31-MAY-2010
Groundhog
We don't get as many groundhogs as we used to, and so when we do see one we are very pleased!
31-MAY-2010
Haploa confusa caterpillar
This caterpillar turns into a striking brown and white moth, the Confused Haploa, so-called because it has variable patterns, giving rise to confusion when trying to ID it.
31-MAY-2010
Little wood satyr (Megisto cymela)
This species seems to be abundant all over this year. In some areas I've counted over 25 without even trying.
31-MAY-2010
Racket-tailed emerald (Dorocordulia libera)
A side view showing those glowing emerald eyes.
31-MAY-2010
Racket-tailed emerald (Dorocordulia libera)
This beautiful green-eyed dragonfly was another of the species found at FWG today.
31-MAY-2010
Common pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis), male
A close-up of the gorgeous green face of this species.
31-MAY-2010
Common pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis), male
While watching Hobomok skippers, this gorgeous pondhawk suddenly landed in front of us. It is an immature (teneral) changing into an adult. The green thorax and upper part of the abdomen are the juvenile colours, the blue on the rest of the abdomen is the colour he will become as an adult male. The females are green.
31-MAY-2010
Toothed sombrewing moth
These moths are common to abundant at this time of year. They fly up from roadsides and fields and look at first like one of the small dark butterflies (a duskywing, a cloudywing, for example) flying away.
31-MAY-2010
Twelve-spotted skimmer (Libellula pulchella), female
One of many dragonflies and damselflies seen at FWG today. We also saw American emerald, four-spotted skimmer, eastern pondhawk, common green darner, and lots of bluets, an ebony jewelwing, and eastern forktail.
31-MAY-2010
Silvery blue
Another of the butterflies seen at FWG today.
31-MAY-2010
Canadian tiger swallowtail (Papilio canadendis)
After seeing so many of these flit past us, Jeewa and I were delighted when this one finally landed on the Dame's rocket and spent much time nectaring allowing us to get at least a few photos.
31-MAY-2010
Isabella tiger moth )Pyrrharctia isabella)
This is what the familiar Woolly Bear caterpillar turns into! This moth was on the underside of a raspberry leaf.
31-MAY-2010
Long dash skipper (Polites mystic)
I went back to the FWG in the late afternoon and found this little long dash skipper. Overall, it was a very good day for butterflies at FWG.
Hobomok Skipper 4
Long Dash Skipper 1
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail 8
Clouded Sulphur 1
Cabbage White 2
Red Admiral 10
Spring Azure 1
Silvery Blue 4
White Admiral 1
Mourning Cloak 1
Common Ringlet 10
Little Wood Satyr 4
30-MAY-2010
Wool carder bee (Anthidium manicatum)
This large, pretty bee is nectaring at Penstemon hirsutus
27-MAY-2010
Bumblebee and lupine
This bumblebee is heavily laden with pollen!
27-MAY-2010
Butterfly meadow
The meadow is alive with lupines and comfrey right now and is attracting many insects.
26-MAY-2010
Green frog (Rana clamitans)
This handsome frog was sitting near the shore in the Amphibian Pond (where else would a frog sit?). It is green frog breeding season and they are calling frequently. At night, the pond resounds with the calls of these guys and the gray treefrogs.
26-MAY-2010
Common whitetail (Plathemis lydia), female
We are seeing lots of dragonflies at the FWG now. There was a pair of mating common green darners, four-spotted skimmers, American emeralds, and several of this species. Also, many bluets (damselflies).
26-MAY-2010
Mayfly (Ephemeroptera)
There were several of these floating in the pond. It doesn't really look like the shed skin of the adult ephemeroptera (which is usually, as far as I know, a pale colour and transparent). However... I didn't actually pick this up to look closely. It is quite beautiful though.
26-MAY-2010
Virginian tiger moth (Spilosoma virginica)
Under a DSV leaf. These are the adults of the Yellow bear caterpillars, the ones that look like the familiar Woolly bears, but without a black mid-stripe. The caterpillars are also varied in colour, most often a golden yellow (hence the name), but can also be white and several shades of brown.
26-MAY-2010
Gathering pollen
This bee (Andrenid sp. I think) was inside a small white rose so intent on gathering the pollen that no attempt was made to fly when I stuck my camera almost on the rose. I watched as the bee rolled and swept the pollen in an almost frantic act of gathering. Afterward, so laden with pollen was it that a landing was made on a nearby leaf (next photo).
