Mostly at home .....

     A combination of bad weather, other things to do, and perhaps a feeling of lethargy when it was really hot, has kept us at home more than usual, so this post is mainly from the back yard.

06 August 2021

     Our Rose of Sharon (Hibiscus syriacus) bushes have been prolific this year and the blooms have been quite incredible.

     The other day while sitting on the deck having a cup of tea, a hummingbird came to sip on the nectar, but we didn't have a camera at hand and it hovered only for a few seconds. It would have made a great shot.

     The Phlox (Phlox paniculata) is no less spectacular.

     We are very much enamoured of these flowers, and as we get older the fact that they are perennials requiring little care is a bonus.

     There are many species of Anemone (Ranunculaceae), all beautiful, but I am not sure of the exact species that lives in our garden.

    You will no doubt agree that it is gorgeous!

    A Leaf Beetle (Chrysomelidae) trundled around, and we found it very attractive.

     I have been unable to narrow it down as to species, but that is hardly surprising considering that there around 50,000 species of beetle in the world, many have not been identified, and even for those that have the taxonomy is far from resolved.

Lily comes for lunch

     Our little princess came for lunch for the first time.

     She was as good as gold and sat in a booster chair set on a regular kitchen chair, since we no longer have a high chair.

     She ate well, but only exactly what she wanted and nothing could convince her to try anything else. There was lots of healthy food, however, and she certainly did not go hungry.

     She even tried a little pasta salad but it was not her favourite.

     She chatted to us the whole time, clearly thrilled to be "visiting" and played that universal game of all children, i.e. throw something on the floor and watch those silly adults pick it up, like Pavlovian dogs on cue.

     It was wonderful to have Heather and Lily have lunch with us, and there will be more occasions like this to follow.

     She waves good bye now without any coaching at all!

     And by the way, she can take several steps unaided. Soon she will be faster than us!

07 August 2021

     We were quite delighted to have a visit from a Juniper Geometer Moth (Patalene olyzonaria), resting quietly after a busy night.

     This pollen-dusted Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) provides graphic evidence of the pollination services provided by bees.

     May their populations increase!

     Over the years we have been visited by a number of neotropical warblers, infrequently and unpredictably, so it was quite exciting to see a female American Yellow Warbler (Setophaga aestiva).

     Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater) is an obligate brood parasite that lays its eggs in the nests of other species, and takes no part in raising its own young. 

     We have seen host parents of several species feeding young cowbirds, but never a Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) so it was with a sense of discovery that we noted this male feeding a young cowbird.

     The picture is not great but it is the only one we have to memorialize this activity.

     As you may see from the picture below the cardinals have obviously been good surrogate parents and have raised a robust, healthy youngster.

     The Rose of Sharon buds, just before bursting out, are attractive in their own right.

     A Common Ringlet (Coenonympha california) is quite common as the name implies.

     European readers will notice the very close similarity to Large Heath (C. tullia), an illustration of speciation if ever I saw one.

     Our coffee cups empty, the apple cake crumbs swept away, we got up to go back inside, just as a flycatcher sailed in.

     At this time of the year, when the birds are no longer singing, the best ID that's possible is Empidonax sp. We did not know it's name, but we did know the family and its visit was well received.

08 August 2021

     A female Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) spent quite a bit of time in the backyard, snatching sunflower hearts from the feeders to stash away in the bark of nearby trees.

     We were out and about in the afternoon and spotted beautiful Foxgloves (Digitalis purpurea) in a garden close to the road.

     A female Monarch (Danaus plexippus) was resting on milkweed (Asclepias sp.).

     Perhaps by the time I post again we will have ventured a little farther afield. See you then!

More Local Highlights

16 May 2021

Lakeside Park, Kitchener, ON

     We heard a tremendous racket from a group of American Crows (Corvus brachyrynchos) and searched to see whether they were perhaps routing a Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus). 

     At one point there were about twenty individuals occupying two or three trees, but we never did ascertain the reason for their noisy performance. They departed as quickly as they had arrived, shrieking and yelling all the while.

     A Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula) was far more restrained and serenaded us delightfully.

     It was interesting to see the channels created by a kind of wood-boring insect in this log.

     It is both sobering and distressing to contemplate the varieties of trees that are now endangered by invasive pests, often introduced from outside North America in shipments of fruit, or via wooden pallets that are already heavily infested.

     One is never out of earshot of Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) at Lakeside Park, and we spotted a female busily constructing a nest.

     An American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) seems to have found a meal sufficient for lunch and dinner!

