Muskoka Bird Board - Archived Reports from July - September 2014Return to the Index of Archived Reports
Go to the Muskoka Bird Board
Re(2):
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Posted on October 1, 2014 at 08:17:18 AM by Ron Tozer
Although very rare in Algonquin Park, there are
three late Yellow-billed Cuckoo records: September 24, 26 and October 22.
Re(1): Yellow-billed
Cuckoo
Posted on September 30, 2014 at 05:40:01 PM by Al Sinclair
Pretty good sighting for Muskoka and much later
than expected also. Thanks for posting it. No doubt on the ID with such a great
photo! Looks like it might be a juvenile.
Re(1):
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Posted on September 30, 2014 at 03:07:30 PM by janice
house
great photo, was the bird calling?
Yellow-billed
Cuckoo
Posted on September 30, 2014 at 08:35:50 AM by Michaellynch
Yesterday at the dog exercise area in Arrowhead
Provincial Park. photo
brown-hooded owlet
Posted on September 27, 2014 at 10:59:56 PM by John Challis
This brilliant show of colour appeared on a
stalk of goldenrod by our house this morning. The adult moth is an amazingly
hairy thing, but otherwise quite drab. The teen years are always the
showiest... photo
There is a sighting map on the link
included. Moth
photographers website
Orange-crowned
Warblers
Posted on September 27, 2014 at 02:16:22 PM by Barbara Taylor
This morning along the Covered Bridge trail
there were three Orange-crowned Warblers, a Tennessee Warbler, six Blue-headed
Vireos, two Red-eyed Vireos, and a Gray Catbird. (by the footbridge near the
south end of the trail, not far from the entrance to the Covered Bridge
subdivision -- Bracebridge)
Bufflehead, Palm
Warblers
Posted on September 25, 2014 at 04:43:38 PM by Barbara Taylor
This morning at the Bracebridge Ponds there was
a lone Bufflehead in cell 4, as well as five Hooded Mergansers, and a few
Mallards and Wood Ducks. In the shrubbery west of cell 4 there were Blue-headed
Vireos, Purple Finch, Common Yellowthroat, Eastern Phoebe, and American
Goldfinch. North of cell 4 near the hill of dirt there were a few Warblers -
Palm, Black-throated Green, Nashville, and Yellow-rumped.
Several Clouded Sulphur butterflies and a
bright Orange Sulphur were seen as well as a few Monarchs, a Cabbage White, and
a Mourning Cloak. After seeing our first European Mantis at the Ponds just a
few days ago (see earlier post), today we saw six of them flying around
cell 4.
Re(3): Pileated ant
feast
Posted on September 27, 2014 at 08:50:55 PM by Barbara Taylor
I hadn't noticed any scent, but I didn't
disturb them then. Luckily tonight there was a second eruption of the ants at a
different spot in our yard...and yes, after disturbing some of the
yellow-orange ants, there was definitely a lemony/citronella scent. So then I
guess the species would be in the Lasius subgenus Acanthomyops. I think Lasius
claviger is the most common one.
references:
http://www.hiltonpond.org/ThisWeek091022.html
http://seabrookeleckie.com/2008/09/14/flight-of-the-queens/
http://bugguide.net/node/view/234431/bgpage
Re(2): Pileated ant
feast
Posted on September 27, 2014 at 11:08:42 AM by John Challis
I've been able to find the golden ants under
rocks in sandy soil. Have you noticed the citronella smell they give off when
disturbed?
Re(1): Pileated ant
feast
Posted on September 25, 2014 at 08:53:38 PM by
dinnymccraney
Beautiful photo!
Pileated ant feast
Posted on September 25, 2014 at 03:30:41 PM by Barbara Taylor
Yesterday around 5 p.m. I noticed a large
gathering of ants by our back steps. This seems to be an annual one-day event
when they come above ground for their nuptial flight in September. The large
dark winged ones are queens, the smaller winged ants are males, and the
colourful ones are workers. We never see the little yellow-orange ants at any
other time of year, and already today there is no sign of them. The resident
male Pileated Woodpecker spent over an hour hopping around our lawn grabbing as
many of the flying ants as he could. (Bracebridge)
(Lasius sp.?) - photo
Pileated - photo
Re(1): Junco's
Posted on October 2, 2014 at 08:30:22 PM by Barbara Taylor
This afternoon we had our first Juncos of the
season visit our yard. There were also several White-crowned Sparrows, Chipping
Sparrows, and White-throated Sparrows. A few Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Pine
Siskins stopped by briefly too. (Bracebridge)
Re(1): Junco's
Posted on September 25, 2014 at 10:24:28 AM by Alex Mills
I was banding at Toronto's Leslie Street Spit
on Tuesday the 23rd, and I was surprised to catch a Junco. It was their first
of the year.
Junco's
Posted on September 25, 2014 at 08:53:59 AM by Debbie
Adams
This morning there were several Junco's in the
garden. They are the first I've seen since they left last spring. (Walker's
Point)
Re(1): Phoebe and
Song Sparrow
Posted on September 23, 2014 at 01:57:54 PM by Barbara Taylor
There was a Blue-headed Vireo singing in our
yard this morning...nice to hear birdsong at this time of year. (Bracebridge)
Phoebe and Song
Sparrow
Posted on September 23, 2014 at 08:28:26 AM by Debbie
Adams
This morning there was a lone Phoebe singing, half
heartily, but singing just the same as well as a Song Sparrow. Such a welcome
sound as I thought they were long gone.
Much more welcome than the sounds we heard last
night. There were at least 6 coyotes/wolves howling on our laneway. We're sure
2 were in our driveway and the others spread out between the neighbours
cottages. No wonder all the deer have disappeared. (Walker's Point)
Winter Finch
Forecast
Posted on September 22, 2014 at 04:38:25 PM by Barbara Taylor
Ron Pittaway has posted his Winter Finch
Forecast.
You can find it here: http://www.jeaniron.ca/2014/forecast14.htm
Thanks Ron. Sounds like we might get some
Redpolls this winter.
Huntsville Nature
Club Meeting Sept. 30, 2014
Posted on September 21, 2014 at 08:08:50 PM by BevEaston
On Tuesday, September 30, the Huntsville Nature
Club meeting will feature a presentation by member Dan Strickland about Birding
in Colombia. Over 1800 bird species occur there, making Colombia the country
with the longest bird list in the world. In January of 2013, Dan and five other
birders managed to see over 500 of those species, including everything from
dozens of tiny hummingbirds up to the huge Andean Condor. The meeting is at St.
Andrews Presbyterian Church Hall on West Street, at 7 pm. Guests are always
welcome. A $3 donation is appreciated.
For more information regarding the Huntsville
Nature Club, contact Ken Morrison (705) 789-1407.
Cackling Goose
Photo
Posted on September 21, 2014 at 02:35:24 PM by Al
Sinclair
Photo forwarded by Dan Burton photo
Cackling Goose
Posted on September 21, 2014 at 12:20:04 PM by DBurton
On the 15th of September there was a Cackling Goose
in Sundridge on a lawn facing Lake Bernard. I saw of photo of it today.
Re(3):
White-crowned Sparrows
Posted on September 22, 2014 at 09:52:53 PM by Eleanor Kee Wellman
I just got home from two weeks up near Ungava
Bay. The most numerous birds seen were White-crowned Sparrows. In fact it was
assumed that any small bird was a white-crowned. It will be nice to see them
here!
Re(2):
White-crowned Sparrows
Posted on September 22, 2014 at 12:36:27 PM by janice
house
We had two white crowned sparrows under the
feeders on the weekend (Doe Lake Rd Gravenhurst)
Re(1):
White-crowned Sparrows
Posted on September 22, 2014 at 11:12:43 AM by
dinnymccraney
We have 2 white crowned sparrows under the
feeders this morning. Have also had a male rose breasted grosbeak the past few
days, (Bracebridge)
White-crowned
Sparrows
Posted on September 20, 2014 at 03:51:10 PM by Barbara Taylor
This morning at the Bracebridge Ponds there
were three White-crowned Sparrows east of cell 4...first ones we've seen since
spring migration took them well north of here. Just ahead of the rain there
were several Turkey Vultures trying to soar southward. A Red-shouldered Hawk decided
to come down and take cover in the woods behind the dumping ponds...the
resident Blue Jays were not very happy about that. Five Palm Warblers
were at the south side of cell 3.
Praying Mantis -
photos
Posted on September 20, 2014 at 03:12:53 PM by Barbara Taylor
This morning at the Bracebridge Ponds we found
a Praying Mantis at the east side of cell 4. I think this is the first one we've
seen in Muskoka - they are not native to Canada. The one we found is a European
Mantis (Mantis religiosa) which was introduced into eastern North America in
the 1890s and is now a common species in southern Ontario. The black-ringed
white spot on the inner base of the procoxa is diagnostic of Mantis religiosa
-- see inner top segment of front leg in second photo. (ref.:
http://journal.entsocbc.ca/index.php/journal/article/viewFile/101/98)
Another introduced species, the Chinese Mantis
(Tenodera aridifolia) is commercially produced and is available as a biological
control agent and in the pet trade. The Asian species is not as well
established in southern Ontario as the European variety, but can be found along
the shores of Lake Erie and Lake Ontario. Apparently both of these Mantids are
very indiscriminate feeders and will devour other beneficial insects as well as
each other, so I'm not sure how effective they really are as "biological
control agents".
