29-AUG-2010
Black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)
I've seen a lot of black swallowtails around FWG this year, as well as more caterpillars than I usually see. On this day I also saw an eastern tailed blue butterfly, a monarch, a couple of ringlets and a handful of clouded sulphurs and cabbage whites.
27-AUG-2010
Treehoppers (Enchenopa ) all in a row
These little thorn-like treehoppers are good at imitating thorns or buds on trees.
25-AUG-2010
The old swimming hole
This temporary puddle was well visited by many birds this morning. There were, at various times, rose-breasted grosbeaks, eastern kingbirds, song sparrows, house finches and of course, many goldfinches.
25-AUG-2010
Black-capped chickadee on hackberry leaf
There were three chickadees pecking away on the hackberry leaves. I finally realized that they were pecking open the tiny galls of which there were many, on the leaves, to get at the larvae inside. The sound of the claws and beaks on the rough, sandpapery leaves was creating a loud rasping sound that was quite unusual and odd.
25-AUG-2010
Galls on hackberry leaf (Celtis occidentalis)
This is a closer view of the galls that the chickadees were pecking at. As you can see, they are very tiny, so they needed to pry open many to get a meal!
25-AUG-2010
House finch and American goldfinch
It looks like the goldfinch is telling the house finch to buzz off! Song Sparrows and Chipping Sparrows were also sharing this spot.
25-AUG-2010
Spittlebug, perhaps an Alder spittlebug
This was quite a robust spittlebug, much larger than one usually sees. But the markings are cryptic and many species look similar.
25-AUG-2010
Northern Cardinal, male
A lovely, bright male cardinal who was hanging out in the BYG with a couple of juveniles, all of them making plenty of commotion.
25-AUG-2010
The Ravine
I took a quick look in the ravine to check on some plants that I'd found there last year. They were thriving. We discourage people from going into this area as it is slippery, full of downed branches and trees, and most importantly, a quiet wildlife habitat.
25-AUG-2010
Red squirrel looking quizzical
As fall draws ever closer, all the squirrels (chipmunks, greys, reds and groundhogs) are becoming much more noticeable, storing up fat if they hibernate (groundhogs), or food to see them through the winter (the rest). Chipmunks head underground once winter sets in. They maintain a separate storeroom of food to which they will go periodically through the winter, from their cosy sleeping quarters. Thus, they are not true hibernators as groundhogs are. The reds and the greys will remain active throughout the winter except on the coldest of days.
25-AUG-2010
Tear-thumb (Polygonum persicaria) flower
A native plant that inhabits wet sites. It is a weakly twining vine, clambering over other vegetation. It derives its name from the fact that when people inadvertently grab hold of it or walk through it (especially in shorts!) they get a nasty surprise. The stems are full of tiny thorns.
25-AUG-2010
Tear-thumb (Polygonum persicaria) stem
You can see the prickly stem well here!
25-AUG-2010
House finch having a bath
The new spillway from the Amphibian Pond is a magnet for birds. Today there were song sparrows, chipping sparrows, house finches and lots and lots of goldfinches drinking and bathing in the water.
25-AUG-2010
American goldfinches
Two of the many goldfinches enjoying the water in the spillway.
25-AUG-2010
Leafhopper (Draeculacephala zeae)
These small bright green leafhoppers were out in force. Notice how well they blend in with the grass stems on which they were sitting. Their pointy nose is a distinctive feature of this group, as is the hint of pink at the end of the abdomen.
25-AUG-2010
American goldfinch eating Prickly lettuce seeds
Birds were abundant this morning at the garden. Goldfinches were everywhere. They were feeding on the prickly lettuce seeds, as in this photo, and on seeds of sow-thistle. They were also lined up to bathe in the spillway from the pond (a very popular place for birds), as well as in a large puddle on Green Heron Way (the service rd. leading east from the red barn).
