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.
Fine mushrooms - it probably rained.
ReplyDeleteYou never disappointed, David, always can rely on you sharing with us the best nature pictures..that killdeer looks so cute!
ReplyDelete...David, thanks for these fabulous images. It great to see a large ash still alive, thanks China!
ReplyDeleteVery successful trail, it appears. The photographs are beautiful and the textures of the trees are as mesmerising as the birds. shall wait for the next story.
ReplyDeleteMaravilloso el paseo, así podemos ver chorlitos y petirrojos, las setas muy de esta época y esos fresnos que miran al cielo o esos chinches rojos y negros tan atractivos ¡todo me ha gustado!
ReplyDeleteMuchos besos.
I am glad you enjoyed them, Montse.
DeleteHi David.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful series.
That squirrel with its nut is so cute.
Beautiful ducks and wading bird.
Beautiful nature.
Greetings from Patricia.
As always, you have beautiful photographs, David. I especially liked the ones of the trees. Have you had any frost yet? Everything looks so green and lush. Fraxinus grows here too in my yard. That is a lovely photograph of the seeds of the Common Milkweed. It is exciting that they are so important to the Monarch butterflies.
ReplyDeleteHugs and kisses, Marit
We see oodles of Cloudless Sulphurs but I've never seen a Clouded Sulphur. So many birds! I wonder if this is late for some of them to still be there. We are surprised that our Pecan still hasn't lost its leaves.
ReplyDeleteCloudless Sulphur is an extremely rare migrant here, rarely seen and only in the very southern part of the province.
DeleteThis is a fantastic series of photos, David.
ReplyDeleteThe American robin and the American red squirrel are my favorites.
I also find photo 26 very special.
Greetings Irma
Hari Om
ReplyDeleteI am always delighted by the variety you bring us, David, but somehow today's shots seem to be just that bit extra special - the beetles are gorgeous! YAM xx
Thank you, YAM.
DeleteI don't see mergansers often and they are my favorite so thanks for starting my day off with such a smile. Actually, lots of today's images made me smile!
ReplyDeletewow on the rings around the killdeers neck, that looking high gnarled old tree has a huge eyeball top left watching me, spooky tree and LOVE all the Halloween Bugs, they are actually pretty all decked in orange and black. now I ponder American Robin American squirrel, in your neck of the woods and we in our part of America have none of them. who knew.last but not least is that magical tunnel through the trees at the beginning, I want to wander down that path...
ReplyDeleteDavid, I really respect you for your knowledge and your many beautiful photos. It's nice to come to your blog, read, look at the pictures and especially learn.
ReplyDeleteAmong your pictures, I especially like the red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus), who jealously guards his food. Another favorite of mine is the Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) for its beauty and elegance. It's light and airy.
The tree trunk reaching into the sky is also nice.
I would like to walk the path in the first picture.
Today I walked in the forest to see the changes in nature after the golden autumn of last time.
I wrote to you on my blog about my last post. I replied to your comment, as I always do. Please read it. Thanks. Éva
Hello David :)
ReplyDeleteBeautiful nature photographs.The milkweed bugs are most attractive, and the close up of the milkweed seeds so beautifuuly arranged are stunning. I have never seen them before, so it was a pleasant surprise. Loved all the mushroom images and for cuteness the White-breasted Nuthatch, the Ruby-crowned Kinglet, the American Red Squirrel, and the Killdeer are favourites. The woodpeckers partly hidden by the colourful autumn foliage are very beautiful images. A lovely post. :)
Hugs and kisses
Sonjia.
Sonjia.
David!
ReplyDeleteYou saw many beautiful birds and plants during this walk. I was enchanted by the chicory flower and the American thrush. It's truly beautiful. It's a rainy autumn here, and I'm missing the sun. I miss it so much. I wish you a beautiful, sunny weekend.
David,
ReplyDeleteYour wanderings read like a quiet hymn
to all things wild and watching.
From Merganser on her river throne
to Kinglets flickering through the leaves,
you write each creature into the day
with the care of someone who truly sees.
I loved the Fungi’s hidden riddles,
the Hackberry’s patient rise toward sky,
the Yellowlegs preparing for the long road south,
and Milkweed seeds ready to ride the wind.
Your lens (and Miriam’s too)
turns a simple walk into a small celebration.
Thanks for taking us along!
PS I’ve been taking a blog break and evaluating how to best go forward as a blogger after about 15 years of posting on a fairly regular basis. From the start, I considered my blog to be a sort of “virtual journal” of things worth remembering. I am now at a point where I still have moments worth remembering but seem to be short on the energy necessary to whip a post together … sorting, resizing, and describing images … designing, writing, and publishing. You are an inspiration to me with your wonderful Travels With Birds. I would love any thoughts or suggestions you might have. Wishing you the best, John.
Lovely. Thanks for the walk. Now I can begin my day refreshed!
ReplyDeleteDavid, when I look at these stunning photos, I realize that there is more around me than I take time to look at. I need to be more observant.
ReplyDeleteMe gusta la naturaleza y me encantan tus fotografías.
ReplyDeleteBuen fin de semana, David.
Un abrazo.
We do live at 30 km as the crow flies from the Ligurian Sea, in the countryside at the bottom of an Apennine valley surrounded by woods. Our property touches the bank of a river, which is so romantic, because it seems to follow the trend of the seasons, swelling in Winter and becoming unfordable. I so love it when it is in flood, it seems to talk and to be angry with its waters that jump over the stones making waterfalls. We often see segulls arriving from the sea when there the weather is bad and here the sun shines. Here too live Blue Herons, Wild Geese and so many little birds thanks both to the water and the trees, both passerines and woodland birds such as the Long-tailed Tit, the Goldcrest and many others. I am sure that your passion would be gratiefied here. As for flowers, I'm amazed to see that we share almost all of them, although we live in parts of the world characterized by different climates.
ReplyDeleteIt's such a satisfaction to be in contact with a person who loves Nature so much as you do, thank you David!
Sending my dearest hug. Daniela @ ~ My little old world ~
Beautiful and fascinating series, David.
ReplyDeleteGreat photos once again. Loving the mushrooms and I really like the Milkweed Bugs :-D
ReplyDeleteMany wonderful birds that you photographed on the Health Valley Trail, David.
ReplyDeleteCertainly a day well spent.
Regards,
JR