European Mantis (Mantis religiosa): photo1
photo2
photo3
(The Mantis started making a hissing sound when I moved the camera in close to
take that last shot.)
Re(2): What's
killing the snakes?
Posted on September 22, 2014 at 03:14:41 PM by Barbara
Taylor
It was not full size yet...maybe a
"teenager".
Yesterday
there were two live Garter Snakes in the same area. One was quite large and the
other about half its size.
They moved too fast for me to get a better
shot. photo
Re(1): What's
killing the snakes?
Posted on September 22, 2014 at 01:35:12 PM by coreyhkh
Thats not good, was the garter an adult?
What's killing the
snakes?
Posted on September 19, 2014 at 01:59:44 PM by Barbara Taylor
Today at the Bracebridge Ponds we found a
"fresh" dead Garter Snake at the west side of cell 4. This was almost
the same spot where we found a dead Hognose Snake on August 23. Once again no
sign of any injury, and like the Hognose, the Garter Snake had its mouth open.
Hmmmm...is there some sort of virus affecting them or something toxic in cell
4?
huge flock of jays
Posted on September 19, 2014 at 11:53:13 AM by John Challis
Yesterday morning I watched what was likely
more than a hundred birds fly overhead. It took a bit of time to recognize
because they were fairly high up, but they were all blue jays. They seemed to
be making a beeline south. My guess is they were in Timmins, took one look at
the 10 cm of snow there and packed their bags.
Re(4): turtle
photos
Posted on September 19, 2014 at 01:59:44 PM by J. Gardner
We had several hatchings of Snapping Turtles
over the 24 years we lived at Hurdville (Lake Manitouwabing), several from
nests on the front lawn. We rescued as many as 8, several times, as they made
their way out the driveway being attacked by various bird species. It is very
sad to find the headless remains of hatchlings in the driveway. June Gardner
Now living in Bracebridge and hoping to get to the lagoons when the boxes are
empty.
Re(3): turtle
photos
Posted on September 19, 2014 at 01:44:48 PM by Barbara Taylor
We've seen several very large Snapping Turtles
at the Ponds, but I don't recall seeing any hatchlings before - must have just
timed it right yesterday.
Today we only found this little one beside cell 1. photo
There were a few American Pipits along the roadway south of cell 2 and an American Wigeon in cell 1. A Bald Eagle flew overhead heading south.
Re(2): turtle
photos
Posted on September 18, 2014 at 09:27:21 PM by George Bryant
Five baby Snappers is remarkable. I've only
seen a couple of baby Snappers ever and never heard of anyone ever seeing
multiples. Bracebridge lagoons must be filled with Snapping Turtles, what with
all the bite-size ducklings.
Re(3): more baby
snappers
Posted on September 21, 2014 at 04:45:05 PM by Barbara Taylor
This afternoon at the Bracebridge Ponds we
found six recently hatched Snapping Turtles by cell 4 and eight more by cell 2.
One little guy had just crawled out of the nest so we were able to find the
exit hole only a few inches away. There was an eggshell visible down in the
hole.
Since we've never noticed any hatchlings at the
Ponds before, I don't know when the normal hatch date would be for our area.
Bob Bowles said the first hatch date at Tiny Marsh this year was September 5,
just one day later than last year, and surprisingly, numbers have been higher
this year than
Re(2): turtle
photos
Posted on September 19, 2014 at 02:06:40 PM by Alex Mills
I was very interested to see this. I am
surprised that there were successful nests this year. We had so much less total
heat than in more recent summers, I would have thought the summer would end
before the turtles reached a state of development allowing them to hatch.
Re(1): turtle
photos
Posted on September 18, 2014 at 02:19:48 PM by Barbara Taylor
Here are a couple of the young Snapping Turtles
- shells were only about 1.5 inches in length and seemed to be coated with
sand. I almost stepped on the first one since it was so small and blended in
with the surroundings. photo1
photo2
mapleleavesphoto
Wigeons
Posted on September 18, 2014 at 01:18:56 PM by Barbara Taylor
Around noon today at the Bracebridge Ponds
there were two American Wigeons in cell 3 as well as a Solitary Sandpiper and
three Green-winged Teal. An American Black Duck was in cell 2. Five very tiny
Snapping Turtles and a Garter Snake were along the roadway at the west side of
cell 4.
Pipits
Posted on September 16, 2014 at 01:46:10 PM by Barbara Taylor
This morning at the Bracebridge Ponds there were
eight American Pipits amongst the weeds in the gravel area north of cell 4. A
Wilson's Warbler, Gray Catbird, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Phoebe, Red-eyed
Vireo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and some Common Yellowthroats were in the
shrubbery west of cell 4. A few Palm Warblers were in the webworm infested
trees at the west side of cell 3. A Green Heron was at the south end of cell 1
and a Belted Kingfisher flew past. Only a few Hooded Mergansers, Canada Geese,
Mallards, Wood Ducks, and a couple Green-winged Teal were on the ponds. Several
Turkey Vultures were soaring southward.
milkweed aphids
Posted on September 16, 2014 at 11:08:04 AM by John Challis
A couple of days ago I noticed some tiny,
orange-yellow aphids on our milkweed plants.
Checked, and they are Aphis nerii. There
appeared to be a few ants bustling around them, as though they were corralling
them. But I wonder if the sap the aphids are feeding on would be toxic to the
ants, or whether they'd be using the aphid 'milk' as a defensive mechanism for
their nest... Anyone have any insight?
YT vireo
Posted on September 16, 2014 at 10:30:46 AM by John Challis
On the Green River this morning, with the early
sun streaming through banks of mist on the river, a yellow-throated vireo broke
into song. Another began answering, with the songs occasionally interrupted by
their quarrel-like chattering. Chickadees and other warblers/kinglets? in the
shadows picked through the maples at water's edge.
A very satisfying way to start a day.
Re(1): Bracebridge
Lagoons
Posted on September 14, 2014 at 01:57:03 PM by Barbara Taylor
The Wigeon was still in cell 1 this morning but
had disappeared by the time we left. A few Palm Warblers were in the shrubs
along the west side of cell 3. An adult Red-tailed Hawk was perched in a dead
tree west of cell 4, and a Merlin went shooting past from the woods north of
cell 4. Two Savannah Sparrows were feeding at the edge of the roadway south of
cell 2. Two Great Blue Herons flew up from the NW corner of cell 3 and headed
south.
Bracebridge Lagoons
Posted on September 13, 2014 at 05:34:11 PM by Goodyear
Late this afternoon between rain showers i took
a walk around the Bracebridge Lagoons. Almost 100 Canada Geese were in cell 3,
a female American Wigeon and a Green-winged Teal were in cell 1, and two
Blue-winged Teal were in cell 4.
Lincoln's Sparrows,
Palm Warblers
Posted on September 12, 2014 at 02:06:23 PM by Barbara Taylor
Around noon today there were two Lincoln's
Sparrows at Henry Marsh in the alders near the footbridge. A Merlin flew past
and played a game of tag with two Blue Jays for a while.
At the Bracebridge Ponds there were at least
six Palm Warblers feeding on the weedy hill of dirt north of cell 4. There was
also a lone juvenile Cedar Waxwing, an Eastern Phoebe, and a Black-throated
Green Warbler nearby. Five Hooded Mergansers were in cell 4. Several fresh
looking Monarch Butterflies were flying around.
Birds/Hornets
Posted on September 12, 2014 at 11:20:26 AM by janice
house
Lots of chickadees & red breasted
nuthatches calling this morning on my dog walk, 100+ canada geese flew over the
house in v formation (Doe Lake Rd Gravenhurst) Every day this week a pileated
woodpecker has crossed hwy 11 between the Reay Rd and Skyways. There is a huge
bald-faced hornet nest in my neighbours cedar hedge, I estimate it is about a
foot high, actually very interesting. Lots of hornets around the entrance this
morning, of course we keep our distance.
