More Backyard Delights

 03 June, 2025

     The second of our Polyphemus Moths (Antheraea polyphemus) made its debut on the world stage as an adult, and we were greatly satisfied to have played a part in its success.

     It is spectacular by any definition.

     It would never know that Miriam carefully sewed bags to envelop the leaves where it fed, moving it from one branch to another as the food was exhausted. Unlike some politicians, however, we don't need to be thanked for everything we do!

     Robin Wall Kimmerer, in her gorgeous little book, The Serviceberry, writes eloquently about the gift economy, and reciprocity in the natural world. It's enough for us to be part of that. 

04 June, 2025

     While we are devotees of all of nature we would have preferred not to see the caterpillar of the Box Tree Moth (Cydalima perspectalis). In fact, we saw several of them. They are highly efficient (or destructive, depending on your point of view) and destroyed our hedge in just one season of ravenous feasting.

08 June, 2025

     I think this is a species of Running Crab Spider (genus Philodromus).

     They are so named because of their crab-like stance and their method of chasing prey on a variety of surfaces.

     This individual may have been moulting.

18 June, 2025

     Flowers were blooming nicely, so why not take a few pictures?

     Here is a species of coneflower (genus Echinacea) before the rabbits chewed it to a nub.

    Lantana (genus Lantana) has done well too.

     I don't know the specific cultivars. Marit?

     Dotted Loosestrife (Lysimachia punctata) has found its way into the yard, unannounced and uninvited.

     It is quite beautiful. but, like all loosestrifes is prone to rapid spread, so we'll have to keep an eye on it.

23 June, 2025

     I suppose it was inevitable that once we discovered the larva of the Box Tree Moth we would find the adult form, too.

30 June, 2025

     Harvestmen are distinct from conventional spiders; they lack venom and reproduce in a different fashion, males being possessed of an intromittent sex organ.

     Golden Harvestman (Leiobunum flavum) may often be found wandering during the day or night. It does not build a web.

04 July, 2025

     I am really not sure about this tiny moth. After  forty-five minutes of research my best guess is that it is in the genus Argyresthia.

     Don't bet the farm on that, though!

     A White Speck Moth (Mythimna unipuncta) was an agreeable find.

     Greenbottle Flies (genus Lucilia) are ubiquitous.

     Not a great picture, but here is a Northern Yellow Sac Spider (Cheiracanthium mildei).

     Over the years we have discovered this species more frequently in the house than outside. 

06 July, 2025

     Stored Grain Moth (Aglossa caprealis) is a very descriptive name, although it would find little grain in the suburbs of a southern Ontario city. 

     It has been recorded feeding on dead animals, however, and will feed on suet in bird feeders, scraps of bacon rind and the like.

12 July, 2025

     Elegant Grass-Veneer (Microcrambus elegans) is quite a common moth.

     We were thrilled to see a female Monarch (Danaus plexippus) exploring the Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) and it makes a very attractive picture.

     It's probably not a bad idea to close this post with a Monarch.

     It doesn't get any better, does it?

Life Abounds in a Suburban Backyard in Waterloo, ON

     Perhaps many readers of my blog might be surprised at the diversity of life that may be found in a suburban backyard. Here are just a few of the organisms we have observed, and taken pictures of.

     Believe me when I tell you there is more. Much more!

April

     An Eastern Cottontail (Sylvilagus floridanus) is an appealing creature, almost begging to be cuddled, but it is a bane to gardeners everywhere. Just ask Miriam!

     Actually, I have seen less of them this year than has been true in the past. I have, however, seen a sleek, healthy fox patrolling the neighbourhood from time to time and that probably accounts for the reduced number of rabbits.

May

     It seems that year by year Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilocus colubris) becomes rarer.

     This male was the first visitor of the year but we have had very few sightings since.

     Last year we tried our hand at raising Polyphemus Moths (Antheraea polyphemus), never an easy task, and only two survived the holometabolous process to adulthood. Here is the first one to greet the world.

     We had an old birch tree removed and the stump exuded a sticky liquid for a couple of weeks, attracting a variety of insects, including striking Bald-faced Hornets (Dolichovespula maculata).

     If you encounter this wasp be cautious and give it lots of respect. An angry individual can inflict a very painful sting.

     In the picture below you see a Picnic Beetle (Glischrochilus fasciatus) in the lower part of the picture and a Dried-fruit Beetle (Carpophilus hemipterus) in the upper segment.

     Picnic Beetle is known for its love of ripe or decaying plant matter so its presence at the oozing birch stump is not surprising.

     Dried-fruit Beetle (Carpophilus hemipterus) is also a sap feeding beetle so it, too, was no doubt well rewarded. How the curious name "Dried-fruit Beetle" came about, I don't know.

     Walk around with eyes open and you will find Greenbottle Flies (genus Lucilia).

     Rove Beetles (genus Aleochara) were present too.

     Hoverflies in the genus Brachyopa are known collectively as Sapeaters, so it seemed entirely appropriate that they should join the party.

     Common Shiny Woodlouse (Omiscus asellus) scurried frantically, looking for a dark place to hide.

     Blue Blowfly (Calliphora vicina) is not a species I see often; probably due to my lack of attention rather than as an indication of rarity.

     Nemopoda nitidula is a small species of Scavenger Fly (sometimes called Ensign Flies) that resembles an ant.

     The picture below will convey an impression of the concentration of insects drawn to the sticky exudation of the birch stump.

June

     Nomad Bees (genus Nomada) were often seen, but they are very difficult to identify, notoriously so in fact. In a few species, only one sex has been described.

     A Zebra Jumping Spider (Salticus scenicus) is aptly named. It is quite common and a friendly little arachnid.

     There is more, but I think this post is quite long enough. I'll save the rest for another time.

