Mill Race, St. Jacobs, ON

 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.