01 September, 2025
It's always a delight to be greeted by a Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens). This individual has had great success foraging on Goldenrod (genus Solidago).
The beautiful butterfly below is probably a Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice), but white females are difficult to identify to species.
The wasp in the picture is a Common Aerial Yellowjacket (Dolichovespula arenaria); here is a better look at it.
I am not quite sure what is happening here, but an Eastern Black Carpenter Ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) is carrying a smaller ant, identity unknown.
I associate C. pennsylvanicus with their habit of tending aphids for their sweet secretions, but they are known to carry dead insects to their nest, too. Perhaps the small ant was located dead and is destined to be food for the colony.
Below is some type of Plant Bug (family Miridae).
A fly in the tribe Tachinini.
It would be a rare day not to encounter Mallard (Anas platyrynchos) along the Mill Race. This female came to bid us good morning.
A species of Forktail (genus Ischnura).
A Long-nosed Swamp Fly (Eurimyia stipata).
Beggarticks (genus Bidens) are characteristic of moist areas and streamsides in southern Ontario from late summer to early fall.
A Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans) remained motionless, hoping, no doubt, that it would remain undetected by creatures more threatening than a photographer.
I only see Two-banded Petrophila (Petrophila bifascialis) from late summer onwards, but once it appears it is common and easily found.
Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia) is the enemy of hay fever sufferers everywhere - fortunately I am not one them!
Spearmint (Mentha spicata) perfumes the air and attracts pollinators.
A White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) had found a sunflower seed brought by a human benefactor.
This Potter's Grass Spider (Agelenopsis potteri) was doing its best to stay as far away from us as possible.
We posed no threat to it, of course, but it would make a substantial snack for a hungry bird.
An Antlered Flutter Fly (Toxonevra superba) is very attractive; it is quite obvious how it comes by its common name.
Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) is very familiar and eternally appealing.
We found several webs of Fall Webworm Moth (Hyphantria cunea), not a favourite of many I would venture to guess.
A Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus), the signature bird of the Mill Race, was not shy about feeding from our hands.
Many people are familiar with the spring appearance of Jack-in-the-Pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum) but are unaware that these red berries in the fall are the same plant.
We had heard Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) a few times and finally spotted one as we were about to leave for home.
A fitting end to our walk.
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Tiny beautiful critters....
ReplyDeleteEt pas que...
Gorgeous pictures !
Bonne journée !
Anna
Hari OM
ReplyDeleteAgain you brings us the delights of the miniature world that are so easy to pass by... YAM xx
The Ant, Tachinie and the Spider are the top 3 or me today.. the world you find we never see is what I like the most. the tiny things we skip over are all so perfectly made
ReplyDeleteIt's always so nice to see pictures of nature near where you live, David. The Cloudet Sulphur butterfly is very beautiful. The Mallards are also so nice, and I like them very much. The Spearmint plant is very beautiful too. Is it considered a weed? Many mint plants grow very quickly.
ReplyDeleteHugs and kisses, Marit
It is considered a weed in the garden, Marit.We grow ours in a pot.
Delete...David, your eagle eye found plenty of neat stuff, thanks.
ReplyDeleteDavid, I saw very beautiful pictures and I am impressed by your knowledge. I also try to observe nature carefully, but I don't see as much as you do. I still have a lot to learn. This blog is also good for me to do that.
ReplyDeleteThat butterfly is really gorgeous! I was told that those berries are deadly poisonous, is it true?
ReplyDeleteI have never heard that, Angie. I know that parts of the plant are edible if cooked, but introducing the raw plant into the mouth can cause painful sores. Better to leave it where it is and admire it.
DeleteMuch of the life you saw is life we see here along the Gulf Coast of Texas including the Red-bellied Woodpecker and the Common Ragweed. But much is new to me. I thank you for sharing these photos with all of us.
ReplyDeleteThe red-bellied woodpecker is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteI was very surprised years ago to figure out the red berries were indeed Jack in the Pulpit, however, I marked a plant in our woods in the spring and observed it all year. That was one of the beginnings to my interest in plants that grew wild in the woods. I spent a year photographing and looking them up.
ReplyDeleteBeggar tick seeds are the worst for getting off from clothing. But they are pretty wild flowers!