26-MAY-2010
After the pollen collecting
Look at the heavy pollen load!!
25-MAY-2010
Rose bush
The roses are in full bloom right now. A fantastic sight. The bees also think so and are abundant.
25-MAY-2010
Four-spotted Skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata)
This beauty was by the pond. I think they are one of the most handsome of odonates! There were also a couple of common green darners, a couple of American emeralds, and, new for the FWG list, a common baskettail. This year, I have seen odonates I've not seen before at the FWG. We've added three new species so far this spring.
25-MAY-2010
White slant-line moth (Tetracis cachexiata)
This moth was in the BYG. I saw a few Anania funebris and lots of Ctenucha cocoons, so we may have a lot of these gorgeous day-flying moths in awhile.
25-MAY-2010
Cabbage white (Pieris rapae) on Forget-me-not
There was variety but not numbers in the butterfly world at FWG today. I saw three cabbage whites, 1 Canadian tiger swallowtail, 2 common ringlets, i viceroy, 1 very worn American lady, 2 red admirals, 1 clouded sulphur, 1 northern crescent and 2 hobomok skippers.
25-MAY-2010
Sweat bee (Agapostemon splendens) in a rose
Insects were abundant in the BYG, mostly these and other Halictids, bumblebees and Andrenid bees.
25-MAY-2010
In the bird bath
Because it was forecast to be another hot day, I was at FWG just after 8:30 this morning. It was already hot. These house finches were lined up to take advantage of the bird bath!
Yellow warblers are back in force. I saw at least 3 pairs plus a couple of singletons. Red-winged blackbird females were busy building nests. Tree swallows are nesting. Chickadees are feeding young, as are robins. Song sparrows are also nesting. A killdeer was flying and calling, on and off for an hour, high over the garden. A crow flew quickly out a spruce tree and nearly crashed into me. I ducked or else I'd have had crow on my face! Orioles, warbling vireos, redstarts, cardinals, and all the regular birds were around. The only unusual bird was a willow flycatcher giving its "Fitz-bew" call.
23-MAY-2010
Pale swallowwrt/Dog-strangling vine
Our favourite invasive species (not)!
20-MAY-2010
Eastern Kingbird
It looks like this kingbird, photographed by Jeewanthi, is already collecting nest material.
20-MAY-2010
Hover fly, Possibly Criorhina sp., a bumblebee mimic
I didn't get clear enough photos front and back, but because it was out in spring I think it may be a Criorhina species of hover fly. Doesn't it look just like a bumblebee?
20-MAY-2010
Baltimore oriole, male
The beautiful song of this species was a constant the whole time I was at FWG today.
20-MAY-2010
Hobomok skipper (Poanes hobomok)
There were at least three of these recently emerged skippers at FWG, and likely, more. Other butterflies found today: Canadian tiger swallowtail 1, red admiral 10+, cabbage white 6+, blue sp. 2 (didn't land so couldn't tell if it was a silvery blue or a spring azure).
20-MAY-2010
Hobomok skipper (Poanes hobomok)
In this photo, the Hobomok skipper has his wings open, and the distinctive pattern can be seen.
18-MAY-2010
Tending the herd: Publilia treehoppers and ants
Every year I look for these abundant treehoppers and their attendant ants. They have a symbiotic relationship. The ants protect the treehoppers and in return "milk" them for honeydew.
18-MAY-2010
Hover fly (Chalcosyrphus curvaria)
Another new hover fly for our FWG list. They are relatively common, so I am sure they are around the garden every year, but I haven't seen them there until today when I saw a couple. They are very good wasp mimics!
18-MAY-2010
Dark-spotted palthis (Palthis angulalis), #8397
In the Butterfly meadow. These are common and intriguingly shaped moths (like a dart).
18-MAY-2010
American goldfinch eating dandelion seeds
Several goldfinches were demolishing the seed heads of dandelions, with great relish I might add! Here, you can see this guy has just grabbed the seed.
18-MAY-2010
Long-jawed orb weaver (Tetragnatha sp.)
These spiders were also abundant in the garden. They are tiny, but if you include those long legs, they range in size from about 25mm to 50mm, with the males being the smaller and the females the larger.