Ladybug
Posted on September 8, 2014 at 08:52:15 PM by Barbara Taylor
I found this Propylea quatuordecimpunctata (aka
P-14) in our garden...first one I've seen here. This is an introduced European
species. Although it is sometimes referred to as the Fourteen-spotted Lady
Beetle, that common name is also used for another species that can be found in
Ontario. (Bracebridge) photo
reference: http://bugguide.net/node/view/4007
Scarlet Tanager
Posted on September 7, 2014 at 08:00:24 PM by Barbara Taylor
Scarlet Tanagers are considered to be common in
Muskoka, but I hardly ever see one...so it was nice that one spent some time
feeding in our birch trees this afternoon even though its plumage was
greenish-yellow, not scarlet. There were also a few Red-eyed Vireos, and some
Warblers - a Blackpoll, several Black-throated Green, and Nashvilles. A Brown
Creeper was singing its spring song or I would have missed it working its way
up a pine tree. A juvenile Red-tailed Hawk circled overhead to gain altitude,
and then continued on its migration southward. And still one female plumage
Ruby-throated Hummingbird hanging around. (Bracebridge)
Bracebridge Ponds -
Sora, Green Herons
Posted on September 6, 2014 at 01:41:05 PM by Barbara Taylor
This morning at the Bracebridge Ponds there was
a Sora at the south-west corner of cell 1 (thanks to the Goodyears for finding
it). A Pied-billed Grebe was in cell 3. An adult and a juvenile Green Heron
were at the north side of cell 4 - the young bird still had some white downy
feathers on its head. In cell 4 there were 7 Hooded Mergansers, a Common
Merganser, a Bufflehead, and 8 Blue-winged Teal. Three Solitary Sandpipers were
around cell 4.
Re(2): Mushroom -
ID?
Posted on September 9, 2014 at 09:31:37 PM by
dinnymccraney
Sorry, it split and disintegrated by the time
we were able to get another look
Re(1): Mushroom -
ID?
Posted on September 5, 2014 at 06:23:30 PM by Al Sinclair
Interesting pattern of cracks but can't say
what it is. More photos of stem and underside would be helpful.
Mushroom - ID?
Posted on September 5, 2014 at 10:44:42 AM by
dinnymccraney
Can anyone identify this mushroom growing at my
sister's cottage near Gravenhurst? photo
Re(1): Grey County
Bird Board?
Posted on September 3, 2014 at 09:18:16 PM by Barbara Taylor
I don't know of any sightings board for that
area other than what you can find on eBird. You can see recent checklists
submitted to eBird by County or Hotspot. This link should take you to the Grey
County page: http://ebird.org/ebird/subnational2/CA-ON-GR?yr=all
Grey County Bird
Board?
Posted on September 2, 2014 at 07:20:46 PM by lauragilmour
Does anyone know of a good bird board like this
one for the Grey County area?
Muskoka Field
Naturalists - Sept. 4 meeting in Gravenhurst
Posted on September 2, 2014 at 04:48:42 PM by Barbara Taylor
Thought I'd give a heads up for anyone planning
to go hear George Bryant's talk about "60 years of birding in Muskoka -
changes we've seen". All the Muskoka Field Naturalists meetings will now
be held in Gravenhurst instead of the usual switch back to Bracebridge.
from www.muskokafieldnaturalists.com
-- Change in Location:
All meetings will now be held in Gravenhurst at
the Muskoka Boat & Heritage Centre (Grace and Speed Museum), located at 275
Steamship Bay Road off Hwy. 169 N (towards Bala).
Who doesn't love a
parade?
Posted on September 2, 2014 at 10:47:07 AM by michaelhatton
Bracebridge Lagoons - photo
Passenger
Pigeon...Extinct 100 Years
Posted on September 1, 2014 at 09:07:49 AM by
ChrisKerrigan
Let us pause at 1pm today, September 1st, and
remember "Martha", the very last living Passenger Pigeon who died at
age 29, in the Cincinnati Zoo. Once numbering in the billions, now zero...I
hope we have learned!!! R.I.P Passenger Pigeons........
Re(1): Philadelphia
Vireo, Wilson's Warblers
Posted on September 2, 2014 at 12:47:26 PM by Barbara Taylor
Yesterday we found a few Warblers along the trail
east of Henry Marsh, but it was fairly quiet. There was Magnolia, Nashville,
Black-throated Blue, Common Yellowthroat, and American Redstart. Also a Winter
Wren. (Bracebridge)
Philadelphia Vireo,
Wilson's Warblers
Posted on August 31, 2014 at 11:51:22 AM by Barbara Taylor
This morning a large mixed flock of Warblers
and Vireos moved through our yard, spending most of their time feeding in the
birch trees. There were at least two Wilson's Warblers among the many
Black-throated Green, Nashville, Bay-breasted, Pine, Blackburnian, and
Chestnut-sided Warblers. A Philadelphia Vireo gave me great views as it
devoured a large sawfly larva. There were also some Red-eyed Vireos but they
lagged behind the main group. (Bracebridge)
Here's a photo of an Elm Sawfly larva which I took last summer - their colour is
quite variable, but most of the ones I've found are pale yellowish-white. This
colourful one is similar to the one the warbler was feeding on today. photo
Re(1): Lesser
Yellowlegs - photos
Posted on September 2, 2014 at 12:20:17 PM by Barbara Taylor
Nice photos. I love the first pic of the
Solitary Sandpiper...the way you caught it in mid-step almost looks like it's
showing off its green leg. There has been one at the Bracebridge Ponds for a
few days, but was too far away for me to get a decent shot.
Lesser Yellowlegs -
photos
Posted on August 31, 2014 at 11:10:46 AM by michaelhatton
Yellowlegs moving south in numbers. These pics
were taken last weekend just south of Muskoka.
Pied-billed Grebes,
Solitary Sandpiper
Posted on August 30, 2014 at 02:04:49 PM by Barbara Taylor
This morning at the Bracebridge Ponds there were
three Green-winged Teal and a Solitary Sandpiper in cell 3. In cell 4 there
were three Hooded Mergansers, two Pied-billed Grebes, and about thirty Canada
Geese that flew in from the north-west. A few Turkey Vultures and a Red-tailed
Hawk were soaring southward. A Least Flycatcher was calling near the Lagoon
Lane gate.
Monarch
caterpillars
Posted on August 30, 2014 at 01:50:54 PM by Barbara Taylor
This morning at the Bracebridge Ponds we found
some large Monarch larvae on the milkweed...hope they are "natives"
and not progeny of the butterflies which were released at a special event in
town earlier this summer. We also found an empty chrysalis and a nearby Monarch
butterfly still pumping up its wings. photo1
photo2
photo3
Other creatures on the milkweed included several Milkweed Tussock Moth caterpillars, and this Red Milkweed Beetle. photo
Re(1): Torrance
Barrens
Posted on August 31, 2014 at 06:48:26 PM by Debbie
Adams
I found a brown snake IN MY BEDROOM not too
long ago. Someone left the sliding screen door open just enough for the critter
to get in. I was not a happy camper nor was the snake!
Torrance Barrens
Posted on August 29, 2014 at 10:48:42 PM by coreyhkh
I checked out the TB this evening and to my
horror I found a hognose snake dead on the road, worst part is it looked pretty
fresh.
A little depressed I carried on and was able to
find 2 five lined skinks,ring-neck and a brown snake.
Mostly I just found lots of millipedes.....
creepy looking if you ask me.
other then that the only other thing I saw
sandhill cranes, They must of bred because they where around all summer.
Re(2): Is this a
Lawrence's or a Brewster's-warbler?
Posted on August 29, 2014 at 02:40:07 PM by DBurton
Top photo is a Lawrence's and bottom with black
eye line is a Brewster's. Since neither is sterile, back-crosses involving
hybrids can produce considerable variability in offspring.
Re(1): Is this a
Lawrence's or a Brewster's-warbler?
Posted on August 28, 2014 at 07:32:23 PM by missyinmuskoka
Hey All
I have been confused by these two warblers I
got this summer up here. I thought the first was a lawrences, and the second a
brewsters.... Can you confirm? The one I thought was a lawrence's looks
different than Corey's. photo1
photo2
Re(1): What will
happen ultimately?
Posted on August 28, 2014 at 04:03:55 PM by coreyhkh
Thanks Alex for the help, no this is a
different bird, the Lawrence's I posted was the same one I found last year and
it returned to the same spot to breed on cannings Rd.
What will happen
ultimately?
Posted on August 28, 2014 at 02:26:25 PM by Alex Mills
Based on range and population trends, it seems
likely that the Blue-winged Warbler type will ultimately win. That does not
mean that the Golden-winged genes will entirely disappear. But it may mean that
in the future we have birds that look essentially like Blue-winged Warblers,
but which will have some genetic material from Golden-winged Warblers that is
maintained in the population.
This would be like the current situation with
Townsend's Warblers in much of western BC. They look like the "pure"
Townsend's Warblers of the Rockies, but if you sequence their DNA, the
population has genetic material from Hermit Warblers, presumably from a period
of multiple hybridizations in the past.
Re(1): Is this a
Lawrence's or a Brewster's-warbler?
Posted on August 28, 2014 at 02:18:10 PM by Alex Mills
What a wonderful photo! Is this the
"Lawrence's" from Muskoka that you posted images of earlier? Or a
different bird?
Although pure Golden-winged populations still
exist (mostly at the far northwest--perhaps only in Manitoba now) and pure
Blue-winged populations appear to still exist (further south in the U.S.), most
populations have some significant degree of introgression. Introgression occurs
where there has been multiple hybridization events, so that many individuals
may be primarily one "species" but still have some genes from the
other (and hence exhibit some expression of those other genes, as in plumage
colour and pattern).