Benjamin Park Trail, Waterloo, ON

     May-apple (Podophyllum peltatum) is carpeting woodlands everywhere, and there was much of it to be seen on the Benjamin Park Trail.

     Yellow Archangel (Lamium galeobdolon) is a widespread invasive, often originating in gardens; quite beautiful, but quickly swamping native species.

     Bristly Buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus) is appearing everywhere.

     There is no shortage of yellow flowers!

     Taxonomy is ever fluid it seems, and the genus Celastrina is the subject of much discussion and review. At least for now, the following species is Northern Spring Azure, also known as Lucia Azure (Celastrina lucia).

     Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) is probably no more abundant than in previous years, but I have been running into them frequently.

     It is an impressive species and it is always a great pleasure to share a few moments with them.

19 May 2021

Our Backyard, Waterloo, ON

     Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilocus colubris) has been a regular visitor to our backyard for as long as we have lived here, but this year visits have been few and far between.

     We were happy, therefore, when we looked out the window and saw a female at the feeder.

     The pictures are not fantastic but they were taken through the glass and are the best we could do. Perhaps even from these less-than-perfect images you will sense our joy at seeing the bird. 

RIM Park, Waterloo, ON

     There is a field opposite the parking area that has harboured Eastern Meadowlarks (Sturnella magna) over the past few years, and it didn't take us long to find one singing from the grass.

     Shortly a second bird was spotted on a cable and the two joined forces and flew off together.

     I suspect that starting a family was top of mind for them.

     The spruces (Genus Picea) seem to universally sport a good cone crop already this year. No doubt squirrels are gleeful!

     There are numerous little wet channels at RIM Park, all looking especially bucolic and tranquil in spring.

     A male Baltimore Oriole is very handsome, especially when highlighted by bright sunshine.

     A good part of the day is spent capturing food and soon there will be additional mouths to feed.

     This is a species that adds a bright splash of colour to a spring landscape, and unlike warblers and other tiny birds is quite easily seen.

     It so delights the average walker in the park that it is the single most pointed-out species, by people who see our binoculars. 

      "Did you see the oriole?" is a commonly posed question.

     For part of the trail the Grey Silo Golf course runs alongside it, and I am sure that the owners are anxiously awaiting the lifting of COVID restrictions, so that greens can reverberate with the cheerful chatters of golfers and the thwacking of balls.

      We are quite happy that we don't have to keep a watchful eye for the golf carts occupying their half of the trail.

      Wild Geraniums (Geranium maculatum) are starting to bloom, a delightful addition to any walk.

     Ground Ivy (Glechoma hereracea) is probably considered a pest in the wrong location, but for a peripatetic naturalist it gives great pleasure.

     One of the dominant features of RIM Park, the most dominant in fact, is the Grand River.

     It meanders alongside for a good part of the way, and supports a variety of birds - ospreys, eagles, terns, gulls, swallows, shorebirds - and not a few mammals. American Beavers (Castor canadensis) make their presence known and White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) come down to river to drink.

     We enjoyed great views of a male American Redstart (Setophaga ruticilla) and when it remained still for a few seconds, Miriam obtained a couple of pictures.

     We watched transfixed as it sang to us!

     Having had several terrific looks at a male Baltimore Oriole, additional pleasure was gained by observing a female in the early stages of nest construction.

     We see more American Yellow Warblers (Setophaga aestiva) at RIM Park than at any other location where we bird regularly.

     A Willow Flycatcher (Empidonax traillii) was a very agreeable addition to our birds for the day, but it played hide-and-seek with us.

     We spotted a Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) and heard its distinctive call.

     And within moments we watched a flurry of activity and discovered out first ever nest under construction for this species.

     For many I am sure this would not be a big deal, but for anyone involved with birds, it is a moment of high excitement.

     For a moment we thought we had come across a mixed species flock, until we realized that a Grey Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis) was mimicking the songs of several other birds.

     A pair of Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) is an ominous sight for many small songbirds whose nests are targets for brood parasitism.

     Cheery Song Sparrows (Melopspiza melodia) never fail to delight us.

     In several spots we heard the familiar wichety-wichety call of Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) but seldom saw the chorister, and managed but one picture of indifferent quality.

     There is one small, swampy area that we pass each time we visit RIM Park that we always think should harbour birds, amphibians and who knows what else. But it never does.

     It is perfect habitat for a pair of Northern Waterthrushes (Parkesia noveboracensis) and I remain hopeful that one day they will be there.

     There are glimmers of hope that the Province of Ontario may be on the road to loosening some of the COVID restrictions that have dominated our lives for so long. It can't come soon enough for us and perhaps before too long we can bring you reports of visits farther afield.