17-MAR-2016
Purple-toothed polypore (Trichaptum biforme)
The green is from algal growth. When fresh or moistened by rain, these polypores are a bright purple underneath. (CH)
17-MAR-2016
Cecropia moth cocoon
A good photo of a cecropia moth cocoon at the garden, taken by Barry. Hopefully this one will produce a moth. They are spectacular creatures, as big as a hand. They belong to the Giant Silkworm family (Saturniidae), which includes, locally, some other equally spectacular moths. The caterpillars (larvae) are also spectacular. Too bad we never saw the caterpillar before it spun its cocoon!
17-MAR-2016
Mallards
The pond is opening up but there is still ice on much of it. Nonetheless, the ice didn't deter a pair of mallards, which Barry saw and photographed.
17-MAR-2016
They're back: Canada geese
In this photo by Barry, the geese look exactly like the 'V' shapes kids draw to depict birds flying. The geese are back in force now, large skeins filling the sky, more each day.
17-MAR-2016
Common grackle
Grackles, along with red-winged blackbirds, song sparrows, killdeer, turkey vultures and canada geese, are amongst the really early birds to return to our area. Even when there is still snow on the ground, and the risk of snow falling, with temperatures anywhere from -12 to +12, these birds are not deterred.
11-MAR-2016
Eastern cottontail rabbit
Barry spotted this cottontail sitting near its hidey-hole.
11-MAR-2016
Rat-tailed maggot
Barry found one of these odd-looking little aquatic critters swimming around in an open area of the pond where the ice had receded. This is the larva of a hover fly (Syrphid family). It is difficult to identify species of hover fly at this stage, but I am guessing that this is in the Eristalinae subfamily and might be the drone fly, Eristalis tenax, a non-native and common species. That long 'tail' you can see is the breathing tube. Not all hover flies are aquatic at this stage, but certainly those in the Eristalinae tend to be. (CH)
11-MAR-2016
Rat-tailed maggot
Barry found one of these odd-looking little aquatic critters swimming around in an open area of the pond where the ice had receded. This is the larva of a hover fly (Syrphid family). It is difficult to identify species of hover fly at this stage, but I am guessing that this is in the Eristalinae subfamily and might be the drone fly, Eristalis tenax, a non-native and common species. That long 'tail' you can see is the breathing tube. Not all hover flies are aquatic at this stage, but certainly those in the Eristalinae tend to be. (CH)
11-MAR-2016
Lichens of the FWG
Lichens are beautiful and with lovely colours, texture and patterns. Barry photographed a number of lichens at the FWG and I decided to put them together in a collage so the full impact could be seen. Some lichens are restricted to a certain tree species, for example, some only grow on jack pines, others grow on various conifers but not on hardwoods, and vice versa. (CH)
11-MAR-2016
Red squirrel
A perennial favourite topic for photographers, these adorable creatures are hard to resist.
11-MAR-2016
Squirrel box
Barry said that this box was already open when he came along and photographed it. I have seen several of the boxes that were erected a couple of years ago, open like this, sometimes with the contents on the ground below. Barry speculated a raccoon may have done this, and he did see a raccoon a few weeks ago at the garden. We don't really see many of these mammals at FWG, but it could be a raccoon doing this. I always think it is human interference! (CH)
11-MAR-2016
Scotch pine (Pinus sylvestris)
The red of the non-native scotch pine really stands out in the sun.
