Health Valley Trail, Waterloo, ON

05 August, 2026 

     It has been a long time coming, but here is a report of a visit to the Health Valley Trail, where we were joined by Victoria.

     A Common Eastern Bumble Bee (Bombus impatiens), taking advantage of the wide array of flowers in bloom, greeted us almost as soon as we set foot on the path.

     Seven-spotted Lady Beetles (Coccinella septempunctata) are voracious consumers of aphids and other insects; no doubt this individual was probing for a meal.

     We have not seen many Monarchs (Danaus plexippus) this year so every sighting brings joy and hope.

     I believe this ghostly insect is a Northern Corn Rootworm (Diabrotica barberi).

     I don't recall ever seeing it before, but there is a large field planted with corn adjacent to the path.

     Hadrophallus bubalus is a very attractive little treehopper.

     Wood Germander (Teucrium canadense) was blooming nicely.

     Greenbottle Flies (genus Lucilia) are quite beautiful, but difficult to separate as to species.

     Two-horned Treehopper (Stictocephala diceros) feeds on the juices of various plants.

     This Banded Harvestman (Leiobunum vittatum) was perhaps on patrol searching for aphids.

     Elecampane (Inula helenium) was in full bloom.

     Giant Ragweed (Ambrosia trifida) is the bane of those people who suffer from seasonal allergies.

     Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia) is one of our most common dragonflies; here is a female.

     Wild Teasel (Dipsacus fullonum) was introduced from Europe to North America, and has become a serious invasive pest in some areas. 

     Its seeds are valued and exploited by American Goldfinches (Spinus tristis), especially in winter.

     Small White (Pieris rapae), sometimes referred to as Cabbage White, is often abundant; at certain times of the year it is possibly our most frequently observed butterfly.

     The larvae of Lappet Moths (family Lasiocampidae) are apt to cause some people to recoil in horror!

     A Black Swallowtail (Papilo polyxenes), on the other hand, produces exactly the opposite effect.

     It's always a good idea to leave a European Paper Wasp (Polistes dominula) to go about its business.

     We had not seen a single Monarch caterpillar this year, so it was especially encouraging to come across this individual.

     On the way back to the car, two other butterflies shared their day with us - a Monarch-mimicking Viceroy (Limentis archippus).....

     ..... and a Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta).

     It had been a very pleasant walk on a warm and sunny August day.

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.