Travels With Birds

".....natural history helps make us better people, by fostering humility and awe, and offers the capacity to build better human societies, ones that are less destructive and dysfunctional."

Thomas Lowe Fleischner

09 July, 2024

Last year, two Black Swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) pupae went into diapause and overwintered in our garage. Here is one of them having just eclosed and ready to face the world.

It flew out of the cage into bright sunshine minutes after this picture was taken.

10 July, 2024

Most houses contain a spider or two and they do far more good than harm if left alone, like this House Funnel-web Spider (genus Teganaria)

11 July, 2024

A Single-dotted Wave (Idaea dimidiata) very kindly took up residence at our front door for a while.

12 July, 2024

A lovely spider (subfamily Theridiinae) was a welcome addition to our lives.

No less so was a Speckled Renia Moth (Renia adspergillus).

This year we attempted to raise Polyphemus Moths (Antheraea polyphemus) from eggs on our American Linden (Tilia americana). Miriam made mesh bags with a draw string to enclose the branches on which the caterpillars were feeding, to safeguard them from threats like predatory wasps and birds seeking food for their chicks. As you can see a little breach occurred in the mesh and ants were able to get inside and make short work of a caterpillar.

We quickly relocated the unharmed larvae and provided a new bag. Ultimately, out of twelve eggs, we were successful in rearing two to pupation. They are now in the garage and will overwinter with us to emerge next year.

14 July, 2024

An Ipsilon Dart Moth (Agrotis ipsilon) came to visit and took a liking to the combination lock on the front door where it stayed for several hours.

18 July, 2024

Today was the turn of a Large Tabby (Aglossa pinguinalis).

21 July, 2024

A Cross Orbweaver (Araneus diadematus) was subduing prey for later consumption.

Here is a healthy and rapidly growing Polyphemus caterpillar.

A Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta) landed on Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca).

23 July, 2024

I wonder if an Eastern Parson Spider (Herpyllus ecclesiasticus) needs to prepare a weekly sermon?

26 July, 2024

A Cross Orbweaver is becoming very familiar to you.

27 July, 2024

A Cereal Leaf Beetle (Oulema melanoplus) clung to the screen door which resembles the iron windows of a medieval prison in this picture.

28 July, 2024

A Perplexing Bee (Bombus perplexus) was well dusted with pollen, thereby rendering payment for the sweet nectar delivered by the flower.

A Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) will perform the same service.

We are always delighted to see a Chipping Sparrow (Spizella passerina). They do not come to our yard as frequently as in times past.

An Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum) was a very welcome visitor.

Limoniid Crane Flies (family Limoniidae) often remain perched for extended periods unless disturbed.

This is a Common House Spider (Parasteatoda tepidariorum); in fact not quite so common as other species.

Our Cup Plants (Silphium perfoliatum) are looking spectacular.

29 July, 2024

A visit from a Monarch (Danaus plexippus) is always a special event.

This One-banded Paper Wasp (Ancistrocerus unifasciatus) was drawn to the water in the bird bath.

I'd bet that many people would be surprised at the number of moths that visit their backyards. Common Angle (Macaria aemulataria) might be among them.

31 July, 2024

We were heading out to run some errands but were delayed a while when we noticed a Monarch on the coneflowers.

It's hard to resist going back into the house for a camera.

A Western Honey Bee was taking advantage of a full supply of nectar too.

01 August, 2024

I doubt that European Earwig (Forficula auricularia) is anyone's favourite insect.

A Dark-barred Twin-spot Carpet (Xanthorhoe ferrugata) rested during the day.

Our Polyphemus caterpillars are doing well and growing exponentially.

02 August, 2024

A Common Eupithecia Moth (Eupithecia miserulata) was a very welcome visitor.

03 August, 2024

We watched this Monarch land.

It's hard to tell on the following picture, but she curled her abdomen and laid an egg.

We immediately retrieved it and took it inside to be raised in safety.

An Autumn Meadowhawk also paid us a visit.

10 August, 2025

Tipula furca is a beautifully marked large Crane Fly.

A Strawberry Root Weevil (Otlorhynchus ovata) seemed more interested in coneflowers than strawberry roots.

15 August, 2024

You will have to agree that this Tan Jumping Spider (Platycryptus undatus) is a very appealing species, verging on cute!

If you are sometimes bothered by pesky flies this arachnid is your friend.

25 August, 2024

On a single plant of Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) we found one Swamp Milkweed Leaf Beetle (Labidomera clivicollis).