Other birds included brown thrasher, male American redstart, eastern kingbird, black-and-white-warbler, female common yellowthroat, female and male cardinals and juveniles, rose-breasted grosbeaks all juveniles, chickadees, common raven, house finches, song sparrows, chipping sparrows, crows, northern flickers, and so on.
20-AUG-2010
Jumping spider (Phidippus clarus), female
This large spider(8-10mm), large for a jumper that is, was in a silken nest on a milkweed plant, a different spider from the previous phot. She ran out and down the stem of the plant and in the late afternoon sun she looked perfectly golden.
20-AUG-2010
Jumping spider in shelter, female
I am a big fan of jumping spiders. I think they are the most adorably cute little critters. Today was a very good day for seeing lots of these gals (this is a female as you can see from the shape of the palps). She was sitting in her shelter on a milkweed leaf and when I tried to get a photo of the shelter she stuck her head out as if to say "What do you want?". Then she climbed out and peered downward, hanging on by her back legs. Very cute!
20-AUG-2010
Planthopper Metcalfa pruinosa
Thanks to Graham Montgomery for the tip about species name.
This was a new one for me. I had been looking for planthoppers for some time and concluded I was never going to see what is apparently a common insect. However, today was a lucky bug day for as I was photographing Enchenopa treehoppers I suddenly noticed this little critter resting on a twig. I thought it might be a tiny moth at first, but when it started to move I realized it was a planthopper! Great excitement. Great frustration too, because it was nearly impossible to photograph it. Eventually, after allowing me a few shots it dropped out of sight and I saw no more.
20-AUG-2010
Treehopper (Enchenopa)
Found on a nannyberry shrub, one of three seen today. You can clearly see the large eye on the upper left under the "thorny" projection, really an extension of the pronotum.
19-AUG-2010
Leafhopper (Neokolla sp.)
This minute leafhopper was on a goldenrod stem. It was so small that not until I had put on my glasses did I even realize it was a living insect! A very attractive one too!
19-AUG-2010
Northern flicker, juvenile
More proof that birds are on the wing! Flickers are being seen in greater abundance around the FWG now, both adults and young.
19-AUG-2010
American goldfinch feeding young
Well, the last of the nesting species have finished. Goldfinches leave their nesting duties until late in the season, well past the time when most birds have nested. There are still a few nesting birds around, however. Song sparrows are on second broods in some cases, but their young should be just about out of the nest now. So that's it... now the birds can begin leaving! Well, not the goldfinches, who tend to be short-distance travellers, rather than migrants. In winter they'll move around a bit, but they are not long-distance migrants.
Jeewa told me she saw a couple of black-and-white warblers in the garden, so things are happening out there in the bird world, as these will be birds starting to move south.
19-AUG-2010
Jewel beetle (Buprestid sp.)
Jeewa sent me this photo today and I was happy to tell her it was a Buprestid beetle, a new one for our FWG list. They are beautiful jewel-like beetles, and vary in size. Fortunately, this one is not green, which could indicate the Emerald Ash borer. Most Buprestids are not invasive or problematical, the way the ash-borer is. And yes, the ash borers are Buprestids.
18-AUG-2010
Crab spider (Misumena vatia) on joe-pye-weed
This crab-spider is beautifully matched to her surroundings. Notice how the pink stripe blends in so well with the flower! Crab spiders are pretty successful hunters overall. They build no webs or funnels, but instead sit and wait patiently for something to land nearby. They will then grab the unsuspecting victim, give them a lethal bite and that is that.
18-AUG-2010
Gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor) on milkweed leaf
Earlier in the month, Jeewa came across a small treefrog on a DSV leaf. Today I saw a slightly bigger one on a milkweed leaf. They seem to like the leaves of plants in this family. This treefrog was near a big stand of goldenrod that was buzzing with insects, so perhaps he was waiting for lunch.
18-AUG-2010
Two Monarch butterflies(Danaus plexippus) on Joe-pye-weed
And this not very good photo shows two monarchs together.
