Health Valley Trail, St. Jacobs, ON

15 October, 2025

     A female Common Merganser (Mergus merganser) rested contentedly on a rock in the Conestogo River.

      This Common Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis) is a majestic old tree.

     American Robins (Turdus migratorius) were numerous, finding a variety of berry-bearing bushes and trees to feed on.

      Elm Mushroom (Hypsizgus ulmarius) is quite distinctive.

     Other bracket fungi are more difficult to identify, and the following are in the kingdom Fungi, but I can't say much more than that.

     Just like trees, we should sometimes reach for the sky.

Ashes (genus Fraxinus)

     Of all our local mammals American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) surely rivals Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) on the cuteness scale. This one is jealously guarding a large snack.

     There is a move afoot to restore the Kentucky Coffee Tree (Gymnocladius dioiceus) to our area. 

     It is a hardy, resilient native species and should be encouraged.

     Knapweeds (genus Centaurea) attract a range of pollinators.

     Given the substrate and its general appearance and colour, this fungus is probably Orange Mycena (Mycena leaiana).

     I should have examined the underside to be sure.

     A Common Water Strider (Aquarius remigis) is a never-ending source of fascination for me.

     We were excited to see three Great Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) still fattening up in preparation for their long migration.

     This one had caught a small fish.

     A Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) was probably hoping for something a little bigger.

     We noticed that this Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) had been banded, but it was not possible to read the number.

     The yellowlegs seemed to hang around both the Canada Geese and Mallards (Anas platyrynchos). Perhaps the probing activities of the ducks and geese stirred up morsels more easily captured.

     Large Milkweed Bugs (Oncopeltus fasciatus) are very attractive insects, with different instars being present on the same host plant.

     The seeds of Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) will soon be dispersed by the wind, to go on to found new growth of this plant, so vital to the survival of Monarchs (Danaus plexippus).

     A Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) gazed at us from its secure position on the river.

     Ruby-crowned Kinglets (Corthylio calendula) are a study in perpetual motion, and are tiny little birds to boot, so Miriam did well to get this shot.

     Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is both common and beautiful.

     The sharp call note of a male Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) first alerted us to its presence.

     We also heard the distinctive churr of a Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) but it remained partly hidden.

     To complete the chorus, White-breasted Nuthatches (Sitta carolinensis) uttered their nasal quank to alert us to their presence.

     A female Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) was a pleasing discovery.

      To complete our walk we came across a bright yellow Common Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) nestled in the mowed grass at the edge of the parking lot.

     It seemed entirely appropriate that a much maligned species should be there to bid us a cheery farewell.

     The Clouded Sulphur agreed.