Theoretically at least, a typical Brewster's is
a first generation offspring of a pure Golden-winged and a pure Blue-winged.
And then, when a Brewster's breeds with a parental species, a back-cross occurs
to produce, theoretically, a typical Lawrence's. But when you get birds that
are varying degrees of one parent species or the other, back-crosses are often
not typical. A bird that is 3/8 Blue-winged, breeding with a bird that is 3/16
Golden-winged, may very well produce some atypical plumage pattern.
Your image is of a bird that is certainly of
"mixed" parentage, as you know. It is certainly not a classic
first-generation Brewster's (it is too good looking!), but it is not a classic
Lawrence's either. And neither is it a pure Blue-winged or Golden-winged. The
bottom line is, there is not a name to apply to all the possibilities. I would
call it an Atypical Lawrence's Warbler (as a default name, since it is not a
Golden-winged, not a Blue-winged, and not a Brewster's (i.e. not a first generation
hybrid)).
Here's a good article on the subject.
https://www.aba.org/birding/v37n3p278.pdf
Is this a
Lawrence's or a Brewster's-warbler?
Posted on August 28, 2014 at 11:49:38 AM by coreyhkh
It was taken in Bracebridge in the spring, I
thought it was a
Brewster's-warbler but the eye patch is more
like the Lawrence.
Thoughts? photo
Re(2): Kestrels
Posted on August 25, 2014 at 06:55:10 PM by Bob Burt
We often see Kingfishers around Muskoka,
usually near bodies of water. As their name implies they like to feed on fish
and other aquatic life. We always see them around the Bracebridge Ponds and
Henry Marsh, especially in the springtime.
Re(1): Kestrels
Posted on August 24, 2014 at 11:34:31 PM by Terri
Are Belted Kingfishers rare around Muskoka
because we have one that is always around our place.
Kestrels
Posted on August 24, 2014 at 04:17:16 PM by Barbara Taylor
This afternoon there were two American Kestrels
and a Belted Kingfisher along the section of Beatrice Townline Rd. just north
of Falkenburg Rd.
Warblers on the
move
Posted on August 23, 2014 at 07:11:57 PM by StuartImmonen
Briefly this afternoon, when the weather was at
its most humid and still, a loose mixed flock of warblers passed through our
property. In attendance (mostly in fall colours) were Black-and-white,
Nashville, Am. Redstart, Magnolia, Blackburnian, Chestnut-sided, Black-throated
Blue, Black-throated Green, Bay-breasted and Yellow-rumped. Best twenty minutes
of the year for me.
Stuart Immonen, Novar.
Re(1): Rattle Snake
Posted on August 25, 2014 at 04:42:07 PM by coreyhkh
excellent did it make it safely across the
road?
Rattle Snake
Posted on August 23, 2014 at 05:41:37 PM by michelpotvin
as I was driving down North Loon Lake Road in
Gravenhurst I saw a thick two foot snake. When I came along side it I
identified it as a massasauga rattlesnake. Watched it for a while along the
road rattling
Re(4): Milk Snake
not...oops, Hognose
Posted on August 25, 2014 at 04:43:11 PM by coreyhkh
That sucks but still a great sign to see a
young one.
Re(3): Milk Snake
not...oops, Hognose
Posted on August 24, 2014 at 09:49:24 AM by Barbara Taylor
No sign of any obvious trauma, but I didn't
flip it over to check underneath. Couldn't have been dead for long since only
one fly on it and no Carrion Beetles yet.
Thanks Dianna for the corrected ID. I wondered
about the oversized head and why a young milk snake would be near a wet marshy
area. Hognose makes much more sense. Never seen one at the Bracebridge Ponds
before.
Re(2): Milk Snake -
Bracebridge Ponds
Posted on August 24, 2014 at 08:51:06 AM by Al Sinclair
Any ideas on what happened to it, see any tire
tracks from ATVs or motor bikes?
Re(1): Milk Snake -
Bracebridge Ponds
Posted on August 23, 2014 at 11:45:34 PM by diannawolfe
Hi Barb,
Your Milksnake was actually a young Hog-nosed
Snake. Nice find, albeit unfortunate that it was dead.
Dianna
Milk Snake -
Bracebridge Ponds
Posted on August 23, 2014 at 03:19:42 PM by Barbara Taylor
This morning at the Bracebridge Ponds we found
a dead Milk Snake at the west side of cell 4. It wasn't much more than a foot
long. This is the first one we've seen in the area. photo
We hadn't seen a single Red Admiral butterfly
this year around Muskoka...finally got one by cell 4. There were a few Black
Saddlebags dragonflies as well. A Common Goldeneye was in cell 3 and the family
of Indigo Buntings was still hanging around the Lagoon Lane gate.
Barred Owl
Posted on August 21, 2014 at 09:33:38 PM by dinnymccraney
Haven't seen one for awhile but spotted him
perusing the territory at the edge of the garden at dusk tonight. Sure hope he
rids us of the annoying squirrels that are taking over the place!
Re(3): Loon ID
Posted on August 20, 2014 at 10:59:08 AM by
missyinmuskoka
I got this reply from Kathy at Birds studies.
" it is probably a second or a third year non-breeder, funny they do not
normally stick around the “smaller” Lakes.
Re(2): Loon ID
Posted on August 20, 2014 at 10:15:13 AM by Eleanor Kee Wellman
Juveniles don't have red eyes and they don't
turn red until 2-5 years.
Re(1): Loon ID
Posted on August 20, 2014 at 07:46:53 AM by Debbie
Adams
I saw a young loon exactly like this a few
weeks ago on Lake Muskoka near Jannock's Narrows (lake side of Bala Park Is) and
it was with it's mom. When we came close to take a photo, it dove and mom
called out a warning.
Great photo BTW.
Loon ID
Posted on August 19, 2014 at 07:30:01 PM by missyinmuskoka
I am trying to decipher whether this common
loon is a non-breeding adult, or a juvenile. This is the second summer I have
seen this loon, but finally got a chance to photograph it. Thank you. photo
Re(1): Some
Warblers photos from the spring and summer.
Posted on August 23, 2014 at 03:21:49 PM by michaelhatton
Wow! Thanks for posting.
Some Warblers
photos
Posted on August 19, 2014 at 07:32:34 PM by missyinmuskoka
Corey, these images are all so spectacular!
Congratulations, they are so difficult to photograph and you have made it look
so easy!
Some Warblers
photos from the spring and summer.
Posted on August 19, 2014 at 12:25:56 PM by coreyhkh
All taken around gravenhurst and Bracebridge.
Lawrence's Warbler photo
Blue-Wing Warbler - Golden Hour photo
Blackburnian Warbler photo
Magnolia Warbler photo
Chestnut-sided Warbler photo
Black and White Warbler photo
Re(1): unidentified
caterpillars
Posted on August 18, 2014 at 08:43:44 AM by Barbara Taylor
Milkweed Tussock Moth caterpillars - see: http://bugguide.net/node/view/433
unidentified
caterpillars
Posted on August 18, 2014 at 08:31:13 AM by Carol Wagg
We were always under the impression that monarchs
were the only ones to eat milkweed, but there was a horde of these guys who had
stripped milkweed leaves right to the veins, which were left dangling like
fringe. Can someone please identify for us? photo
Re(1): Monarch
caterpillar (photo)
Posted on August 18, 2014 at 08:20:31 AM by Carol Wagg
Great picture with background detail. We have
found three caterpillars but I hope they have found a safe place to cocoon, as
we have not seen them for several days now.
Monarch caterpillar
(photo)
Posted on August 17, 2014 at 05:53:53 PM by Debbie
Adams
Found the only monarch caterpillar I've seen
this year. photo
(Walker's Point)
Imperial Moth Caterpillar
Posted on August 17, 2014 at 10:32:22 AM by janice
house
I managed to save two this weekend, same spot
on Laycox Rd.(off Doe Lake Rd Gravenhurst), too much traffic to let them waddle
across the road on their own
Re(1): Broad-winged
Hawk (photo)
Posted on August 17, 2014 at 10:35:20 AM by janice
house
Broad-winged hawks have nested again this year
at the cottage (Skeleton Lake Rd 3), there are two calling constantly which I
assume is parent and juvenile. I have yet to find the nest.
Broad-winged Hawk
(photo)
Posted on August 15, 2014 at 06:59:02 PM by Barbara Taylor
This morning Don Bailey called to say they had a
juvenile Broad-winged Hawk perched on their roof and it had flown off towards
our house. I heard some Blue Jays making a fuss, and sure enough, there was the
hawk perched in a tree overlooking our brush pile. (Bracebridge) photo1
photo2
Re(1): Warbler
& More, Bala
Posted on August 20, 2014 at 10:12:04 AM by Eleanor Kee Wellman
there has been a male Wilson's Warbler around
for the last two days.