By contrast, there were several Large Milkweed Bugs (Oncopeltus fasciatus).

Both of these species absorb poison from the host plant; hence their aposematic colours.

A Large Vagabond Sod Webworm Moth (Agriphila ruricolellus) was a first-time visitor.

Miriam's Gazanias have put on a spectacular show this year.

A Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis) is beautiful, but unwelcome.

This invader was first noted in North America in Toronto, Ontario in August 2018 and has rapidly spread over Eastern North America. It is a major threat to Boxwood (Buxus spp) and should probably be killed on sight, and eggs and larvae destroyed.

Like most invasive species, however, once established it is probably going to prove impossible to eradicate.

We do have a way of messing things up, don't we?

"If we love our children, we must love our earth with tender care and pass it on, diverse and beautiful, so that people, on a warm spring day 10,000 years hence, can feel peace in a sea of green, can watch a bee visit a flower, can hear a sandpiper call in the sky, and can find joy in being alive."

Hugh Iltis

MacGregor Point Provincial Park is on the shore of Lake Huron, making this the third of the Great Lakes we have visited this summer. We had talked about spending a few days on Lake Superior too, but I doubt that will happen this year.

Each provincial park is fabulous in its own way and we are very fortunate to have ready access to these magnificent places.

Almost as soon as we began our first walk we noticed a moth that we did not recognize. It was difficult to get a picture, but by perseverance and doggedly following it, Miriam succeeded with an excellent shot.

Unusual for a moth it perched with wings upright like a butterfly.

It was only when we got home and were able to do a little research that we were able to identify it as a Shiny Grey Carpet Moth (Stamnodes gibbicostata). Little is known about this species which primarily inhabits the midwestern United States. Probably poorly named since its habitat is reported as forest, it is unlikely that this is an indoor species.

There is nothing quite like a wetland to put an extra bounce in a naturalist's step.

Rushes (genus Juncus) help to stabilize the ponds, regulate temperature and provide food and shelter for countless organisms.

We soon arrived at a beach along the shore of Lake Huron, looking out over this huge inland sea. It boggles the mind that indigenous people crossed the lake in birchbark canoes. Their craft were ruggedly built and they were skilled paddlers, but at times it must have been a daunting venture.

One might imagine the joy of people on the shore welcoming brave young men in their canoes returning with food.

Water posed no challenge to a juvenile Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis).

The vegetation was diverse, colourful and extremely interesting.

Even at a first glance there were familiar species and those that were unknown - or seldom seen and unremembered.

Bellflowers (genus Campanula) were lovely, nodding in the breeze.

We kept glancing out over the lake fully expecting a Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) or two to put in an appearance, but we had to be content with gulls.

We were very happy to see Field Sagewort (Artemesia campestris).

It is hard to surpass the scintillating splendour of Fen Grass of Parnassus (Parnassus glauca).

Nodding Ladies' Tresses (complex Spirnathes cernua) have been subject to much taxonomic discussion over the past several years. The following flower is probably Sphinx Ladies' Tresses (S. incurva), but I am not sure.

We had expected that we would see a number of warblers migrating through the area, but we saw none at all. The presence of a Merlin (Falco columbarius) might have accounted for their absence in one section of the park, but wherever we went there were no warblers - nor thrushes nor flycatchers for that matter.

The abundance of flowers was, therefore, especially welcome.

This fine specimen is found among the Wormwoods and Sagebrushes (genus Artemisia).

Shrubby Cinquefoils (genus Dasiphora) are gorgeous, each bloom a burst of joy.

New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae) is a classic bloom of southern Ontario, found from August through November.

Rain and a spider web combine to produce a dazzling display of nature's beauty.

An American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus) rested at the water's edge.

I don't remember having seen Sticky False Asphodel (Triantha glutinosa) before.

Greater Fringed Gentian (Gentianopsis crinita) reminds me a little of a decorative flower vase, the very kind in which it might be placed to tastefully grace a table.

Goldenrods (genus Solidago) were everywhere, bursting with exuberance.

White Turtlehead (Chelona glabra) was a jewel in the landscape.

The mere mention of the word "buckthorn" can cause normal, sane naturalists and foresters, ( and even university professors that I know) to froth at the mouth and enter into paroxysms of rage.

This highly invasive plant (genus Rhamnus) thrives in a variety of habitats and forms dense thickets that displace native plants. It alters nitrogen levels in the soil, promoting its own growth and inhibiting the growth of native species.

