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.

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!