Re(1): Warbler
& More, Bala
Posted on August 15, 2014 at 03:48:35 PM by janice house
This last week I have had a catbird and king
bird in one of the spruce trees behind the house, no calling but just popping
in and out of the tree (Doe Lake Rd., Gravenhurst)
Warbler & More,
Bala
Posted on August 15, 2014 at 12:40:54 PM by Eleanor Kee Wellman
For the past week there has been a flurry of
warblers and other bird species feeding in the pin cherry trees along the side
of my house. So far today I have seen a family of American Redstarts, A family
of Red-eyed Vireos, blackburnians, Nashvilles, Tennessee, Black & White,
Chestnut-sided, Black throated Greens, male & female juvenile Rose-breasted
Grosbeaks. Have had flickers, Black-throated blues - M & F, Ovenbirds and
waterthrush.
Re(2): monarch
chrysalis
Posted on August 17, 2014 at 08:47:08 AM by diannawolfe
Sadly, at least 2 of our monarch larvae
perished a couple of weeks ago (we had at least 6). I watched two of them on
the same plant acting strangely (they had stopped foraging and each sat
motionless on the top of a leaf) and looking bloated. An hour later, one of
them had liquified to nothing but a small shred of "skin" and all
traces of its innards had disappeared on the plant by the next day. The second
was still suspiciously motionless and bloated when the first expired, and was
never seen again. I suspect they succumbed to a zombie virus (baculovirus),
which I had seen potential evidence of two years ago, when a full-sized monarch
caterpillar hung as though to pupate and instead liquified to an oozy, gooey,
dripping green mess.
The other monarch caterpillars in another part
of the garden appeared unaffected this year, but I haven't seen them for two
weeks. Fingers are crossed that they moved to other plants and I just can't find
them.
Here's a link about baculovirus:
http://www.livescience.com/15962-zombie-caterpillar-virus.html
Re(1): monarch
chrysalis
Posted on August 14, 2014 at 08:51:53 PM by John Challis
By this morning the case had begun to take on
the classic milky green colour with gold dots, but it still had some changing
to go.
monarch chrysalis
Posted on August 14, 2014 at 08:48:11 PM by John Challis
The milkweeds at the side of our house
(Washago) have been home to about half a dozen happy monarch caterpillars. On
Monday, Gayle found one of them hanging from the siding of our garage, having
glued its posterior. About 24 hours later it began squirming and twisting, and
within a few hours had burst its skin, revealing the chrysalis beneath. photo
Re(2): Hummingbirds
Posted on August 21, 2014 at 12:50:54 PM by Terri
Thank you Debbie. I have seen 8 on the feeder
at one time but I haven't been able to get that picture. I did get 5 in a
picture though. :) Oh and you're right this is Paradise...
Re(1): Hummingbirds
Posted on August 14, 2014 at 05:46:23 PM by Debbie
Adams
Great photo! Thanks for sharing. Our Hummers
keep scaring each other away so we only ever see one at the feeder.
Oh, and welcome to Paradise. Best place in the
world to live IMO!
Hummingbirds
Posted on August 13, 2014 at 11:52:03 AM by Terri
Hi Everyone, New to the board and to Muskoka,
coming up on a year that we moved here. Loving it so far and really enjoying
seeing all the birds. I know Hummingbirds are common to the area but I was very
lucky enough to get this picture of three on the feeder at the same time. Love
these little birds, they are really neat. photo
Re(1): Snakes
Posted on August 17, 2014 at 04:36:08 PM by NigelEves
Corey! These are beautiful! As nice as the
pileated pair photo of yours.
Thanks for posting them.
Re(1): Snakes
Posted on August 11, 2014 at 08:39:34 PM by AkStinnissen
Awesome photos Corey, thanks for sharing these.
Re(1): Snakes
Posted on August 8, 2014 at 02:33:12 PM by EClough
I have been doing a lot of morning birding at
TB in the last week. Seen a small garter or two but that is all. I walk around
the walks in my flip-flops but I think I will start at least wearing some
shoes!
Nice pictures - thanks for sharing
Eric
Snakes
Posted on August 7, 2014 at 08:55:50 PM by coreyhkh
On the long weekend I went in search of
reptiles to photograph and I had good luck. I was able to find two rattlesnakes
in about 10mins under rocks on the Torrance Barrens.
I am desperately looking for a hognose but have
not been able to find one anywhere, looks like I will have to check out Henry
marsh.
Massasauga Rattlesnake photo
Dekay's Brown Snake photo
Northern Redbelly Snake photo
Eastern Garter Snake photo
Eastern Milk Snake photo
American Bittern,
Green Herons
Posted on August 7, 2014 at 04:08:58 PM by Barbara Taylor
This morning at Henry Marsh we flushed an
American Bittern and a Great Blue Heron at the north side of the trail. At the
Bracebridge Ponds there were two Green Herons at the west end of cell 3 - note:
work being done at the dumping ponds is ongoing with lots of activity during
regular working hours.
Re(2): Eastern
Hog-nosed Snake (photos)
Posted on August 7, 2014 at 10:09:28 PM by Barbara Taylor
We found the snake around 11 a.m. Yes, it was definitely
a different snake than the one you found last year Corey, and also different
from the one photographed by Bruce Ripley. This one is well marked with
blotches and smaller, only about 20 inches or so.
Re(1): Eastern
Hog-nosed Snake (photos)
Posted on August 7, 2014 at 08:43:25 PM by coreyhkh
This is a different one from last year! this is
great news!
What time of day did you see it and how long
would you say it was?
Eastern Hog-nosed
Snake (photos)
Posted on August 7, 2014 at 02:58:44 PM by Barbara Taylor
This morning we came upon this Hog-nosed Snake
on the trail east of Henry Marsh in Bracebridge. Luckily I had my camera! As we
walked past, it raised up its head and took on the typical "fake
cobra" look and began to hiss. On our return trip there was no sign of it.
I will be submitting a report to document the sighting.
Displaying
Caprimulgids
Posted on August 6, 2014 at 04:14:51 PM by George Bryant
This morning we observed two Common Nighthawks
over Highland Pond, Torrance Barrens, circling, with one at least diving and
"booming" for ~20 minutes. We also have a Whip-poor-will still
calling at Pine Lake, Gravenhurst. I read that the young should now or very
soon be fledged. I assume adults display until then although I do hear
Whip-poor-wills as late as September. Nice to have some birds still calling at
this time of year. BTW, the barrens are lush and green unlike most summers.
Blueberries are at their peak, the best I've seen in ten years. Blackberries
will also be excellent in another week or so.
Bees Not Only
Insect Absent, Bala
Posted on August 6, 2014 at 11:33:07 AM by Eleanor Kee Wellman
As usual I have an abundance of oregano in flower
and one of the reasons I tolerate its spreading habits are that it normally
hosts hundreds of nectare eating insects. Usually I can hear the hum of the
flying hoards from my doorway. Not this year. There are bumble bees and that is
about it.
The only abundant insect around my place this
year is mosquitos!
Re(1): Saturday
Morning at RRR (MagnoliaWarbler)
Posted on August 10, 2014 at 02:07:54 PM by Barbara Taylor
I've enjoyed your reports Eric. Hope you manage
to find some Indigo Buntings before your departure. There was a family of four
by the Lagoon Lane entrance gate at the Bracebridge Ponds yesterday morning.
Saturday Morning at
RRR (MagnoliaWarbler)
Posted on August 9, 2014 at 09:51:30 AM by EClough
another fantastic morning of birds at RRR. When
I got to the first hydro plant just past the bridge I stopped and immediately
found a very large mixed flock. beautiful sunlight for viewing, no workers and
very little car traffic. The birds hung around for over an hour before
dispersing. I've never seen so many Nashville Warblers. just guessing at about
75 birds total and nearly a third were Nashvilles. Every third bird I got glass
on was a Nashville. I kept trying to make one of them into a Mourning or
Connecticut or Tenessee but only Nashville Nashville Nashville. There were BT
Greens and plenty of CS Warblers with the other regulars (vireos, chickadees,
nuthatches, peewees, etc...). The "best" bird and another first for
me at RRR was a fall adult male Magnolia Warbler.
I have only a couple of days left for birding
and this will likely be my last posting.
Eric Clough
More Torrence
Barrens Birds
Posted on August 8, 2014 at 02:29:05 PM by EClough
I don't mean to clog up your bird board with my
reports so I thought it might be best to just add replies to my original post.
Hope that is OK.
I did go out to TB again late this morning. it
took a little while to find birds but when I did - wow! Sparrow-
Palooza! I am coming to grips with a
recognition that I am not very good at identifying sparrows. The majority
seemed to be Field and Chipping Sparrows - both adults and juveniles. A few
Song Sparrows easily identified by their voice and plumage. Earlier I posted
juncos were present but I think that was wrong. I think I was seeing the white
tail feathers of Vesper Sparrows. Any comments on that from others who might
know better would be appreciated. I think I saw some Lincoln Sparrows based on
the finely patterned streaking washed with brown and combined with the rufous
color on the head. I'm not very familiar with Clay-colored Sparrows so could be
confused... A person could spend a long time sorting out sparrows.
Finally caught-up with the Nighthawks overhead
calling and swooping. A flock of Eastern Bluebirds passed through. Saw a
non-male Baltimore Oriole. Kind of expecting to see a meadowlark but no luck.
