Caroline's Visit Part 3 (Final)

     When we are out and about in nature we rarely take pictures of humans - we do that infrequently at the best of times - so I am including a picture of Caroline taken with her dad (moi) on a visit a couple of years ago. 

     Our final foray during her recent visit, was an afternoon at Columbia Lake, recently reopened totally, after having restricted access during the early phases of the Coronavirus. The level of the water was exceptionally low and we were literally able to walk right across the bed of the lake. 

     One of our most exceptional encounters was with four Least Sandpipers (Calidris minutilla), initially a little skittish, but as they went about their frenzied bout of feeding, more approachable.

 

     This is the world's smallest sandpiper, and while not uncommon spring and fall, there is an eternal fascination about it - about shorebirds in general in fact.

     Least Sandpipers have returned from breeding in the high Arctic, whereas Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) have been with us all summer and have bred locally.

     Birds, always the main attraction, were not the only organisms to attract our attention. Miriam got a couple of very nice shots of this light variant Acadian Hairstreak (Satyrium acadica), nectaring on Swamp Milkweed (Asclepias incarnata).

     The joys of nature are unending!

     One would be hard pressed in June or July to visit a suitable body of water and not find a Mallard (Anas platyrynchos) family, with the hen assuming all the duties of parenthood. I thought that this family group presented a particularly charming portrait.

     A handsome American Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus) seemed determined to have a conversation with us, but I fear we did not understand his entreaties.

     Since large bullfrogs are prone to eat just about anything they can cram into their mouths, this Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans) had better not let down its guard.

     This juicy fly, probably Lucilla coeruleiviridis or L. sericata, would make a tasty snack for either species.

  

     Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) more than lived up to its name.

   

     To rename it Abundant Whitetail would not have been unreasonable!

     Just before leaving to return home for dinner, we spotted a Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) off in the corner of the little bay at the end of the lake.

     We thought it a fine bird to end the day, especially when it dove into the water and came up with a fish.

     I have spent a lifetime outdoors and have enjoyed every moment of it. At this advanced stage in my life it doesn't get much more enjoyable than to share it with Caroline and Miriam. I am sure it won't be long until we do it again.

Caroline's Visit

     Recently my daughter, Caroline, drove down from Ottawa for a long weekend's visit, and it was a pleasure to see her for the first time since we went to Algonquin Provincial Park together in March, just before the full impact of Covid-19 steamrolled over all of us.
     Lots went on while she was here, so I will break down my blog coverage into a couple of posts, so that they don't become unreasonably long.
     Just before I get into that, let me show you a basket of strawberries I bought from a local farmer a few days before Caroline arrived.

     They were delicious, juicy and quite reasonably priced. 
     I had arranged with our good friend, John Pries, for us to visit RiverSong on the morning of Caroline's first day with us, and the resident Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) was there to bid her welcome.

     John has made innumerable improvements to RiverSong since acquiring the property several years ago, including the restoration of this wonderful old waterwheel. 

     The view of the Conestogo River from this little Shangri-La is nothing short of spectacular.

     John had been chatting to us about the behaviour of a pair of Bald Eagles (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) he had been observing along the river and pointed us in the general direction. Far off, perched in a tree where John believes the nest is located, was a sentinel.

     Beavers (Castor canadensis) are a marvelous component of our ecosystem, but when their landscape-altering dams and lodges are built too close to humans, conflicts can arise. One's admiration for the creature is sometimes strained to the limit when land and buildings are flooded. John has coped well with his local residents.

     We saw this odd growth on the leaves of several trees. What it is exactly I am not sure, so if anyone knows be sure to let me know.

     What do you do with an old picnic table no longer in use? Susan, John's wife, is quick to come up with ideas which John is ready to execute. Voilà! A bench!

     What better companion could one have on a walk around River Song on a hot, steamy day (a three-shirt day as John described it!) than an American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus)? We were very happy to share a few minutes with this handsome individual.

     Many turtles come up from the river to lay their eggs in sandy areas and John was showing Caroline where both Snapping Turtles (Chelydra serpentina) and Midland Painted Turtles (Chrysemys picta) had already completed their task for the year.

     An Eastern Phoebe (Sayornis phoebe) had found a great perch from which to capture passing insects.

     As one meanders around RiverSong one is struck by whimsy everywhere, always tasteful, always appealing. And photogenic too!

     We had decided that we would leave for a while and return for lunch, and on the way out Caroline posed for a picture at the water wheel.

     As we left the parking area, the two young Ospreys, now almost as big as their parents, looked over the nest to say "See you soon."

     We went down Three Bridges Road to the section of the Conestogo River where there is a weir in St. Jacobs, a beautiful spot.

     The first bird we saw was a Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) followed in short order by a Green Heron (Butorides virescens).

     A Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans) posed for us very nicely.

     Wildflowers are abundant in early summer, beautiful and fragrant, with the hum of pollinators a constant background noise.
     Chicory (Cichorium intybus) seems to dominate every roadside verge and abandoned field.

     It is hard to know whether it, or Queen Anne's Lace (Daucus corota) is more common.

     We returned to RiverSong to enjoy lunch, being greeted by the now familiar Ospreys, adult and young alike.

     It had been a wonderful start to Caroline's visit.

Down by the Riverside...........

08 June 2017

     We are very fortunate in having ready access to many natural areas close to home and we are never at a loss to find a pleasant spot to explore.

     One of our favourites is the Mill Race Trail in St. Jacobs, where we have the watercourse created to drive grist mills on one side of the path, and the Conestogo River on the other.

     Northern White-cedar Thuja occidentalis, sometimes referred to as American arborvitae, or Tree of Life, based on the various medicinal and utilitarian uses of this tree, is common.

     Water is a magnet for wildlife, of course, and there is much to be discovered for the patient observer. This American Robin Turdus migratorius was bathing and preening at the water's edge.

     Turtles of various species are commonly seen at this time of year as they seek suitable areas in which to lay their eggs. Many are killed on busy roads, unfortunately, as they try to cross, but more and more frequently one sees turtle crossings built under the road and Turtle Crossing signs abound. Hopefully, the carnage is being reduced.

     This large Snapping Turtle Chelydra serpentina was basking in the warm sun. Perhaps it is a female, resting from a night of egg laying. In any event, it is an impressive creature.

     Green Frogs Lithobates clamintans could be heard throughout, and it was not difficult to find several of them.

     

         There were thousands of tadpoles, presumably of this species, and they seemed to prefer shallow water close to shore.

     The tadpoles hatch, but do not evolve into froglets until the following season.

     The fact that there were numerous adult frogs in very close proximity to the tadpoles led us to wonder whether the adults protect the tadpoles, but I can find nothing in the literature to verify whether this is true or not. Perhaps it was mere coincidence. (See the following observation from Fraser Gibson, an eminent local naturalist: I suspect the tadpoles in your photo are American Toads. They congregate in large schools in shallow water in early June. By early July they will be tiny toadlets (about 1cm long) with all 4 legs . Toad tadpoles have black bellies while (I think) all frog tadpoles have lightly coloured bellies.)

     A Woodchuck (Groundhog) Marmota momax had a burrow close to the shore and was meandering up and down feeding. Every time I tried to take a picture it would scamper away and I have a great selection of blurred images! Miriam managed this one.

     Dragonflies and damselflies are increasingly to be found, Ebony Jewelwing Calopteryx maculata being one of the most common.

     We came away from our walk in good spirits, refreshed and renewed. Maybe it's time to go right back there to see what else we can discover.