29-OCT-2011
Paper wasp (Polistes dominulus)
A close up of one of the wasps in the nest box.
28-OCT-2011
Polistes dominulus in nest box
One nest box had this paper wasp nest on the side and a cluster of wasps near the opening at the top. As the sun became warmer, more of them ventured up to the opening as if intent on soaking up the last of the sun.
In addition to these wasps, we saw a stinkbug in a nest box, which at first appeared dead, but then began moving around, and we realize it was probably more than a little cold. As well, oleander aphids were on the milkweeds, and still alive, and one lone clouded sulphur was seen.
28-OCT-2011
Northern shrike
While cleaning out a nest box by the pond, I looked up and saw a gray and white bird fly into a tree at some distance. Not having my binoculars I used the zoom on my camera to get a shot of this shrike. It was far away and this is heavily cropped, so not the best shot, but it is the first time I've seen a shrike at the FWG in several years. At the same time, a red-tailed hawk circled over the garden.
28-OCT-2011
Chickadee nest with mouse nest on top
Claudia and I cleaned out the nest boxes at FWG today. As always, there were interesting things to see. In one box, we found this chickadee nest made entirely of moss (bottom layer), with the beginnings of a mouse nest on top, made entirely of DSV seed fluff.
24-OCT-2011
Red squirrel catching some sun
Sitting in a walnut tree, above his home and food cache, this little red was seemingly enjoying the sun's rays.
16-OCT-2011
Yellow warbler nest
This nest was hanging by a thread from the shrub it had been built in. It is a finely constructed nest of DSV fibres, grass and some pine needles.
16-OCT-2011
Birds in a tree
The three crows are harassing the red-tailed hawk sitting in the middle of the image. Not a great shot for identifying birds, but I like the stormy sky and the gold of the leaves against it.
16-OCT-2011
Old Field
The old field looks vast after the cutting. It is amazing how dense growth can hide the size of a site, sometimes making it appear larger, other times, as in this case, making it seem very small. But with no vegetation visible on the field it looks remarkably big.
15-OCT-2011
Cub pack at the Amphibian Pond
A very happy group of cubs and parents having had a tour of the FWG, led by Dave Moore. This group has been to the garden several times and clearly enjoy visiting!
16-OCT-2011
Asian ladybeetle (Harmonia axyridis) and Oleander aphids (Aphis nerii)
The aphids were clustered on the stems of a milkweed plant, but right alongside was this ladybeetle, munching her way through them!
16-OCT-2011
Burrowing bug (Sehirus cinctus)
This small shiny bug is on a Physostegia plant in the Butterfly Meadow.
16-OCT-2011
Magnolia seedpods
These gorgeous seedpods are from the two magnolias at the FWG, both by the Old Field area, and planted long before the FWG came into existence. Sometimes you find them stashed in forks of trees, placed there by squirrels.
13-OCT-2011
Great blue heron
This heron was fishing in the small stream that is fed by the one that trickles down from our Ampibian Pond and eventually makes its way through the Arboretum into the Rideau Canal. While I watched, several small fish were caught in the space of about 5 minutes.
12-OCT-2011
Asian bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus)
We first noticed this bittersweet growing in the birch grove about 5 years ago. It was not particularly fast-growing at the time, and it was confined to draping over one of the dead birches. A few years later, it had spread some more and at that time we noticed it was the Asian Bittersweet, the very invasive one that can grow and grow... and can interbreed with our native American Bittersweet. It was cut down and the following year either we didn't look for it or its growth was minimal. This summer I noticed it had draped itself over a number of nearby dead birches, and then recently, exploring further, saw how very extensive its growth is. The interior of the birch grove is almost covered with this vine. It is climbing way up into the dead trees, and beginning its ascent up the living ones too, as well as clambering across the ground and anything in its path. Like the Kudzu Vine! As with the native bittersweet, the stem of the vine grows thicker and heavier each year, but this one seems to grow at a greater rate of speed! It can reach about 60 feet in length and the stems can achieve a diameter of about 4 inches, which is substantial. It is a lovely, vigorous vine with the same pretty fruit as our native one, and it is easy to see why it is sold as a garden ornamental. But, it is very invasive...
12-OCT-2011
New Nursery under construction
As you can see, the new nursery at the FWG is well underway. This is a much needed revamping of the existing nursery which, having served us well, for many years, now needs to be expanded and upgraded.
12-OCT-2011
Amphibian Pond
Lots of black ducks and mallards in the pond, which is surrounded by glorious fall colours. The water is getting low for the first time this year, and mud banks are exposed on the south side at present.
12-OCT-2011
Song sparrow
Lots of song sparrows around today. A few ruby-crowned kinglets, blue jays, robins, both hairy and downy woodpeckers.
12-OCT-2011
Witch hazel (Hamamelis virginiana)
We have one witch hazel shrub and each October I check it for flowers and try to get one half decent shot of them, and I'm still trying! They are funny, wispy things, and I find them hard to capture well. A native shrub that flowers in the fall, in our climate, is worth planting.
