Mike Schout Wetlands Preserve, New Hamburg, ON

06 June, 2026 

     It's always a great pleasure to visit this location, a generous gift of both land and capital from a civic-minded donor.

     Philadelphia Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus), as is to be expected at this time of year, was prolific.

     The blooms were rich in pollen and nectar and attracted a variety of insect pollinators.

         Spittle Bugs (superfamily Cercopoidea) left evidence of their presence.

     A male Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) was singing joyfully from atop Common Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum).

     Teasel was originally introduced to North America to attach to spindles to card wool, but has become an important winter food source for finches.

     Buttercups (genus Ranunculus) were coming up everywhere.

     Red Clover (Trifolium pratense) was equallly ubiquitous.

Box Elder (Acer negundo)

     An Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) had discovered the perfect spot to catch insects, for it returned to the same perch after every capture.

     Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia) has gained a tenuous hold.

     When the wetland was first created, a sandy/gravelly area was set aside as turtle nesting habitat. 

     It has been invaded by grasses and weedy plants and is in sore need of maintenance to continue to be suitable for egg-laying turtles.

     How wonderfully green are these Arrowheads (genus Sagittaria).

     I suspect that this American Robin (Turdus migratorius) is finding lots of invertebrate prey in the muck.

     A Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) no doubt finds the wetland a perfect home.

     Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) are devoted parents, but nevertheless lose many of their young to predators. 

     Two rapidly growing youngsters remain from this brood. The bigger they become the less they are subject  to attack.

     If my memory serves me well this was our first Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas) of the season.

     Guelder-Rose (Viburnum opulus) seems to be having a good year.

     Keen kayakers were happy to exploit a fine summer's day on the Nith River.

     Anyone who has been entranced by the surreal beauty of waterlilies has no need to ponder why Claude Monet was so drawn to them.

     These American White Waterlilies (Nymphaea odorata) filled us with wonder and delight.

      Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) have claimed this wetland as their own.

     We did not see as many dragonflies and damselflies as we thought we might, but this Eastern Forktail (Ischnura verticalis) posed nicely for us.

     Dame's Rocket (Hesperis matronalis) is invasive, yet beautiful.

     Actually, this plant challenges the very nature of what constitutes an invasive organism. It was brought here in the seventeenth century, so it seems a reasonable conclusion that after four centuries it has become part of the native flora.

     Here is another Eastern Kingbird.

     Blow Flies (family Calliphoridae) and Water Striders (subgenus Gerris) were feasting on this dead fish.

     There were many Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) overhead and I am sure that as the odours from the decaying carcass intensify they will make short work of what remains.

     A pair of Mallards (Anas platyrynchos) is a handsome sight.

     Try as I might, I have been unable to identify the insects in the next couple of pictures.

     Many nest boxes have been installed throughout the wetland, but they seem to have been expropriated exclusively by House Sparrows (Passer domesticus).

     We saw no evidence of Tree Swallows (Tachycineta bicolor) or House Wrens (Troglodytes aedon); the conquest of the sparrows seems complete.

     As we were leaving we saw a couple of boys fishing.

     We inquired whether they were getting many bites, and were told that they were not. However, one boy cheerfully remarked, "It's all about the fun, right?"

     Indeed it is!