18-AUG-2010
Bumblebee on butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa)
This bumblebee was enjoying the nectar from this pretty orange plant. Despite its name, I have never seen butterflies on this plant, and whether it is really attractive butterflies, I don't know. Perhaps in its native range (south of us) it is. Here, it certainly attracts bee anyway.
16-AUG-2010
Water willow (Decodon verticillatus)
This pretty plant grows in our Amphibian Pond. It is known by the common name of water willow, for very obvious reasons. It is a native plant that can become densely abundant in some situations. We have no idea how it arrived at the pond, as we didn't plant it. But it has been around for about 8 years now. It is certainly spreading, but not as fast as I thought it was going to. Nonetheless, we have a good stand of it right now.
12-AUG-2010
Leafhopper (Chlorotettix unicolor sp.)
An unusual looking little leafhopper that has a head reminiscent of a grasshopper!
16-AUG-2010
Treehopper (Acutalis tartarea)
There were several of these tiny (4 - 5 mm) treehoppers on sunflower stems in the Butterfly Meadow. They are quite distinctive in both shape and colour. Previously called A. brunnea.
10-AUG-2010
Melanopus grasshopper
These small but very colourful grasshoppers are everywhere at FWG these days. To me they look rather tropical. Once one starts looking at these little guys, a whole new world is revealed!
12-AUG-2010
Fruit fly (Eutreta noveboracensis)
This is not the type of fruit fly we get swarming around over-ripe fruit in our homes, those tiny little almost invisible creatures. This is a member of the Tephritidae family which contains some of the most beautiful of flies, with bold wing patterns and pretty colouring. Look at those striped eyes for example! I have been seeing quite a few of these around FWG lately, after not having seen any before. No doubt they were present and I just didn't notice them.
American toad watching for ants
Sandy saw this large toad waiting for ants. You can see a winged ant coming out of the hole. Sandy told me about the toad and when I went past the spot, sure enough he was sitting there, though not as intent on food as in this shot. The next day, he was there again.
12-AUG-2010
Leafcutter bee (Megachile)
Unlike many bees, this species carries the pollen on its belly. You can see how yellow the underside of the abdomen is, this is from the heavy coating of pollen. Occasionally you see these bees with whitish abdomens, clean and pollen free! These bees are pretty interesting. They cut perfectly circular shapes from leaves and use them to construct their nests, either under rocks, in cavities, under wood, and in bee boxes. Yes, last year these bees used our bee box for nesting and it was an interesting time to watch them as they carried their leaves, the balls of pollen, and finally mud to seal the entrance.
12-AUG-2010
Leafcutter bee (Megachile)
This leafcutter bee was absorbed in gathering pollen from the bull thistle, which, although a non-native species, is well used by insects including monarch butterflies, fritillaries, honey bees, and so on.
12-AUG-2010
Locust underwing (Euparthenos nubilis), #8719
Another strikingly patterned underwing moth found by Diane when mothing the other night at the garden.
12-AUG-2010
Sphecid wasp (Sphex ichneumoneus)
One of the big beautiful Sphecid wasps that appear in mid summer. The other noticeable one is the Sphex pensylvanicus, the big black digger.
12-AUG-2010
Chickweed geometer (Haematopis grataria), male
A very beautiful day-flying moth, with striking colouration. This one is a male, as evidenced by the big feathery antennae.
12-AUG-2010
The Penitent underwing moth (Catocala neogama), #8798
Diane was doing some mothing to see if there were any Catocala moths (underwing moths) around the FWG, and she found this beauty coming to feed on a plum tree painted with a sugar solution.
11-AUG-2010
FWG in the early morning
Looking east above the pond as sunlight filters through the oak leaves onto the dew covered ground.
11-AUG-2010
Black Ducks
These two have been hanging around the garden, on and off, making good use of the turtle raft. After an energetic preening session, they settled down to recover.