No more calling Cuckoos either. A House Wren was present and singing.
Chickadees, RE Vireos, nuthatches and mixed warbler (yellow, Myrtle, B&W,
Nashville, Chestnut-sided, yellowthroat) flock were present. Had a Green Heron
fly over the road on the way there.
What a beautiful place!
Re(1): Update: Ragged
Rapids Birds
Posted on August 11, 2014 at 08:22:04 AM by Eleanor Kee Wellman
I thought, late May & June, that lack of
Indigo Buntings along Ragged Rapids Road was notable.
Update: Ragged
Rapids Birds
Posted on August 8, 2014 at 08:23:52 AM by EClough
Just a few days left for me here in Muskoka
land. I certainly have been enjoying myself. I have returned to Ragged Rapids
Road and Torrence Barrens almost daily. Every day something new turns up it
seems. Most notably, at RRR I continue to find a good concentration of birds at
one particular spot. Best for me was extended close-up encounters with
Yellow-throated Vireos. All three vireos at that location, in fact. No
Philadelphia Vireo - that would be a lifer for me. Finally found a pileated
woodpecker. Still no Inidgo Buntings. Lot's of warblers I couldn't get a solid
ID on. oh yes, also heard but did not see Great-crested Flycatcher at RRR.
Good Birding!
At Torrence Barrens I found a Brown Thrasher
and a Canada Warbler and I keep hearing what I think is a BB Cuckoo off in the
distance. I am really surprised at how many calling and singing waterthrushes
there are in the forest just before you get to the Barrens.
At Medora Road I found my first Black-throated
Blue Warbler.
Re(1): Ragged
Rapids Birds
Posted on August 7, 2014 at 09:19:32 PM by coreyhkh
nice finds
Ragged Rapids Birds
Posted on August 5, 2014 at 11:19:13 AM by EClough
I am visiting family in Bala and have been
birding Torrence Barrens and Ragged Rapids road the last few days. Thought I
would share my observations.
Ragged Rapids Road (RRR) has produced its usual
mixed flocks. lots of birdless space but when you get into one of the flocks it
is quite exciting. I spent an hour at one flock this morning. Traffic was
pretty heavy today and seems to be less on the weekend. Here is a list of what
I could identify with confidence. of course, there best birds, like the biggest
fish, were the ones that got away.
BC chickadees, RB & WB Nutaches and RE
Vireos have been the most abundant species with Common Yellow-throats,
Chestnut-sided wablers, Blackburnian and B&W warblers a close second.
Yellow warblers, YR warblers(myrtle), Nashville and Pine Warblers and American
Redstarts. one Orange-crowned warbler, which was a first for me at RRR. One of
the best birds for me and another first at RRR was a first fall Golden-winged
wabler. Only a couple Black-throated Greens and no Black-throated Blues yet. No
Indigo Buntings either wich seems unusual to me. Non-
warbler types I've seen at RRR include lots of
RE Vireos and a couple of BH Vireos. Downy, Hairy, and Northern Flickers. No
Pileateds so far. Brown Creepers. Rusty Blackbirds. Maybe one Alder Flycatcher
but no other flycatchers. Eastern Peewee and Eastern Phoebe. great looks at a
pair of Broad-wing Hawks. I'm probably forgetting a few...
At Torrence Barrens I have been treated to an
abundance of Field Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows, Song and Swamp Sparrows, juncos
and lots of singing Eastern Towhees. Singing Alder Flycatchers, Sandhill Cranes
(heard only) and Black-billed Cuckoo (heard only). Also had a great look at
singing Northern Waterthrush. Several of the warblers and vireos noted above at
RRR. and a female Tanager that I assume was a Scarlet.
I hope to continue birding here for another
week and will post again with any new or unusual sightings.
Monarchs
Posted on August 2, 2014 at 11:07:58 AM by John Challis
We have a good half-dozen monarch caterpillars
on the milkweed around our house, getting nice and fat. Hoping for full success
into adulthood. In recent years we've had trouble with some kind of parasite
killing the chrysalis stage.
Re(3): hawk on the
hunt
Posted on July 31, 2014 at 07:13:57 PM by Barbara Taylor
The Ontario
Breeding Bird Atlas shows breeding was confirmed or probable near Washago
in past years.
Here's a link to the latest data map for
Goshawk: http://www.birdsontario.org/maps/nogo_be_full_en.png
Re(2): hawk on the
hunt
Posted on July 31, 2014 at 03:56:34 PM by John Challis
I'd say it was more brown across the back than
grey, and Gayle felt it had a short tail -- juvenile goshawks seem to be more
brown than grey though. Would a goshawk nest this far south? Maybe we can start
looking for a nest.
Re(1): hawk on the
hunt
Posted on July 31, 2014 at 08:19:14 AM by John Challis
It had a short tail, heavy body and breast
feathers dark (juvenile?). But it was a strong flier, as it went straight into
a cluster of poplars and ash and came out with the crow in its talons.
Re(1): hawk on the
hunt
Posted on July 31, 2014 at 01:29:48 PM by Barbara Taylor
Sounds like something a Goshawk might do.
hawk on the hunt
Posted on July 31, 2014 at 08:14:49 AM by John Challis
At Washago last night we watched a large hawk
take down a crow. Dark plumage but it was in shadow so couldn't identity what
species it was. Anyone care to venture a guess as to what hawk would care to
kill another bird almost the same size?
sandhill cranes.
Posted on July 27, 2014 at 10:29:13 PM by pmoase
the pair of cranes were very loud last sat.and
today they were seen without any young.torrance barrens south end of area.i had
seen them before the post of 1 chick and was worried something was up last
sat.BUT i did NOT have time to follow the upset calls.
Bald Blue Jays
Posted on July 27, 2014 at 10:03:20 PM by Barbara Taylor
It's that time of year again...several of the
Jays in our neighbourhood always go bald when they molt, but the feathers soon
grow back.
This guy stopped by for a peanut today. (Bracebridge) photo
Nature festival in
North Bay
Posted on July 25, 2014 at 08:56:35 PM by FredPinto
The Nipissing Naturalists Club is organising a
nature festival to be held on August 23-24, 2014. The festival is named after
world renowned naturalist and nurse: Louise de Kiriline Lawrence. A number of
events take place on Sat Aug 23 including a bird banding demo. On the 24th
there will be an open house at the Louise de Kiriline Lawrence's cabin. All
events are free. You can find the draft of our website at
www.naturefestival.jimdo.com.
Like us on facebook for updates.
Re(2): Japanese
Beetles
Posted on August 10, 2014 at 01:49:43 PM by Barbara Taylor
Whenever you see one, kill it...they aren't hard
to catch. You could just squish one in a kleenex or if you have several, then
throw them in some soapy water in a container that has a lid. I do that with
Rose Chafers to try and keep their population down. Apparently Roses are also
favourites of the Japanese Beetle, so avoid those or check them often.
Here's are a few helpful links:
http://www.bhg.com/gardening/pests/insects-diseases-weeds/stop-japanese-beetles/.
http://www.extension.iastate.edu/article/yard-and-garden-japanese-beetles
http://extension.psu.edu/plants/master-gardener/counties/susquehanna/penn-state-master-gardener-articles/japanese-beetles
Food preference:
http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/2010/7-14/japanesebeetle.html
http://www.almanac.com/content/japanese-beetles-best-and-worst-plants
Re(1): Japanese
Beetles
Posted on August 8, 2014 at 07:58:45 PM by
dinnymccraney
I found 5 in the garden today..recalled your
post. What do I do?
Re(1): Japanese
Beetles
Posted on July 25, 2014 at 08:23:50 AM by Al Sinclair
A friend in a Huntsvlle subdivision lost the
battle with Japanese beetles. Tore up the lawn and replaced it with wood chips,
flowering shrubs and plants. A big improvement from my point of view.
Japanese Beetles
Posted on July 23, 2014 at 10:36:43 PM by Barbara Taylor
Today at the Bracebridge Ponds I noticed a few
Japanese Beetles around cell 4 (photos below).
These are the first ones I've seen in the area.
How prevalent are they in Muskoka?
Last summer I panicked after finding several
shiny bronze-green beetles in our yard, but they turned out to be St. John's
Wort Beetles - phew!
Japanese Beetles: photo1
photo1
Sandhill Cranes
& Cuckoo
Posted on July 23, 2014 at 02:42:23 PM by Eleanor Kee Wellman
Sandhill Crane and Yellow-billed Cuckoo calling
Monday evening not far from my little lake. (Bala)
Re(2): Attack of
the Wild Snapping Turtle
Posted on July 25, 2014 at 08:29:11 AM by Al Sinclair
I once dangled my bare feet off a dock at a
camp where people often cleaned fish. I felt something tickle my toe and saw a
very large snapper just checking me out. I assumed it was thinking fish guts,
realized it wasn't and backed off without biting.
