A Trail, A Sewage Lagoon and Home

 15 August 2021

Health Valley Trail, Waterloo, ON

     There is a local trail called the Health Valley Trail (not quite sure how it got its name) that runs for about 4.5 km between Waterloo and St. Jacobs. We had not entered from the Waterloo side for a couple of years so we decided to give it a try.

     There seemed to be a bit of a congregation of Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) and when they gather like this there is likely carrion in the area.

     Who knows what might have been on the menu? Rotting guts of White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) perhaps.

     Ah, to thrust one's head into the body cavity! Delicious!

     Common Tansy (Tanacetum vulgare) is both prolific and beautiful and seems to be at its peak right now.

     It found great favour with many insects, including this Common Eastern Bumblebee (Bombus impatiens).

     Alfalfa Plant Bug (Adelphocoris lineolatus) made the point that it is not always confined to alfalfa.

     If I am not mistaken the following fly belongs in the family Sarcophagidae (flesh flies).

     What it finds to its liking on Tansy I am not sure.

     Common Green Bottle (Lucilia sericata) is a very handsome species, but is at times implicated in the spread of disease.

     Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) is by way of contrast both benign and lovely.

     We spotted Wild Cucumber (Echinocystis lobata) quite frequently and will look forward to seeing the fruit a little later in the year.

     Dark Paper Wasp (Polistes fuscatus) is surely one of the most handsome of all the Hymenoptera.

     A bumble bee of indeterminate identity foraged for nectar.

     We were very happy to see this moth alight for enough time to have its picture taken. It was a new species for us, Two-banded Petrophila (Petrophila bifascialis).

     It is rarely that an Eastern Tailed Blue (Cupido comyntas) perches with wings outspread and we were delighted to be able to capture a picture.

     Usually the folded wing look is all we get.

     Common Ringlet (Coenonympha california) was, as the name implies, common.

     Common Carpet Moth (Epirrhoe alternata) was also not difficult to find.

     Cabbage White (Pieris rapae) was ubiquitous, but flitting hither and thither and rarely landing. Finally a male cooperated.

     There were many Common Water Striders (Aquarius remigis) zig zagging on the surface of a small pond, and it is really interesting to see the form of the shadow they create.

     If you look carefully in the picture above you can see one of the insects near a white spot in the bottom right quadrant.

     An American Toad (Anaxyrus americanus) seemed far less interested than we were.

     A Groundselbush Beetle (Trirhabda bacharidis) is very attractive.

     It is a type of skeletonizing beetle but other than that I know little of its lifestyle.

     There were many birds, but the vegetation was dense and obtaining photographs was not at all easy. The following image of a female Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus) will show you what I mean.

     Several species of Tyrant Flycatcher (Tyrannidae), some surprisingly vocal for the time of year, but frustrating from a photographer's standpoint, were not shy. Finally a Least Flycatcher (Empidonax minimus) perched in clear view.

     It took Miriam at least twenty minutes of dogged determination to get this shot.

19 August 2021

Our backyard, Waterloo, ON

     An Eastern Carpenter Bee (Xylocopa virginica) found the phlox in the backyard exactly to its liking.

     It burrowed right inside the flower to get that last drop of nectar.

19 August 2021

Milverton Sewage Lagoons, Milverton, ON

     A dedicated birder seeking shorebirds can think of no odour more pleasant than a little eau de sewer on a hot day in late August. "To follow your nose" never had a more apt meaning.

     With migratory shorebirds in mind we went to Milverton in anticipation of a bonanza. What did we find - nada, rien, nichts, nothing, zilch, zippo! A wasteland, or a waste water might be more appropriate, both literally and figuratively.

     When we first arrived in fact, there was not a single bird of any description on the water. When you can't even find a Canada Goose (Branta canadensis) in Canada one wonders what cataclysmic event might have occurred!

      There were Cedar Waxwings (Bombycilla cedrorum) in a tree, however, so all was not lost.

     A Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor) no doubt sensing our angst came and perched conveniently close to us.

     Then the show began! I am not sure how many Halloween Pennants (Celithemis eponina) there were but I don't think that over a hundred would be an exaggeration.

     As pennants are known to do they showed tremendous tenacity in clinging to an elevated perch, even in strong wind, and even if they left it for a brief interlude, they quickly returned. 

     By now the absence of a few shorebirds seemed quite trivial!

     A Broad-leaved Sweet Pea ( Lathyrus latifolius) might well have been named Broad-smiled Sweet Pea for us!

     What a beautiful little flower when viewed close up.

     A male Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) was very handsome.

     What would an August day be without a Common Ringlet?

     Or a Clouded Sulphur?

     Carolina Grasshoppers (Dissosteira carolina) exploded from underneath our feet.