11-AUG-2010
Gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor)
A beautiful little treefrog found by Jeewa sitting on a DSV leaf. A few months ago we found a couple of them hunkering down on the DSV leaves which are just the right size to hold a tiny frog!
12-AUG-2010
Leonard's skipper (Hesperia leonardus)
It was a treat to see this beautiful fresh Leonard's skipper nectaring on Joe-pye-weed in the BYG today. These strikingly coloured and patterned large skippers are one of the latest to fly in our area, usually appearing in mid-August, give or take a week or two!
12-AUG-2010
Song sparrow
This song sparrow flew over to a bird house by the pond and neatly deposited this fecal sac (seen at its feet). It must be on a second nesting.
10-AUG-2010
Sphecid wasp (Isodontia mexicana)
This small Sphecid wasp preys on various Orthoptera (grasshoppers, crickets, etc) which it stockpiles in cavities and in stems of plants.
11-AUG-2010
Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis)
Very early in the day, the primrose flowers were still wide open and looking all sparkly with the dew droplets.
11-AUG-2010
Dew covered bumblebee
Early in the morning the bumblebees, and some other insects, were covered with dew and waiting for the sun to dry them off.
11-AUG-2010
Black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) caterpillar
I was at FWG early this morning while the dew was still on the ground, and on the insects. This large caterpillar was found on Queen Anne's lace in the Butterfly Meadow, very appropriately!
10-AUG-2010
Argid sawflies on red oak
These very small sawflies are doing that characteristic pose of the sawfly larvae, as if standing on their heads. These are very pretty little critters, only about 8 of them on the leaf.
9-AUG-2010
Catskill potter wasp (Ancistrocerus catskill)
On fennel in the BYG. The huge bronze fennel plant is well used by insects and was just about as busy as the goldenrods. Thanks to iNaturalist for ID.
09-AUG-2010
Cedar waxwings, fledged young
These youngsters look so ungainly somehow, and so cute!!!! Cedar waxwings nest later in the season, close to the time that goldfinches do.
9-AUG-2010
Treehopper (Enchenopa latipes)
This is yet another example of a treehopper with a thorn-like projection over its head. This one was found on Queen Anne's Lace but is most often seen on goldenrods. It is slightly larger than the Enchenopa I saw a week or so ago, and in many respects more striking. This was found in an area of high insect activity. I got out of the car, walked about 40 feet, and got stopped for the next 30 or 40 minutes looking at all the activity around a large patch of Canada goldenrod with a nearby small stand of Queen Anne's lace. There were hover flies of several species, various bumblebee species, yellowjackets, vespids, potter wasps, mason wasps, soldier flies, greenbottle flies, locut borer beetles, Pennsylvania leatherwing beetles, sweat bees, honey bees, Isodontia wasps, and this little guy!
10-AUG-2010
Treehopper (Enchenopa latipes)
Another view of this pretty and intriguingly shaped little treehopper, found on Queen Anne's lace.
09-AUG-2010
Mating asian ladybeetles (Harmonia axyridis)
A gorgeously coloured pair of ladybeetles photographed by Jeewa. These ladybeetles are EVERYWHERE in the garden right now. They are predators on aphids and other insects. I have seen them devour small caterpillars too, which can be bad if the caterpillars are butterflies, but most often they seem to take the smaller caterpillars that are usually moths, some of which are considered problem moths.
9-AUG-2010
Bee fly (Villa cf. alternata)
This is another new addition to the FWG insect list. I am sure these common flies have been around before but have gone unnoticed.
10-AUG-2010
Bee fly (Villa cf. alternata)
A head on view of this lovely striped bee fly on Queen Anne's lace. Even if the flowers are not used for nectaring, their wide umbels offer great perches for many insects. This one, however, was indeed feeding.