Its berries have a strong laxative effect and pass through a bird quickly, thereby promoting rapid spread.

Numerous methods of attack have been tried by armies of zealous buckthorn destroyers in an attempt to eradicate this intruder, with little success unfortunately.

It was interesting to see this approach, new to me.

Perhaps it will succeed where other tactics have failed.

Here is another example of nature bedecking the woodland with unrivalled beauty.

It is breathtaking, isn't it?

Canada Rush (Juncus canadensis) is a very attractive component of a wetland ecosystem.

Blue-fruited Dogwood (Cornus obliqua) provides habitat and food for a diverse range of wildlife, and is important in wetland restoration and erosion control projects.

The fruit of Swamp Rose (Rosa palustris) look like miniature pincushions!

The Huron Fringe Birding Festival is held annually at MacGregor Point, and I gave a presentation there a couple of years ago. It's good to see them looking to the future.

American Robin (Turdus migratorius) was very common throughout the park, and this youngster was learning to make its own way in life.

Solomon's Seal (Maianthemum racemosum) produced a good crop of fruit.

Brown Knapweed (Centaurea jacea) sometimes seems to resemble an ice cream cone.

You may see here how fungi occupies dead and rotting wood. There appears to be more than one species with Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) predominant.

I would like to have met the person who first assigned the moniker Twice-stabbed Stink Bug (Cosmopepla linteriana). What a wonderfully descriptive name!

You can see the marks of the dastardly deed!

Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) was highly valued and revered by Native People, for utilitarian, medicinal and spiritual reasons.

The whole world is familiar with birchbark canoes, but the tree also provided the material for baskets, bowls, cradles and other items essential to indigenous life.

This is an interesting view of a lighthouse, shimmering in the distance.

Boreal Paradise Spiders (Habronattus borealis) move very quickly and you have to be ready with the camera to get a picture.

This is the kind of habitat where you may find them.

Here is an excellent example of forest recycling, where new life is spawned by the dead and dying.

I am reminded of Robin Wall Kimmerer's memorable declaration, "One day, after I am a daffodil, I will be able to photosynthesize. It's something to look forward to."

Perhaps a Common Evening Primrose (Oenothera biennis) would do just as well.

There is something uniquely appealing about tiny American Toads (Anaxyrus americanus) hopping around on the forest floor at this time of year, learning to survive in world that is often hostile, with many hazards in their path.

They have to learn how to find food, stay out of harm's way and find a place to hibernate. And we have teenagers that experience angst after five minutes without their phone!

I am pretty sure these are Bonnets (genus Mycena).

Goldenrod Crab Spiders (Misumena vatia) are not especially difficult to find, but it's always a thrill when I do. They are very striking arachnids.

Carrot Seed Moth (Sitochroa palealis) is an invader from Europe, first sighted in North America in 2002.

Since then it has spread rapidly, ironically due to the widespread availability of Wild Carrot (Daucus carota), know colloquially as Queen Anne's Lace, another alien from Europe.

The plant forms a fruit cluster comprised of oval fruits with hooked spines, forming the familiar "bird's nest." It is inside these "nests" that you will find the larva of the Carrot Seed Moth.

It was well past lunch time and our stomachs were reminding us of that fact, so we found a place to eat.

Our lunch was wholesome and delicious - it always is!

You will not be surprised that we were joined by a whole entourage of perky Black-capped Chickadees (Poecile atricapillus); they know that gangly two-legged creatures often bring food.

In fact, I had sunflower seeds in the car and I went to get them. A regular shuttle service then swung into high gear as they scooped up the seeds with gusto.

Perhaps the word had reached chickadee world about Miriam's focaccia bread too, for they gleefully scooped up crumbs and scraps.

A couple of American Red Squirrels (Tamiasciurius hudsonicus) joined the fray, but they were not quite bold enough to climb up on the table.

Seeds scattered on the ground, however, were gathered up with alacrity.

We had been hearing Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) all morning and they came around, but remained in the trees.

We were thankful that this fellow didn't decide to come for a snack - it might have been us!

Many of you are familiar with the app called Merlin, and use it as an aid to identifying bird song. As I mentioned earlier we had been hearing a Merlin on and off all morning, and suddenly heard it again while we were having lunch. So here is Merlin identifying Merlin!

After lunch we found another trail to explore.

It turned out that this was not really a trail, but a link between trails. It served our purpose well, however.

Ants (genus Formica) fascinate me, and impress me with their industriousness and the organization of their society, but my ID proficiency is very limited.