     I am not sure what to make of this Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) with its exuvia. It has clearly past the teneral stage and acquired adult colouration, but remains in place and appears to have an injured left forewing. Might a bird have attacked it? If so, why would the bird not finish the job and eat the dragonfly or carry it back to its young?

     I am grateful to Richard Pegler for discussions on this matter.

     A Twelve-spotted Skimmer (Libellula pulchela) is a very handsome dragonfly.

     Widow Skimmer is equally impressive and this male exhibits excellent pruinosity.

     Now what was it we first came for? Shorebirds, you say? Well, it seems to me that we didn't have a bad day without them

19 August 2021

In our house, Waterloo, ON

     Is a fly in a house a House Fly? I think not, but I can't get anywhere with the ID of this one.

     It may have to remain a mystery!

Odds and Ends - and Lily

     We have not been out and about as much as usual of late, due to atrocious weather at times, and Miriam had an adverse reaction to her second COVID vaccination, so this post is a combination of odds and ends.

05 July 2021

     The Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) colony at SpruceHaven has had a banner year, and young birds are to be seen everywhere, with many second clutches now being incubated.

     These nestlings are about ready to fledge.

     Time to lose a little weight and learn how to catch your own food!

06 July 2021

     This attractive Green Stink Bug (Acrosternum hilare) was a very welcome visitor to our backyard.

     On balance, stink bugs, are probably beneficial in a garden, keeping weeds under control. They may attack tomatoes which look like they have been pricked, but stink bug numbers are seldom high, so they are not a significant problem.

     We have no tomatoes, and we are happy to share the yard with this individual. It is welcome to chew on all the weeds it wishes!

10 July 2021

     We had the sad duty of attending the funeral of our good friend, Betty Cooper, who illuminated this Earth for ninety-three years. In addition to many diverse interests Betty was dedicated to nature in all its richness. 

     We will miss her.

     Last October, she walked the entire length of the Mill Race Trail and back, and this picture of the two of us walking together is one I will treasure forever.

12 July 2021

     Our Butterfly Milkweed (Asclepias tuberosa) is doing splendidly well and bringing us much pleasure.

     It appears not to be well patronized by Monarchs (Danaus plexippus) but other insects, including this Cuckoo Leafcutter Bee (Genus Coelioxys), are not reluctant to exploit it.

     Our Red Hot Poker (Family Asphodelaceae) is not native, but produces copious quantities of nectar and is known to be visited by Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilocus colubris) and Baltimore Oriole (Icterus galbula).

      The plant is to the side of the front porch, so we seldom see it other than coming and going. Perhaps we need to pay more attention!

13 July 2021

     If I go to look out the window right now I can almost be assured that there will be a Mourning Dove (Zenadia macroura) or two in the backyard.

     No matter how many times I see it, I am never immune to its beauty. 

     We are often drawn to birds by their bright colours (and who can not react to multi-coloured tropical species?), or their extravagant behaviours, but there is a time to appreciate subtleties too.

     Every movement by a Mourning Dove seems measured and deliberate, its plumage a model of subdued hues, but it is possessed of a rare beauty all its own. 

14 July 2021

     Is anything quite as peaceful and quintessentially pastoral as a field of cows?

     A Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) was taking good care of her family on the pond.

     At this farm a couple of Mute Swans (Cygnus olor) are rented each year, and their presence may afford a little extra protection for these ducklings. 

     This Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) would not hesitate to carry off one them to feed his own growing brood.

     I am woefully ignorant about cereal grains, but I am assuming this is some kind of wheat, and there seems to be a bumper crop.

     We spotted five Turkey Vultures (Cathartes aura) in one location and are quite sure that carrion was in the vicinity.

     We didn't take the time to try to find it - rotting carcasses are not our favourite things to discover!

    We are so accustomed to seeing Turkey Vultures soaring on currents of air, it always adds a touch of extra excitement to view them perched.

     They have an impressive wing span.

Lily

     Under the new COVID guidelines of the Province of Ontario, we are allowed to gather in our house - up to five people, so Heather and Lily payed their first visit.

Lily is almost thirteen months old, happy, curious and very mobile. She will attempt several steps provided you hold her hand; the moment you release it she sits down! Any day now, I predict she will take her first unaided steps.

     It was exciting to have her play with us in the house and interact in ways not possible when she is confined to her stroller on a walk.

     I am showing you all the pictures Miriam took, and I think that any commentary from me would be superfluous.

     It makes no difference at all, but Blogger in its own inimitable fashion rearranged the sequence of the pictures.

     The weather in various parts of the world seems to be causing great distress for many. Stay safe everyone, but get used to it. Climate change is already here.