16-AUG-2017
Eastern cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus)
The same rabbit as shown in the next photo. He or she came hopping up the ravine to where Isabelle and I were talking and came right over to us, looking expectant. After hovering around for a few seconds, he hopped back to the edge of the ravine and sat. The rabbits show little fear of humans or dogs, which is not good!
16-AUG-2017
Eastern cottontail rabbit (Sylvilagus floridanus)
Another rabbit, this one an adult and much bigger than the earlier posting of the youngster. It has been a good couple of years for this species across the region, but as their population is cyclical, we will probably begin to see fewer of them over the next year or two, until they bounce back again.
16-AUG-2017
Sawflies (Subfamily Nematinae)
Feeding on poplar leaves. When disturbed, most sawflies adopt this rear-end in the air pose.
16-AUG-2017
Red squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus)
What would a month be without a red squirrel photo? Hard to resist taking photos of these extremely photogenic animals. As always, there are good numbers around the garden, and at present they are busy cutting cones from trees ready for stockpiling. They're also gathering walnuts for the same reason.
16-AUG-2017
Gray-headed coneflowers (Ratibida pinnata)
This tall wildlflower does well at the garden, these ones are in the Butterfly Meadow. It is native further south, but doesn't exist in the wild in the Ottawa district.
16-AUG-2017
Wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
A very pretty native species that is highly attractive to bees, butterflies, and other nectaring insects.
16-AUG-2017
New england aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
You really know summer is coming to an end when the asters begin blooming!
16-AUG-2017
Jumping spider nest
It is not uncommon to find jumping spider nests on milkweed leaves, as here. The leaves are broad and thick and probably provide good support for the nest. I don't know which species of jumping spider was in here because as I moved the leaves, the spider leaped out and vanished. I could see only enough to determine it was a jumping spider.
16-AUG-2017
Canada darner (Aeshna canadensis)
Flew in and landed right in front of me on the fence around the pond.
16-AUG-2017
Bumble bee (Bombus)
Nectaring on grass-leaved goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia). There were numbers of bumble bees around the garden in the warm sun, mostly nectaring on the plentiful goldenrod which is in full bloom at present.
16-AUG-2017
Spotted grass moth (Rivula propinqualis)
Found on, what else, but a grass stem... though really it is the larva that feeds on grasses, not the adult. This moth is, like so many moths, highly variable in pattern and colour.
16-AUG-2017
Sunflower (Helianthus)
A number of sunflowers (probably Helianthus annuus) growing by the pond, much to the delight of birds and squirrels.