Re(1): Attack of
the Wild Snapping Turtle
Posted on July 23, 2014 at 11:28:41 PM by coreyhkh
This surprises me as I have worked with
snapping turtles alot and never had an issue, The only thing I can think of is
that you scared it. Was it a big one?
Attack of the Wild
Snapping Turtle
Posted on July 23, 2014 at 02:27:15 PM by George Bryant
Yesterday, the hottest day of the summer (water
temp. 82oF), I was easing myself from the dock ladder into the lake preparatory
for a swim. Wham--a Snapping Turtle bit my foot. I jumped back to the dock and
observed a beady-eyed snapper poised for another attack. I was left with
slightly painful bleeding curved bite marks around the middle toes--not a
pretty picture. I thought Snapping Turtles never attack people. Wrong. I read
now they rarely attack. So endeth any future thoughts of skinny dipping!
Re(1):
Whip-poor-will in Vankoughnet
Posted on July 22, 2014 at 12:21:10 PM by George Bryant
We've had two calling here at Pine Lake (west
of G.hurst) for the past 2-3 summers after an absence of 25 years. Makes
cottaging here special. Despite the forest continuing to close in, they seem to
be increasing hereabouts (they are a species at risk), unlike Nighthawks.
Whip-poor-will in
Vankoughnet
Posted on July 22, 2014 at 06:53:10 AM by FrancesGualtieri
On many evenings this summer, I hear a
whip-poor-will very close by, start to call out around 9:30 pm - a real
pleasure to hear the song, after so many years of absence!
Frances Gualtieri
Vankoughnet
Chimney Swifts
Bracebridge
Posted on July 21, 2014 at 01:55:28 PM by janice house
Just now 6 swifts were circling over the
library, any ideas on where they are roosting?
merlins
Posted on July 21, 2014 at 08:18:15 AM by John Challis
Dining at the Dock of the Bay at Gravenhurst
Wharf last night we watched an adult merlin carrying something across the water
towards the point where it was met by four juveniles L competing to grab the
tidbit from Mom/Dad's talons. Great hubris from all.
Interesting
Caterpillars
Posted on July 19, 2014 at 07:41:02 PM by Barbara Taylor
Today at the Bracebridge Ponds we found several
caterpillars in the small willows along the west side of cell 4 and also at the
east side in some young poplars. They are either Viceroy or White Admiral
larvae, but I don't know a sure way to tell them apart. There were both the
green and the brown colour variants - here are some of my photos:
Re(1): Don't be
encouraged by Monarchs seen in Bracebridge
Posted on July 23, 2014 at 02:11:12 PM by janice house
Bob Bowles posted large numbers of monarchs on
butterfly counts on the Simcoe Nature Board starting two weeks ago, does he
know about the release?
Re(1): Don't be encouraged
by Monarchs seen in Bracebridge
Posted on July 21, 2014 at 01:57:45 PM by janice house
One fresh and one faded in our yard yesterday,
I could only find one big fat caterpillar on the milkweed.
Don't be encouraged
by Monarchs seen in Bracebridge
Posted on July 18, 2014 at 02:08:40 PM by Al Sinclair
Don't be encouraged by monarch sightings around
Bracebridge. The fresh ones are probably from the Butterfly Release Day, a fund
raiser for Muskoka Hospice. 575 monarchs were released July 13 in Memorial Park
in downtown Bracebridge. Seems like a bad idea to me, importing butterflies
from another location and releasing them to mate with wild ones here. There
could be a negative impact on the local population, nobody really knows.
Lagoons shorebirds
Posted on July 16, 2014 at 10:06:40 PM by Goodyear
This evening around 8:00 at the Bracebridge
Lagoons there were 13 Least Sandpipers,3 Lesser Yellowlegs, and a Solitary
Sandpiper at the east end and along the north edge of cell 3.
Re(1): Bluebirds
Posted on July 30, 2014 at 05:16:24 PM by Terri
I just saw a Bluebird today in my front yard on
Hwy 118 E Bracebridge. I will try to get a picture if it comes back. Very
pretty bird...
Re(1):
Bluebirds/CedarWaxwings
Posted on July 20, 2014 at 06:20:25 AM by Eleanor Kee Wellman
Saturday was the first day Cedar Waxwings came
in to the pin cherries at my place.
Bluebirds
Posted on July 16, 2014 at 09:19:58 PM by Barbara Taylor
We added a new species to our yard list this
week...Eastern Bluebird. There was an adult male and female and at least one
juvenile. The male was carrying Red Elder berries up to the young bird which
was perched nearby. A neighbour down the street where there are large areas of
open lawn and gardens had a pair of Bluebirds nesting in their birdhouse, so
that is probably where these came from. (Bracebridge)
There have been several species feeding on the
berries, including Crows, Robins, Cardinals, Phoebes, a juvenile Yellow-bellied
Sapsucker and Hairy Woodpeckers. Usually we see Cedar Waxwings at the berries,
but so far this year they haven't showed up. photo
The Bluebirds look a little out of place in a pine tree...juvenile at top: photo
Re(2): Damselfly
ID.
Posted on July 17, 2014 at 09:29:10 PM by diannawolfe
The black mark on the dorsal aspect of S2
should be U-shaped, with the arms of the U running up the sides of S2, if this
were a Taiga Bluet. On this guy, the S2 marking appears to be more like that of
a Marsh/Hagen's or Boreal/Northern/Vernal Bluet. In those species, from above
the mark looks kind of like a mushroom, with no black running up the sides of
the segment.
Re(1): Damselfly
ID.
Posted on July 15, 2014 at 09:31:55 PM by Al Sinclair
Could be Taiga Bluet. Wait a week and see if
you can photograph a mature blue one at the same location.
Re(2): Damselfly
ID.
Posted on July 15, 2014 at 11:34:27 AM by diannawolfe
Looks like an immature male Marsh or Hagen's
Bluet to me, going by the thoracic and abdominal markings and the size of the
eyespots. Unfortunately, there's no way to tell them apart without a close-up
view of the claspers found at the end of the abdomen. You can tell it's
immature by its brownish eyes (adults tend to be blue or green). The narrowness
of its abdomen indicates it's a male.
There are several other species in our area
that look very similar and I find it impossible sometimes to ID them without
catching them. If someone else has other thoughts on the ID, please weigh in!
Damselfly ID.
Posted on July 15, 2014 at 10:01:45 AM by wayne bridge
Can anyone help me with species name for this
damselfly, please? [and thank you Al & Barbara for the skipper ID]
Beside our driveway; Kearney; late June. photo
Thanks, Wayne.
Sandhill Crane
Family
Posted on July 14, 2014 at 08:41:45 PM by George Bryant
On Torrance Barrens this morning I was delighted
to observe a pair of orange Sandhill Cranes escorting an 8" chick. I
watched and photo'ed the adults from a distance. They were stabbing their bills
into the muck, picking up mouthfuls and then flicking them away, presumably
attempting to catch frogs. The chick, a brilliant rust colour, I saw for one
second twice as it walked between gaps in the tall grass.
Fledged Bobolinks
Posted on July 14, 2014 at 07:24:20 PM by George Bryant
Inspired by Ontbird posts this morning, I
checked a large nearby hayfield. I was delighted--it was still not cut. There
were two adult male Bobolinks on station plus ~10 fledged Bobolinks making
trial flights. Essentially they flew up from the middle of the field for 50' and
then back down into the grass. I'm not sure I've appreciated this before. At
any distance they are just a buffy bird with a Bobolink shape. One Savannah
Sparrow was the only field bird still singing. The field is on the north side
of Hwy. 169 just west of Pine Lake Road.
Re(1): Eastern
Tailed Blue
Posted on July 18, 2014 at 02:04:10 PM by Al Sinclair
Don't be encouraged by monarch sightings around
Bracebridge. The fresh ones are probably from the Butterfly Release Day.
Eastern Tailed Blue
Posted on July 14, 2014 at 02:10:45 PM by Barbara Taylor
This morning at the Bracebridge Ponds there
were three Eastern Tailed Blue butterflies around cell 4 - first ones I've seen
this year. There were also several very fresh looking Monarchs and a few rather
worn ones. Eastern Tailed Blue (male): underside - photo
upperside - photo
reference: http://www.cbif.gc.ca/spp_pages/butterflies/species/EasternTailedBlue_e.php
August MFN meeting
Posted on July 13, 2014 at 09:04:15 PM by John Challis
Muskoka Field Naturalists who received their
July-August Wakerobin will no doubt be confused by the erroneous date for the
August meeting. Please note that it will be held Thursday, August 21, at the
cottage of George and Stephanie Bryant. All other details in the newsletter are
accurate. I hope.
Re(1): Muskoka
first, Kirtlands Warbler - another photo
Posted on July 13, 2014 at 09:16:44 PM by tjack
Here is a photo of the Kirtland's Warbler
singing. He was quite vociferous, thats how I found him. Named him
"Chuckles" photo
Thomas Jackman
Re(3): Thomas also
reported another new species for Muskoka
Posted on July 17, 2014 at 12:50:52 PM by Doug Smith
As for new species -- I would like a Cave
Swallow and a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, please.
