RIM Park, Waterloo, ON

19 September, 2025 

     The very first agreeable fellow to welcome us was this charming Bold Jumping Spider (Phidippus audax).

     The old silo is no longer a functioning grain storage location. It is the signature landmark of the adjacent Grey Silo Golf Course.

     The apples in the farmer's orchard are ready for picking; they look delicious.

     Viceroy (Limentis archippus) enjoys a life largely free from predators by closely resembling a Monarch (Danaus plexippus), which is toxic and avoided by birds and others who might wish to eat it.

     This seemed to be the day of the jumping spider. Here is another Bold Jumping Spider.

     It is always a joy to come upon a Great Spangled Fritillary (Argynnis cybele).

     New England Aster (Symphytrichum novae-angliae) never fails to charm me.

     As has often been the case this year, birds were sparse, so this Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) was especially welcome.

     Shaggy Mane (Coprinus comatus) is both attractive and edible; better get it while it's fresh if you have culinary aspirations.

     We are happy to admire it and let it be.

     I am fairly sure the ant depicted here is a species of Furrowed Ant (genus Myrmica).

     The Aphids (family Aphididae) are afforded protection by the ants who seek their sugary secretions, and will attack other insects intent on predating the aphids.

     Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens glandulifera) was its usual beautiful yet pestiferous self.

     An Eastern Black Carpenter Ant (Camponotus pennsylvanicus) is a formidable creature.

     No doubt, like the Furrowed Ant above, it will exploit and defend these aphids.

     This rock in the Grand River is nearly always occupied by a bird, often a Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) as is the case here.

     A Cross Orbweaver (Araneus diadematus) is probably the most common spider on our walks. If I were tasked with finding one for a visitor it would be relatively easy to do so.

     This individual was hauling up prey it had captured, wrapped in silk and prepared for consumption.

Small White (Pieris rapae)

     An Eastern Yellowjacket (Vespula maculifrons) was probing deep into Goldenrod (genus Solidago).

     Like so many introduced species Asian Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis) is very attractive, but no less disruptive to native ecosystems.

     It's probably safe to say that even those who profess to harbour intense dislike of insects, reserve a soft spot for lady beetles. 

     This DeKay's Brown Snake (Storeria dekayi) was probably basking on warm pavement when a cyclist or other human, ran over it. It was still responsive, but I doubt that it could survive.

     A Two-striped Grasshopper (Melanoplus bivittatus) is a Jim Dandy in the world of invertebrates.

     Fall is glorious, isn't it?

     An American Robin (Turdus migratorius) made us happy.

     Mourning Cloak (Nymphalis antiopa) is a captivating butterfly.

     It is generally the first butterfly we see in the spring, so we were happy to observe them in September, too.

     Another Viceroy was close by.

     These fungi are members of the family known as Artist's Brackets, Reishi and Allies (genus Ganoderma).

     Our walk begins and ends at a Mennonite farm, still active and farming in traditional ways, a sort of living museum, in fact.

     

     This old barn door seems to represent a parable for life itself - always be careful where you step!