18-MAY-2010
Gray treefrog (Hyla versicolor)
Treefrogs are calling all over the garden, their calls getting louder and louder, and also closer and closer to the pond. I nearly knocked this poor guy off his DSV perch. I had stepped off the trail only a foot or so and when I looked down, there he was! Makes one realize how important it is to NOT go off the paths at this time of year.
18-MAY-2010
White-crowned sparrow bathing
The upper part of the Backyard Garden pond is a magnet for birds wishing to have a good bathe! White-crowned sparrows and goldfinches were having a grand time splashing away for quite a long time.
18-MAY-2010
Cardinal with food
Birds are already feeding their young. Starlings have been doing so for weeks. Chickadees and cardinals are now also feeding young. This male had a mouthful. He was sitting in this tree for quite awhile until the call of the female alerted him to fly to a small shrub. She then came out and hunted some food while he sat nearby. I imagine their hungry offspring were probably getting impatient/
18-MAY-2010
Ctenucha moth cocoon
YOu can still see the caterpillar in this cocoon as he is in the process of spinning it.
18-MAY-2010
Running crab spider with long-jawed orb-weaver
This running crab spider (Tibellus oblongus) was stretched along the stem of this dog-strangling vine (DSV). Nearby was the long-jawed orb-weaver (Tetragnatha sp.) who made the mistake of running across the path of the crab spider who moved with lightning speed to capture and paralyze the orb-weaver within a second. Just above, were a couple of jumping spiders. All these spiders on one DSV plant.
18-MAY-2010
Jumping spide (Eris militaris) male on tartarian honeysuckle
There were lots of spiders at the garden today, including many, many jumping spiders. This is one of the most distinctive and most commonly encountered. He looks quite striking against that pink background. Jumping spiders are very tiny, but very cute! They are agile hunters, and will stalk their prey until within jumping distance and then with a burst of speed jump a considerable distance and attack. These are very much daytime spiders, preferring the sun and warm places, so don't look for them in dark, shaded spots.
17-MAY-2010
Yellow lady-slipper (Cypripedium calceolus)
These gorgeous orchids are blooming in the BYG right now. They should be blooming now, or soon, in the woodlands around Ottawa too.
17-MAY-2010
Tent caterpillar sp.
Jeewanthi found this pretty caterpillar in the woods.
17-MAY-2010
Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum)
This plant is native to Ontario, but typically does not grow around Ottawa, although it is found down by the Thousand Islands, Belleville and down to Toronto. It is also called Mandrake. The flowers hand below the very large leaves. It does well at FWG, both in the BYG and in the Ash woods.
17-MAY-2010
Female mallard and ducklings
In the Arboretum, but what a pretty picture they make.
17-MAY-2010
Prairie smoke (Geum triflorum)
Another native plant, though not native to this area. It grows well in the BYG, however.
17-MAY-2010
Running rabbit!
This healthy looking fellow was spotted by Jeewanthi in the Butterfly Meadow.
17-MAY-2010
Black-crowned night heron
It its usual spot in the Arboretum. For many years a night heron has turned up in the Arboretum not far below the FWG.
17-MAY-2010
Black-crowned night heron with fish
17-MAY-2010
Tadpoles
Lots of tadpoles for turtles to feed on!! Let's hope they don't eat all of the poor things.
14-MAY-2010
Mating craneflies
This is a common sight at this time of year, and they are often seen on the walls of the interpretive centre.
14-MAY-2010
Bumblebee queen (Bombus sp.)
A very large queen bumblebee.
13-MAY-2010
Great blue heron with fish
Taken in the Arboretum, along the stream that flows down from the FWG.
13-MAY-2010
Green frogs (Rana clamitans)
We've had breeding wood frogs (a few), a few, toads, and now it is the turn of green frogs which are becoming more visible and vocal. Listen also for gray treefrogs whose breeding time it is.
13-MAY-2010
Chipping sparrow
One of the most common sparrows around the area in summer. Their trilling call can be heard especially in the Arboretum, and sounds somewhat like that of pine warblers and swamp sparrows.
13-MAY-2010
American robin with worm
A classic shot! The stuff of cartoons too... birds pulling worms out of ground, and especially robins doing this. Jeewanthi caught this robin at just the right time.
13-MAY-2010
American redstart, male
For the last four or five years we've had this warbler nesting at the FWG. Their song is a constant all spring and summer.