12-OCT-2011
Downy woodpecker pair
Barry and I watched this pair busily working their way around this tree. At one point, the male extracted something and flew off to eat it. The female then zoomed in to the same hole, but was pushed off the male.
12-OCT-2011
Red on walnut tree
This large walnut tree by the pond has been inhabited/protected by red squirrels for years! Whether we see the offspring of the original reds to adopt this tree, or any opportunistic invader :-), who knows. What we do know, is that each year, especially in fall and winter, reds can be almost be guaranteed to be somewhere around this tree with its bounty of nuts.
06-OCT-2011
Bee moth larvae (Aphomia)
The bee moths, Aphomia, are in the Pyralidae Family. I know nothing about these moths, but when I opened a bird box to check it today, I saw this mass of tubular shaped cocoons and little yellow larvae, one per tube. The door to the bird house was firmly stuck shut and it took some time to pry open. I had no idea what could be making it so difficult to open and was surprised to see this nest with very strong sticky fibres which had, it turns out, cemented the door shut. The door itself was grooved with long channels, corresponding to the cocoons.
I had to go to Bug Guide for an answer. There I learned what made this nest and that there are only 3 species in North America, and this one is most likely Aphomia sociella. Apparently they get their name because their larvae often develop in bee's nests. However, Bug Guide also notes that they can develop in rodent nests, and that is interesting because prior to the moths taking over, this nest box had housed a family of mice!
06-OCT-2011
Bee moth (Aphomia) work in a nest box
This is the door to the nest box mentioned above. It is scored by long channels corresponding to the cocoons of the moths.
06-OCT-2011
Mushroom, possibly an Amanita sp.
This mushroom was pushing its way up out of the soil in a shady spot. I think it is an Amanita, but am not entirely sure. However, it is a strikingly orange fungus!
06-OCT-2011
Green Heron Way
This stretch of the service rd. through the garden, from Prince of Wales Dr. to the point it meets the other service rd coming from the Arboretum, we named Green Heron Way some years ago, in order to quickly identify this particular section and area. Here, I am looking west along the road, with the Old Field on my left and the Birch Grove to the right.
05-OCT-2011
Cork tree (Phellodendron)
This is one of several cork trees at the garden, not planted by us, but presumably by birds! When I first saw this tree, it was relatively small, but it has certainly grown in the last four years. Birds and squirrels eat the fruit of this tree which is native to Northern Japan, northern China and other areas in that part of the world.
06-OCT-2011
Snapping turtle eggs
These eggs were by the pond and had clearly been dug up by an animal, perhaps a raccoon (though we so rarely see these animals at the FWG). It is sad, but perhaps one or two survived. The hole was fairly deep and the eggs were scattered all around it. On the positive side, it shows that the snapping turtle we've seen at the pond for several years was still there this summer. Or at least, a snapping turtle was there.
05-OCT-2011
Old Field, before the cutting
This is the north half of the old field habitat that we had mowed today. We need to keep it cut every few years in order to prevent shrub and tree growth from dominating (succession).
06-OCT-2011
Old Field, after cutting
By early noon, the north half of the old field was cut. We are leaving the southern half so that the small animals that use this area for cover will still have somewhere to hide. Sadly, we saw toads leaving the cut area in a big hurry. That makes me sad and also makes me think of other ways to control the growth here. On the positive side, the mower moved slowly and didn't scrape the ground, so it was above toad height (except for the wheels on the tractor).
06-OCT-2011
Chipmunk with lunch
This little chipmunk was enjoying a very large grasshopper for lunch (possibly a red-legged grasshopper), getting some protein.
06-OCT-2011
Chippie with meal
Another shot of this hungry chipmunk with the large grasshopper.
04-OCT-2011
Praying mantis (Mantis religiosa)
Barry found this large praying mantis at the garden and was able to get a good shot.
03-OCT-2011
Rosehips
Rosehips against the back wall of the Interpretive Centre, make a pretty red pattern.
03-OCT-2011
Autumn at FWG
Looking across the ravine to the Ash Woods, in a light rain. The colours are really beginning to appear now, and in another week should be pretty nice.
03-OCT-2011
Preening in the rain
One of the female mallards having a good preening session, necessary to make sure their feathers are waterproofed.
03-OCT-2011
The gathering
There are still a goodly number of ducks in the big pond, mostly mallards, but a few black ducks too. They were very vocal today, preening and calling and splashing... Fun to watch.
03-OCT-2011
Red squirrel
This feisty little guy had just run down the walnut tree to tell me off. In the next photo, you can see he is checking to make sure I hadn't taken any walnuts!
03-OCT-2011
who's stealing my walnuts?!
I watched this very industrious little red squirrel harvesting walnuts today. He would run along the branches of the tall walnut tree, at top speed, stopping frequently to cut loose walnuts at various points. These would fall with a terrific thud to the ground below. Every so often, he'd select one and race down the tree with it where he'd proceed to bury it in the ground, or in some cases, just cover it with leaves, as far as I could tell. Then back up the tree and a repeat performance. Occasionally, he'd stop and scold me but it was half-hearted. He was far too busy working!
03-OCT-2011
Black Walnuts
These are the walnuts being harvested by the busy red squirrel in the previous photo.