9-AUG-2010
Pelecinid wasp (Pelecinus polyturator), female
I went back to the FWG this afternoon, hoping to see the American Snout butterfly. No luck, but I was actually even more excited to see this huge Pelecinid wasp near the Ash Woods. She landed right in front of me (talk about luck!). I had told Jeewa some weeks ago that I hoped one day to see this common (but not commonly seen) wasp at the FWG, and there she was. That long stinger-like thing is her abdomen. She does not have a stinger. It is unfortunate that people see these wasps and mistake the long thin abdomen for a vicious stinger. These wasps are as gentle as can be. The males are tiny and are rarely seen, leading some folk in times past to assume that there was no male of the species!
09-AUG-2010
Chipmunk on Cup Plant
Every year chipmunks gather the flowerheads of these flowers and have a feast!
9-AUG-2010
Black and yellow orb weaver (Argiope aurantia)
I was looking around the field for the other Argiope spiders when I saw this huge female A. aurantia. Much bigger than the A. trifasciata. Truly the queen of the orb weavers!
09-AUG-2010
American Dagger moth caterpillar (Acronicta americana)
This pretty white caterpillar is very common around the region, including FWG where it is often found in late summer.
09-AUG-2010
Hanging around: Red squirrel
These little guys will contort themselves greatly to reach food, as this one is doing in the photo by Jeewa. In this case, he is reaching for hawthorn fruit.
06-AUG-2010
Wood duck
This wood duck seems to be telling someone off, but in fact is probably just yawning! It, like the couple of Black Ducks in the pond, is making good use of the turtle raft!
06-AUG-2010
Leafhopper (Coelidia olitoria)
Lots of these little guys around now. They are a new species for our FWG insect list.
06-AUG-2010
Banded argiope (Argiope trifasciata) showing the spinnerets (which make the silk for the web)
You can see the red spinnerets on this underside view of the female Argiope. Very striking spiders, whether seen front or back.
06-AUG-2010
Banded argiope (Argiope trifasciata)
One of two large females hanging around waiting for a meal. A tiny male was in a web close by. These spiders can be abundant at this time of year, with sometimes dozens in a weedy, grassy field.
9-AUG-2010
Sphecid wasp (Sphex pensylvanicus) on Mountain mint
This was taken in the BYG, where there is a small patch of mountain mint. This plant attracts a huge variety of insects and in particular these large and striking wasps. They look fierce but they are not aggressive, unless you happen to brush them away from feeding when they might not be very happy, and who can blame them. These guys hunt grasshoppers and take them down to their burrow where they stock them for their larvae to feed on (the adults are happy to feed mostly on nectar). I have seen them swooping into their burrows with huge grasshoppers clasped beneath their body, an impressive sight, though I really feel sorry for the grasshoppers.
9-AUG-2010
Locust borer (Megacyllene robinia)
A back view of this beautiful long-horned beetle.
9-AUG-2010
Locust borer (Megacyllene robinia)
You know it is getting on for late summer when these beautiful long-horned beetles start to appear. They are most often found on goldenrod, although can turn up on any plant with nectar. However, scanning the goldenrods usually yields several of these. They are impressively large and very wasp-like in their colouring.
9-AUG-2010
Keeled treehopper (Entylia carinata)
I am not sure of this species yet, but it is different from the usual ones we see. I was hoping for some of the more exotic looking ones today, but it was not to be. I had a devil of a time taking a photo of this little one as it was not much bigger than a speck!
05-AUG-2010
Wood duck
Jeewa noticed a couple of wood ducks visiting the pond, and a few more in the Arboretum.
05-AUG-2010
Warbling Vireo on dogwood
Another favourite shrub for birds.
05-AUG-2010
Rose-breasted grosbeak
These guys are everywhere lately, as both Jeewa and I have noticed. This looks like a juvenile male. Many of them are enjoying the various fruits, in particular they seem to relish that of the Canada elderberry which never keeps its fruit for long once it ripens. In addition to grosbeaks, catbirds, robins, waxwings, orioles and a whole host of other birds descend on the shrubs.