13-MAY-2010
Bilobed looper (Megalographa biloba), #8907
Diane found this gorgeous Noctuid moth resting on a leaf at the garden. I think these are particularly appealing moths, with that lovely distinctive pattern on their wings.
13-MAY-2010
Bilobed looper (Megalographa biloba), #8907
A side view of this pretty Noctuid moth found by Diane.
13-MAY-2010
Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
A beautiful shot by Diane Lepage of this migratory species, on a chokecherry blossom. Red admirals have been passing through our area in great numbers for several weeks and are still being recorded.
13-MAY-2010
Green Blister Beetle (Lytta sayi)
Diane and Jeewa were by the Butterfly Meadow when Jeewa spotted this beautiful blister beetle. Luckily, Diane had her camera and was able to get this great photo. I saw these at the garden several years ago at about this time of year. Spring is when these pretty beetles are most often seen.
11-MAY-2010
Crab spider in white trillium
This tiny little spider was on the petals of a trillium.
11-MAY-2010
Cranefly
Sandy was at the FWG today and noticed this large fly "walking funny" as she said. This looks like an egg-laying female. I've seen quite a few of these large craneflies doing the same thing (walking in an odd fashion), which drew my eye to them. They are very impressive looking!
11-MAY-2010
American lady (Vanessa virginiensis)
Earlier in the month, Diane took a photo of this species with its wings held wide open. Today, I saw this American lady around the Butterfly meadow, where Diane photographed hers. Maybe the same one. Anyway, it was loathe to leave and kept returning to these wood chips. I took a photo of it with its wings almost closed so that you can see (1) the very useful identifying feature, the two "eyes" on the underwing, and (2)to show how even a brightly coloured butterfly can blend in so well to its surroundings when it closes its wings.
11-MAY-2010
American crow
This crow hopped along the trail and when it came to the puddle, stopped, looked around, then took a quick drink.
11-MAY-2010
Tree swallow in oak tree
It was a warmer, sunnier, less windy day and the birds were much more visible than yesterday. There were about 12 swallows flying around the garden (they often appear to be more numerous than they really are because they dart and swoop and swirl around with much noise and confusion!). A pair of wood ducks touched down briefly on the pond, and later the regular mallard pair made an appearance. A spotted sandpiper was on the exposed mud at the west end of the pond. I heard yellow warblers in various locations throughout the garden, as well as a black-throated green warbler, American redstart, Nashville warbler, white-throated sparrows, and warbling vireo. Chickadees, cardinals, house finches, goldfinches, red-winged blackbirds, common grackles, crows, song sparrows, robins, baltimore orioles, were also seen or heard.
11-MAY-2010
Blandings turtle (Emydoidea blandingi)
This blanding's, two snapping turtles, and one large painted turtle were found in the pond today. Green frogs are beginning to be more vocal, and toad breeding is over already. Gray treefrogs are increasingly vocal and they should be heading to the pond to breed soon, if not having done so already.
10-MAY-2010
Yellow-rumped warbler
This warbler was singing his heart out. But most birds were fairly quiet today. I heard some orioles and yellow warblers singing around the garden, goldfinches, cardinals, chickadees, song sparrows (of course!). And the tree swallows were very active, as were the red-winged blackbirds. Jeewanthi also saw a white-crowned sparrow and a warbling vireo in the Arboretum.
10-MAY-2010
Bleeding hearts
These flowers look as if encircled by a halo of light. Jeewanthi captured these beauties in the BYG.
10-MAY-2010
Bottom's up!
These mallards were very, very busy upending themselves to reach down into the water for something tasty. They did it again and again and again. They may have been feeding on aquatic vegetation, or insects, but I wouldn't be surprised if they hadn't discovered toad tadpoles.
10-MAY-2010
Snapping turtle
It was a three turtle day at the garden today. This big snapper was floating half under the surface as usual. A few feet away, and looking remarkably small in comparison, was the duckweed covered red-eared slider, and just behind those two, the big domed shell of the Blanding's turtle. Unfortunately, it had its back to me, so I saw only the carapace.
10-MAY-2010
American emerald (Cordulia shurteleffi)
It was nice to see this dragonfly, especially as it was so cooperative! It is the second new species for our list this spring.
Although sunny, today was very brisk, chilly and windy. Despite that, a few butterflies and other insects were out. I saw three each of cabbage whites and red admirals, and two clouded sulphurs. Sweat bees, flesh flies, bumblebees, including red-banded, and various syrphids were also found. But certainly the cold and the strong winds held down activity.
