27 May 2014
Tree-hog?
Marguerite Naylor was also intrigued by the height this groundhog reached. Her close-up photo shows that he's in a hawthorn tree that's in bloom. I wonder if the flowers are a special treat for him? (Sandy)
As mentioned in the previous text, groundhogs, as members of the Sciuridae family (which includes in this area, chipmunks and red squirrels and grey squirrels) and therefore can climb when they have to, though they generally prefer terra firma. This is usually when they are pursued by a predator, or when something makes them feel threatened and climbing a tree is a way of escape. It is not uncommon to find groundhogs sitting on fence posts in rural areas, something I've seen many times. Climbing trees is a more unusual occurrence, but it happens, as this great photo, and the previous one, show. (Christine)
28-MAY-2014
Eastern Kingbird
One of most visible and familiar flycatchers, these feisty birds nest at the FWG and the Arboretum.
28-MAY-2014
Red-winged blackbird, male
A very artistic photo of one of the breeding blackbirds at the pond.
28-MAY-2014
House Finch
A beautiful male house finch in full breeding colour, photographed by Diane. There is no mistaking this lovely bird. The next closest species is the purple finch, but the male is a much deeper raspberry colour, which is more extensive.
21-MAY-2014
Silvery blue (Glaucopsyche lygdamus)
Diane took this lovely photo of the native silvery blue. Along with spring azures, and eastern-tailed blues, this is another of the blues (Lycaenids) that we see at the garden in spring.
21-MAY-2014
Cabbage white (Pieris rapae)
So far this year, butterflies have been thin on the ground, so it is good to be able to post photos of even this very common (non-native) species.
21-MAY-2014
Moth chrysalis
Diane, who took this interesting photo, said that she while digging in the Butterfly Meadow, two of these were found. She thinks this is possibly a sphinx moth chrysalis.
26-MAY-2014
House wren
Robert, who took these two striking photos of the house wrens, said that they were creating quite a rumpus. These guys have nested at the FWG for some few years now, usually double-brooded. Their call is not described as "scolding" for nothing! For that is exactly what they sound like, and they sound agitated even when they are not.
26-MAY-2014
Prairie smoke (Geum triflorum)
A gorgeous shot by Robert, of the delicate seedheads of the prairie smoke plant. It is easy to see how they got their name... imagine a large area filled with these! They are native to southern Ontario and beyond, but not around here, though they have done well in the Backyard Garden for years.
20-MAY-2014
Great-crested flycatcher
Robert watched this flycatcher catching flies in the Backyard Garden near our small pond.
20-MAY-2014
Dwarf lake iris (Iris lacustris)
A very pretty, very small native iris growing in the Backyard Garden rockery. This species is not native to the Ottawa area, though it clearly does well in the garden. It's range is along the Great Lakes, mostly the Bruce Peninsula, though it is now considered a species of concern in its native range. According to the MNR website, this species is known from only 43 sites in Ontario, most around the Bruce Peninsula.
20-MAY-2014
Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
A common woodland plant, one that fascinates because it is so unusual looking. The spadix (the "jack") can just be seen in this lovely shot by France. It gave rise to the common name above, the preacher (jack) in his pulpit! In garden settings it can, if the site is suitable, spread quite rapidly.