05-AUG-2010
Cooper's Hawk
Superb flight shot of this lovely large accipiter by Jeewa.
05-AUG-2010
Brown Thrasher
It may be that this brown thrasher nested at the garden (it has nested once or twice previously). I saw a thrasher several times in the late spring, and then more recently, Jeewa saw one several times over a couple of weeks. On the other hand, it might just be a result of post-breeding dispersal. Neither of us saw any sign of thrashers during peak breeding season. Anyway, Jeewa caught a good shot of this one.
04-AUG-2010
American Goldfinch
"Splish-splash I was taking a bath..." A great action shot by Jeewa of this male goldfinch taking an enjoyable bath. They will take advantage of the smallest puddles to do this in. But a favourite spot now is the new spillway at the east end of the pond!
04-AUG-2010
Young cottontail
This little guy hangs out in the BYG and is not as wary as he should be. He is very, very cute, just look at those shell-pink ears.
03-AUG-2010
Stinkbug (Banasa sp.) on Red sier dogwood fruit
You can almost always find one of these small stinkbugs amongst clusters of dogwood and mountain ash fruit.
03-AUG-2010
Garden cross orb weaver (Araneus diadematus)
It is just about time for the big orb weaver spiders to appear. This is one of the smaller ones that arrives about mid-July. It is well-named for it frequently turns up in residential gardens. I have at least 4, possibly more, in my garden at the moment. They are very common throughout FWG. I think they are remarkably beautiful.
03-AUG-2010
Cicada case
I was standing around idly looking up into a Manitoba maple tree when I noticed this cicada case. The cicada had clearly climbed up the tree and hooked a leg around a dead twig to anchor itself before beginning the process of emerging. I snapped off the dead twig so I could take a better shot but then put the twig and case back in a fork in the maple tree.
03-AUG-2010
Eastern kingbird fledged young
This was one of four youngsters calling loudly and incessantly for food. Sort of reminded me of my elderly (19 1/2 year old) cat who does the same thing!
03-AUG-2010
Mountain ash fruit (Sorbus)
Many trees and shrubs are heavy with fruit now and attracting dozens of birds. This mountain ash was swarmed by cedar waxwings, house finches, gray catbirds, robins, chickadees, and Baltimore orioles. Some, like the chickadees, would be seeking insects amongst the fruit (and there are many insects in these clusters), but most would be eating the fruit. Canada elderberry shrubs are bending low under their fruity load and are also a mecca for birds. It is quite a heady time for birds and animals right now with summer's bounty at its peak.
While trying to photograph some sawfly larvae, I heard what sounded like a bunch of vandals thrashing the nearby shrubs and trees. I ignored it for awhile, but eventually went over to see who was making all this noise. I thought it might be squirrels, but the volume of noise increased so much that I began to doubt this. But sure enough, there they were, up high in an oak tree throwing down one acorn after another, sometimes cutting off branches laden with nuts and hurling them down to the shrubs below.
03-AUG-2010
Queen Anne's Lace in the rain
There was heavy thundering rain this afternoon and it drenched everything in sight. But then, as often happens in summer, it cleared, the sun came out (briefly), and the world looked sparkling. This Queen Anne's lace heavy with rain caught some of the sun's rays.
01-AUG-2010
Bottlebrush grass (Elymus hystrix)
Planted in the BYG, but a native species that grows in the wilds around here, though considered to regionally significant because found in few locations. I know of at least two areas where it can be found, one rarely, the other quite readily. Here it is growing well in one of the garden beds. I think it is a very beautiful grass and deserves to be grown more as an ornamental.
01-AUG-2010
Baby cottontail
This very small youngster has his eyes closed as if enjoying the grass he is eating. Everything is dry and dusty and parched these days. We desperately need some rain. But I guess this little guy is finding the grass palatable enough.
01-AUG-2010
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus) on Joe-pye-weed
A few Monarchs have been around the garden this summer, but not encountered daily. A few larvae have been found, so that is a good sign!