10-MAY-2010
American emerald (Cordulia shurteleffi)
This dragonfly obligingly landed on some grass on the edge of the Ash Woods. I was pretty sure this was a new species for list, and it is.
10-MAY-2010
Fade to pink
It is not even mid-May, but so many of the wildflowers are on the wane. This white trillium is fading to pink as they do in their final days. We wait for so long for the wildflowers to appear, and we get so excited at the first spring ephemerals, the Bloodroot, for example, Bellwort, violets, and the the trilliums and Foamflower, but almost before you can turn around they are over and done with. With the heavy rains and strong winds of the weekend, many of the flowering trees have also lost their flowers. But at least there are some chokecherries and crabapples still in full flower, and the English hawthorn is just beginning to bloom (though the native hawthorns have finished).
07-MAY-2010
Enrichment class students removing garlic mustard
A group of students enrolled in an enrichment program mini-course, came to the FWG on both Tuesday and Friday. On Friday they worked hard at removing garlic mustard and did a superb job.
07-MAY-2010
Yellow snail
While the students were pulling garlic mustard, they found this gorgeous yellow snail, as well as the lovely striped one in the next photo.
07-MAY-2010
Black snail
This very ornamental looking black and white snail was the second one found by the students at FWG. After they had looked at this one and the yellow one (above), they put them back where they had found them.
07-MAY-2010
Four-spotted Skimmer (Libellula quadrimaculata)
Cathy was working in the Backyard Garden when she spied this beauty on the Globe thistle. Four-spotted skimmers are abundant right now and are very golden in the sun with their bright fresh colours.
07-MAY-2010
Female Red-winged blackbird with nest material
These birds have been busy for the last week or so, gathering nest material, long strands of grass which they weave around last year's cattail stems.
07-MAY-2010
Yellow warbler
The yellow warblers are back and they too will soon be nesting in shrubs around the garden. Again, please stay out of thickets and out of the Old Field habitat. It is too easy to step on or dislodge a nest of birds such as these and the song sparrows which nest on the ground or close to.
Birds are really pouring through our region now. There are Nashville warblers, yellow-rumped, these yellow warblers, Baltimore orioles, vireos, etc.
07-MAY-2010
Foamflower (Tiarella cordifolia)
Another native woodland plant, with a very appropriate common name!
07-MAY-2010
Mating Tree swallows
Swallows, and other birds, are getting serious about nesting now! These mating birds will soon be busy with eggs and then young. Please refrain from getting too close to their nest boxes. They have enough stress to deal with and don't need to worry about humans standing close to their nest site.
07-MAY-2010
False solomon's seal (Smilacina)
A woodland species that has spread greatly in the Ash Woods.
07-MAY-2010
White-spotted sable (Anania funebris), #4958a
A very pretty little moth that is common in our area.
07-MAY-2010
Tartarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica)
Every day brings new life to the garden. More insects, more birds, and of course, more flowering shrubs and other plants. This tartarian honeysuckly is beautiful and the birds eat the fruit, but it is an invasive species, almost on a par with buckthorn in its ability to take over a natural area and exclude native shrubs. It is probably a more serious problem south of us, but it is certainly very invasive here. I have seen areas in Ottawa where this is the dominant shrub where once there were native species such as leatherleaf, pin cherry, chokecherry, hawthorn, etc.
05-MAY-2010
American Lady/Vanesse de Virginie (Vanessa virginiensis)
This is another migratory species in the Vanessa genus, along with the red admirals we are all seeing everywhere in great numbers. Diane Lepage photographed this beauty at the FWG's Butterfly Meadow, appropriately enough.
05-MAY-2010
Flowers from an ornamental tree
Diane photographed these lovely flowers, which look like either ornamental pear or plum blossoms, in the Arboretum.
American toads (Bufo americanus)
This little toad looks like he is taking a break from all the frenzied activity in the pond to take a look at something else.
05-MAY-2010
Muskrat
John Robertson photographed the resident FWG muskrat this morning early. The best time to see these little guys is either quite late in the afternoon or early morning. This is not to say that they aren't out and about during the day, they are, but they prefer the beginning and the end of the day.
Yellow-rumped warbler
This lovely shot of the yellow-rumped warbler was taken by John Robertson. These warblers continue to be common around the garden.