A Little from Home, a Little from Elsewhere

12 October, 2023 

At home, Waterloo, ON

     Most of our garden flowers were spent, past their prime, withered, moribund or dead, yet this one Day Lily (Hemerocallis liliosphodelus) showed its shining face to the world. 

     Miriam was suitably excited and so was I.

20 October, 2023

     Some time ago an old American Linden (Tilia americana) was removed from in front of our house, and weeks later a crew was dispatched by the city to install a replacement tree. Voilà - our new Hawthorn (family Rosaceae).

     We will look forward to watching it mature and bear fruit. I will send a memo to all the waxwings and robins in the neighbourhood that they should imprint this location on their memory!

23 October, 2023

     A signal event in the fall, is to have Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) return to our backyard, so it was with delight that we glanced out one morning to see them there.

     A female -

     And a male -

     They will be our constant companions until next spring. We have told them that we will soon have a visitor from Australia, so no doubt they will be getting ready to put on a show for him.

05 October, 2023

Millennium Pond, Waterloo, ON

     This small wetland, hard by a major traffic artery in Waterloo, was the site of considerable activity.

      Many Green-winged Teal (Anas carolinensis) were present, our smallest duck, always very appealing.

     A male Wood Duck (Aix sponsa) appeared to have a broken wing, and while it was coping quite well, it's hard not to conclude that the first Bald Eagle (Haliaetus leucocephalus) to spot it will make short work of it.

     A Rusty Blackbird (Euphagus carolinus) emerged out of the reeds.

     Several Wilson's Snipe (Gallinago delicata) were present and easily seen.

     Solitary Sandpiper (Tringa solitaria) is always a pleasing sighting.

     Here it is with a Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca).

     The final attraction was a Sora (Porzana carolina). Patience was required to see it, but when it emerged from hiding in the cattails it would parade up and down for several minutes. This is not an especially rare bird, but like most rails, is difficult to see.

17 October, 2023

The Linear Trail, Cambridge, ON

     As you may see this is a delightful spot for a walk with several different habitats to enjoy, a wildlife watcher's dream.

     Perennial Wall-Rocket (Diplotaxis tenuifolia) is really quite lovely.

     A lonely last flower of Dame's Rocket (Hesperis matroalis) seemed destined to take the prize as last bloom of the year.

     Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) are massing for migration and they were strewn along the riverbank in groups of twenty or so.

     Wild Parsnip (Pastinaca sativa) still thrives in mid October.

     Miriam was walking down to the river to get a little closer to a gull to take a picture when she came across what appears to be an erstwhile encampment of homeless people. One may well suppose that detritus is not high on their list of concerns, but it is tragic to stumble on a mess like this.

     It is profoundly disturbing that in 2023, when there are billionaires in this world whose wealth is both obscene and inexhaustible, that our fellow citizens, troubled perhaps by demons we can't imagine, have no choice but to live in this manner, poorly clothed, helpless in the face of severe weather, and sometimes forced to find food in garbage cans.

     An elegant female Mallard (Anas platyrynchos) refocussed our attention on the wonderful world of nature we had come to enjoy.

     Seen below is the American Herring Gull (Larus smithsonianus) that Miriam was trying to approach when she stumbled on the homeless camp.

     I have tried to come up with a logical explanation as to how rocks came to be piled up on this marooned log, but nothing makes sense.

     The river is quite shallow there, albeit rapid, so perhaps teenagers with time on their hands thought it would be a bit of a prank.

     Common Soapwort (Saponaria officionalis) is quite beautiful in contrast to its not altogether sonorous name.

     Annual Wall-Rocket (Diplotaxis muralis) is a vibrant addition to a fall landscape.

     A Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), looking for all the world like a relic from the Mezozoic, flapped lazily upriver.

     Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) is a hardy little shorebird, arriving first and leaving last, and we were very pleased to see a few still probing among the pebbles for choice morsels.

     In many spots the ground was carpeted by Common Ivy (Hedera helix).

     There was a prolific crop of berries this year on a wide range of trees and American Robins (Turdus migratorius) were finding lots to eat.

     A juvenile was doubtless learning much from the adults as it perfected its critical survival skills.

     Greater Yellowlegs migrate a little later each year it seems and we were not surprised to see three of them sail in, two of which are shown here. 

     A male Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pileatus) was doubtless proud to show off his head adornment.

     Little is quite so peaceful as a group of Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) dabbling in the water together, or just cruising along on the current.

     Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) is a late bloomer, and very agreeable, too.

     Myrtle Warblers (Setophaga coronata) remain long after most other warblers have gone, and several worked the branches and leaves wherever we walked.

      Chicory (Cichorium intybus) is always a show-stopper.  

     The confluence of the Grand and Speed Rivers is always worth checking; over the years several rarities have been sighted there.

     Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis) suddenly put up in a swirl, and settled back down just as quickly. We have no idea what disturbed them.

     High overhead a North American Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos canadensis) barreled on through, but it's doubtful this was the cause of the gulls' consternation. This bird was bent on migration and a gull snack was hardly worth stopping for.

     It's a poor picture, I know, but it was really high and I think Miriam did well to get anything at all. There is enough detail to identify it as a third year immature based on the white bases to the inner primary feathers.

     While the gulls were agitated, a Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritus) was a model of calm and remained on its arboreal perch.

     Several Ruby-crowned Kinglets (Corthylio calendula) entertained us as only kinglets can.

     An infallible indication of fall in Ontario is the ubiquity of Wooly Bear caterpillars, the larvae of Isabella Tiger Moth (Pyrrharctia isabella), seeking a sheltered place to spend the winter. To see them is to have an encounter with an old and cherished friend.

     If I were a betting man I'd wager that you enjoyed this morning walk with us.

     We'll do it again soon.