30-JUL-2009
Burrower bug (Sehirus cinctus)
Although these tiny bugs have been present in the garden for awhile now, it is at this time of year that they really seem to become very visible. I must have seen no fewer than 20 on one plant. They often seem associate with the Cosmopepla stinkbugs. Although in reality it is probably that they like the same plants.
30-JUL-2009
Monarch butterfly (Danaus plexippus)
I was very happy to see three Monarchs at the FWG today. These butterflies seem to be trickling in to our region at last. Although a few were seen here and there earlier on in June, it is only in the last week that they are being reported from more than a few locations. I also saw one female Eastern tailed blue butterfly, two Great spangled fritillaries (one very worn and tattered), and a half dozen or so each of Clouded sulphur and Cabbage white. There were also about 3 Summer azures around.
26 July 2009
Bumblebee on purple coneflower
From Stephen Bégin - "I got a chance to visit the FWG on Sunday and saw the backyard garden for the first time. I'm amazed at the work that must go into it, absolutely fantastic!
I included the original size of the bee on flower because I think the detail on the bee is neat."
26 July 2009
Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Although not locally native, purple coneflowers provide nectar to a variety of butterflies and bees - and they are beautiful in any garden.
26 July 2009
Globe thistle (Echinops ritro)
Another non-native, this plant is in the bed closest to the FWG Interpretive Centre in the garden behind the building. The many florets also produce a good supply of nectar for bees and butterflies.
24-JUL-2009
Rabbit eating sow thistle leaves
We have an abundance of sow thistle at the FWG right now, and this rabbit was eating his fill of them, which is good!
24-JUL-2009
Chow time
Still eating the sow-thistle!
23-JUL-2009
Bumblebee in creeping bellflower
I managed to spend a couple of hours this morning at FWG when it wasn't raining too hard, just light showers and rain-free periods! There weren't a lot of insects to be seen, not surprisingly. But of those I did notice, there were many of the tiny, tiny Toxomerus hover flies, lots of long-legged flies which may be the most abundant fly at the garden. If you see minute flies that look metallic green or bronze, those are the long-legged flies. There are many species, and indeed, many genera, not always easy to separate out. I just call them Long-legged flies (Dolichopodids). There were also dozens of bumblebees clinging damply to various bits of vegetation. One had crawled up into a creeping bellflower and was trying to stay dry.
23-JUL-2009
Butterfly meadow
I hung around the Butterfly Meadow quite a lot, hoping that between showers, some insects might start flying around, but apart from the ones mentioned, there were not a lot of others to be seen. The usual Asian Ladybeetles, Japanese beetles, a few Brachiacantha ladybeetles, and so on. I did take time to admire how beautiful the new section of the Butterfly meadow looks!
23-JUL-2009
Long-leaved speedwell (Veronica longifolia)
A beautiful flower of the Butterfly meadow. Non-native species.
23-JUL-2009
Eastern kingbird
However, the real highlight of today was the number of birds. As often happens when there is light rain and mild temperatures, bird activity increases dramatically (not so in heavy rain). There were birds all over the place! Most were families of adults with young so there was much vocalization from hungry young screeching to be fed! Robins were by far the most abundant birds, with about 30 around the garden, including lots of spreckle breasted young. Eastern Kingbirds were also feeding young on the wing, as were House Finches, Gray Catbirds, Song Sparrows, and so on. The service road by the Birch Grove, at one point had about 30 birds lining it, mostly robins, goldfinches, house finches and a couple of flickers. American Redstarts, chickadees, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were calling away, and at one point both grosbeaks and robins were having a feast on Red Elderberry fruit.
Of course, not all birds have finished nesting. Goldfinches are nesting now, except for the non-breeders which you can often see in flocks, like a bunch of teenagers hanging out at the mall, raising a ruckus! Some Song Sparrows must still have young in the nest because a couple of times they became extremely agitated when I passed close to a particular site.
House Wrens are still scolding away, very vociferously. The Green Heron was flying back and forth from the pond, calling loudly. Yellow warblers, downy woodpeckers, amongst others were very visible. All in all, a great time to check out birds at the FWG.
22-JUL-2009
The Asteroid caterpillar (Cucullia asteroides), #10200
Yesterday, Diane called my attention to an interesting green caterpillar she had found. It certainly looks like a Cucullia moth caterpillar to both of us. We've only seen these in Larose Forest before. Just after posting this, Diane confirmed the ID of the caterpillar as Cucullia asteroides!