04-MAY-2010
Forget-me-nots in the Backyard Garden
This little pathway is on the edge of the Woodland Walk. The forget-me-nots are popping up everywhere. Although this one is not a native species we have left them as they attract a myriad of bees and flies.
04-MAY-2010
Hawthorn (Cratageus sp.)
Hawthorns are flowering now and attract numerous insects, as do the wild plum and the crabapple trees.
04-MAY-2010
Mallard pair
These mallards have been hanging around the pond for quite some time, but no signs that they are nesting.
04-MAY-2010
Crab spider on Dandelion
Here is a perfect example of camouflage! This yellow crab spider is sitting on a dandelion and blending right in. She knows that flies, bees, beetles all like to nectar on these flowers and so all she has to do is wait!
04-MAY-2010
Raccoon
I always check a particular spot at FWG to see if there is a raccoon there. Often there isn't, but occasionally there is, and so it was today. This one is quite large and looks like he has been around awhile. Hope he continues wary.
04-MAY-2010
American goldfinch.jpg
Back at the FWG this morning to find it very busy, more so with humans than with birds. Renate, one of our volunteers, had a group of students doing some work there. A few more students, this time from Carleton University were searching for Syrphids for research purposes. And lots of people walking through the garden (fewer dog walkers, more non-doggy types).
The birds noticed were the same as yesterday, except no towhee and with the addition of a gorgeous brown thrasher!
03-MAY-2010
Yellow dung fly on forget-me-not
These pretty golden flies have an unfortunate name! They are pretty common right now and I've found them on fruit trees, maples and of course, Forget-me-not. Indeed, this plant is attracting an abundance of insects including syrphid flies, sweat bees and nomada bees, in addition to this fly.
03-MAY-2010
Toothwort (Dentaria diphylla)
A native wildflower species growing in the Ash woods. We are not sure how it got there as nobody remembers planting it. Every year it comes up and expands little by little. A very pretty white flower for a wooded setting.
03-MAY-2010
Mitrewort (Mitella diphylla)
Another native species, also known as Bishop's Cap. Along with Foamflower (Tiarella), and many other familiar plants, it is a memeber of the Saxifrage family. Grows in shaded areas.
03-MAY-2010
Crabapple (Malus sp.)
Ornamental crabapples abound at the FWG. All were planted before we took over management of the site, although some of the saplings have been kindly planted by birds and squirrels! You can tell from that, that many feed wildlife, although there are some that remain untouched no matter how little food is around otherwise.
03-MAY-2010
Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
The Ash woods are at their best right now for the abundance of newly leafing out shrubs and trees and the variety of wildflowers, including this one. Here you can see the "Jack", the spadix, from which the plant gets its name: Jack in his pulpit!
03-MAY-2010
Camperdown elm
Visitors to the garden will know this tree well. It sits at the junction of the service roads that cut through the garden, on the north west side of the Ash woods. It has a contorted shape, with wide flaring branches that encourage people to climb up and sit on them. It is not a native shrub, but a grafted tree of two different species, and was there long before we took over.
03-MAY-2010
Solomon's seal (Polygonatum)
This plant is just beginning to flower and one of the most graceful of woodland plants, with its stem curving downward and the small greenish white flower clusters pointing down.
03-MAY-2010
Snapping turtle
There were two snappers in the pond today. This is the smaller of the two, and like the larger one, was floating just on the surface of the water. When its head was submerged, it looked like a bit of green plastic waste! With the two snappers seen today, we have a grand total of 6 turtles in our small pond, assuming that all are still there.
03-MAY-2010
14-spotted lady beetle (Propylaea quatuordecimpunctata)
An abundance of insects today, especially on the fruit trees. There were many of these tiny little lady beetles on a wild plum tree.
02-MAY-2010
Red admiral (Vanessa atalanta)
There appears to be a mass movement of this gorgeous migratory species through our area over the last few days. At the FWG today I saw at least 15, and there were probably more than that. They are being seen all over the city, floating down busy streets, in gardens and backyards, everywhere!
This butterfly was NOT taken at FWG, I'm sorry to say. None of the ones today would stay still. I took this one yesterday at the Burnt Lands near Almonte, but put it in to show you what to look for.
03-MAY-2010
Cabbage white(Pieris rapae)
In addition to the red admirals, there were many cabbage whites around today as well as a few spring azures. You can see that this one is busy probing the wet soil with its proboscis.
