many awards throughout her illustrious career, yet in this book she presents herself as a story teller, delivering a pleasing combination of history, geography, geology, hydrology and personal recollection. She does not shy away, even for a moment, from delivering scientific facts, yet it is done in a manner that enables the reader to follow along without feeling overwhelmed. She eschews the use of arcane terminology unless it is critical to the text, but makes sure always to accompany it with an explanation when she does.

     We learn a great deal about how the flow of rivers influences landscape and climate, wildlife and vegetation, and how deleterious human meddling and interference has often been - and continues to be. 

     It is trite to state that water is the essence of all life, yet we continue to value it less than destructive anthropogenic activity, or the quest for profit at all costs. To change our ways seems to be an impossible goal.

     In the final chapter entitled The Future, Wohl examines the forces at play in the 21st Century - too much water in one place, drought in another, rivers drained of their water in so profligate a manner that they are dry riverbeds when they reach the ocean. In some jurisdictions rivers are now accorded legal personhood and perhaps therein lies a glimmer of hope for the future. After all, if a corporation - even one that systematically inflicts environmental Armageddon upon us all - can be granted legal protection in the courts, surely we can see the logic in extending the privilege to a river. 

      Indigenous wisdom would tell us it's the right thing to do. It is past time to listen. 

Following the Bend: How to Read a River and Understand Its Nature - Princeton University Press

Ellen Wohl

Hardcover - US$29.95 - ISBN: 9780691272474

304 pages - 5.5 x 8.125 inches (13.75 x 21.25 cm)

38 black-and-white illustrations

Publication date: 09 September, 2025

A Pleasant July Meander

20 July, 2020

Bridgeport Community Trail/Schaeffer Park

     The Grand River (it really is grand) meandered along and we meandered with it.

     Having parked at the community centre, we mounted the steps to the embankment alongside the river.

     A small patch of Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis) had made a home half way up.

     Across the river a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) was searching for snacks among the Pond Lilies (family Nymphaeceae). Frogs beware!

     Common Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis) was blooming prolifically.

     I am sure that berry-eating birds have  noticed the fine crop on this Honeysuckle (genus Lonicera).

     A juvenile American Robin (Turdus migratorius) was making his way in life.

     Dame's Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) is exceptionally beautiful.

     We saw our first Pale Phalaenostola Moth (Phalaenostola metonalis) of the year - and it cooperatively posed for a picture!

     This was followed by a Black-dotted Glyph (Maliattha synochitis).

     I should have checked the calendar to see whether it was Moth Day, for here is a species in the tribe Olethreutini.

     It was a hot, humid day and we were glad of a little shade.

     Myrmosid wasps are a strictly Northern Hemisphere family, exhibiting extreme sexual dimorphism. This is a winged male (genus Myrmosa).

     They are external kleptoparasitoids of the larvae or pupa of ground-nesting bees and wasps.

     Here is a Mining Bee (genus Andrena) laden with pollen.

     Villa is a large, difficult genus, including many parasitoids of moth larvae. The species below is probably Villa lateralis.

     Small White (Pieris rapae) was plentiful, familiar and easy to identify!

     Condylostylus is a common genus of Long-legged Fly, often seen feeding on small arthropods.

     Wild Basil (Clinopodium vulgare) was exuberantly blooming.

      Blue Mud-dauber Wasp (Chalybion californicum) is easily recognizable and interesting from many perspectives.

     It scouts spider webs while in flight. It then lands on the web and plucks the snare with the finesse of a pizzicato violinist, duping the spider into thinking an insect as been caught, only to find itself on the mud-dauber's menu.

     Normally solitary, C. californicum congregates at night with others by the dozen, sometimes in the hundreds, under bridges, eaves, rock ledges or other sheltered places, to sleep.

     Powdered Dancer (Argia moesta) was indeed dancing that day. Here is a resting female.

     One-banded Mason Wasp (Ancistrocerus unifasciatus) is a striking insect.

     Their habit of nesting in a range of cavities from holes in walls to openings in metal structures has resulted in cosmopolitan distribution for this species.

     Here a pair of Japanese Beetles (Popillia japonica) are working diligently to produce the next generation, no doubt quite unaware that the prior generation was already unwelcome.

Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia)

Staghorn Sumach (Rhus typhina)

     Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) is wonderfully attractive yet detrimental to native vegetation.

     It produces a large volume of nectar, ensuring that it is preferentially visited by pollinators, to the detriment of other plants.

     Manicured gardens have their place, but explosions of wildflowers have a beauty all their own.

     It was no surprise that Miriam was attracted to their wild, unrestrained burst of colour and scent.

     A Short-horned Grasshopper (family Acrididae) found the meadow equally appealing, with never a hint of chemical poison to spoil its dinner.

     A male Powdered Dancer was brilliant in the July sunshine.

     A small contingent of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) enjoyed cool water, and were a model of Canadian iconicity.

Red Osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)

Wild Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum)

     The bridge over the Grand River is impressive.

      Our path took us under it.

     It was time to go home!