Re(2): Thomas also
reported another new species for Muskoka
Posted on July 13, 2014 at 07:07:34 PM by Al Sinclair
There was but it was just north of the Parry
Sound boundary, at Bay Lake. ID was confirmed but it was not in Muskoka.
Re(1): Thomas also
reported another new species for Muskoka
Posted on July 13, 2014 at 05:31:17 PM by DBurton
Wasn't Blue Grosbeak reported on the board a
several years ago?
Thomas also
reported another new species for Muskoka
Posted on July 13, 2014 at 03:01:16 PM by Goodyear
Thomas has also seen Purple Sandpipers at Gray
Island in Georgian Bay on two occasions. Another new species for Muskoka,
bringing the total number recorded in Muskoka to 295. We are now on the
countdown to 300! Any thoughts to what the next new species might be? I would
never have guessed Kirtland's!! I'm still placing my money on Black Vulture,
Blue Grosbeak, and American Avocet.
Re(1): Muskoka
first, Kirtlands Warbler
Posted on July 13, 2014 at 01:23:14 PM by Al Sinclair
It's true. David Goodyear confirms that there
has been no previous records of this species in Muskoka.
Thanks Thomas for sharing your photo on the
Bird Board. It was found by Thomas Jackman at Go Home Bay on May 27, 2014 and
was present until June 10. He rightly did not report the location of this
endangered species until he was sure that it was not nesting. A report has been
sent to the Ontario Rare Birds Record Committee. Kirtland's have been doing
better recently due to conservation measures on their breeding territory in
Michigan, and there is a small colony established in Ontario near Petawawa. It
doesn't appear to have any bands so it's hard to say which location this bird
belongs to.
Muskoka first,
Kirtlands Warbler
Posted on July 12, 2014 at 06:16:49 PM by tjack
Muskoka first, Kirtlands Warbler at Go Home
Bay, May 30, 2014 photo
Re(1): Monarch
Posted on July 15, 2014 at 09:04:53 AM by DinnyNimmo
A monarch at our back door yesterday on the
swamp milkweed. July 14th. Hurlings Point Bala
Monarch
Posted on July 11, 2014 at 09:34:20 PM by missyinmuskoka
Also saw my first Monarch today, fluttering
about in the milkweed on South Kahshe Lake Road.
Re(1): Monarch
larvae
Posted on July 10, 2014 at 09:47:22 AM by Barbara Taylor
Judy Moore sent this photo of some Monarch
larvae on milkweed planted in a sidewalk garden in Gravenhurst - July 9 on John
St. photo
Nice
to see such large caterpillars, almost ready for the pupa stage.
You can follow the Monarch Butterfly migration
at Journey
North.
Monarch
Posted on July 9, 2014 at 09:20:20 PM by Barb Staples
The tenant here this week saw a lone Monarch on
the milkweed early this morning, will keep me updated. Sunny Lake, Gravenhurst.
Re(1): Please...ID
help
Posted on July 8, 2014 at 11:29:16 PM by Al Sinclair
Hobomok Skipper
purplish shading along the rear wing edges
single row of yellow cells on hindwing with one
longer.
Nice photo!
Please...ID help
Posted on July 8, 2014 at 01:35:55 PM by Wayne Bridge
Can anyone ID this skipper [taken June 10,
beside our driveway, Kearney]? photo
Re(2): Bracebridge
Ponds
Posted on July 11, 2014 at 05:41:11 PM by Goodyear
Yesterday we saw one of the young dead on the
road without its head. Too big a prey item for the Merlin?
Re(1): Bracebridge
Ponds
Posted on July 10, 2014 at 08:28:15 PM by Barbara Taylor
This morning at the Bracebridge Ponds there was
a juvenile Spotted Sandpiper and an adult on the roadway east of cell 4. Thankfully
there was only one of the aggressive Herring Gulls hanging around cell 3 and no
sign of the young ones, so our walk was much less hazardous today with only a
couple swoops at us.
One of the young Canada Geese had somehow
become separated from its three siblings and parents - it was inside the fence
around the treatment plant and they were all on the outside by cell 3. The
young bird couldn't find a way out since most of the fence is tight to the
ground. It would walk along the fenceline in tandem with one of its parents,
but they couldn't figure how to get back together. As we were leaving we
decided to give them a hand and slowly shooed the young bird towards the open
gate at the east end. The adult bird was hissing at us through the fence all the
while, but calmed down once the kid was "free". The rest of the
family quickly came over to get reunited with their wayward adventurer.
Bracebridge Ponds
Posted on July 6, 2014 at 07:58:38 PM by Barbara Taylor
This morning at the Bracebridge Ponds we found
our first Eastern Pondhawk of the year. Other dragonflies seen included several
Black Saddlebags, Widow Skimmer, Common Green Darner, Calico Pennant,
Twelve-spotted Skimmer, Common Whitetail, Dot-tailed Whiteface, and
Four-spotted Skimmer. An Acadian Hairstreak butterfly was resting on some
milkweed - although considered common, it's the first we've seen. We couldn't
find the Black-billed Cuckoos, but did see a Red-shouldered Hawk and a Merlin in
the area. Beware of two very aggressive gulls near the Lagoon Lane entrance -
they had two young with them and were determined to drive us away...we were
divebombed continuously until we got all the way over to cell 4.
Acadian Hairstreak photo
Widow Skimmer (male) photo
Widow Skimmer (female) photo
Eastern Pondhawk (male) photo
Calico Pennant photo
Some photos from
the count
Posted on July 6, 2014 at 05:53:59 PM by Al Sinclair
SILVERY CHECKERSPOT photo
HARRIS' CHECKERSPOT photo
PECK'S SKIPPER AND LONG DASH (ACCIDENTS HAPPEN) photo
LEAST SKIPPER photo
16th Annual Bala
Butterfly Count results
Posted on July 6, 2014 at 05:45:13 PM by Al Sinclair
16th Annual Bala Butterfly Count results
June 28, 2014, sunny 18C to 29C
19 species 166 individuals
5 observers: George Bryant, Cyril Fry, Janice
House, Al Sinclair, Rick Snider
The weather was good on count day but numbers
were lower than average. Some early species were still flying while later ones
had not yet emerged likely due to the cool spring.
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail 4
Cabbage White 2
Silvery Checkerspot 18
Harris' Checkerspot 16
Northern Crescent 17
White Admiral 10
Eyed Brown 4
Little Wood Satyr 9
Common Ringlet 2
Monarch 1
Northern Cloudywing 1
Least Skipper 4
European Skipper 32
Indian Skipper 1
Peck's Skipper 5
Tawny-Edged Skipper 5
Long Dash 27
Hobomok Skipper 7
Dun Skipper 1
Re(2): A pair early
this morning
Posted on July 8, 2014 at 11:15:11 AM by janice house
We had one June 30th on the milkweed in one of
my gardens and Sunday afternoon there was one resting on the honeysuckle bush
at the back of the yard
Re(2): A pair early
this morning
Posted on July 6, 2014 at 07:21:05 PM by Debbie Adams
The edges on Walker's Point Rd were cut back a
few weeks ago taking out many milkweeds plants :(
Re(1): A pair early
this morning
Posted on July 6, 2014 at 04:31:04 PM by Barbara Taylor
Nice to see some Monarchs around this
year...three of them at the Bracebridge Ponds this morning. So far they haven't
cut back the edges of the roadways, so lots of milkweed in bloom.
A pair early this
morning
Posted on July 5, 2014 at 04:26:05 PM by michaelhatton
A pair were hanging around this morning. photo
Bobolinks
Posted on July 5, 2014 at 04:11:14 PM by Barbara Taylor
This morning we came across a family of
Bobolinks in the field just north of the Covered Bridge deadend. There were
four fledglings perched in a low shrub along with the adults. Another pair of
adults were flying in the area, but we didn't see any young birds with them. We
noticed that several of the nearby fields along South Monck Dr. have already
been cut...hope that wasn't too soon for many of the nesting birds.
(Bracebridge)
Re(1): Least
Bitterns and Yellow-throated Vireos
Posted on July 6, 2014 at 04:57:07 PM by diannawolfe
That's interesting. We stopped there a couple weeks
ago in the early evening for 20 minutes or so, but didn't hear the Bitterns.
Glad to hear they are back.
Least Bitterns and
Yellow-throated Vireos
Posted on July 5, 2014 at 02:05:59 PM by Goodyear
Yesterday we spent a couple of hours at the
Muldrew Lake Road marsh. Two very cooperative Least Bitterns kept popping up,
calling, and flying about, making for very easy observations of this typically
secretive species. We also had excellent views of a Yellow-throated Vireo and
could hear another singing in the distance.
Re(1): Algonquin
Park Odonate Count, July 2nd 2014
Posted on July 6, 2014 at 10:28:21 PM by Al Sinclair
VERY impressive list. Now if we could just find
some of these in Muskoka!
Algonquin Park
Odonate Count, July 2nd 2014
Posted on July 4, 2014 at 03:04:23 PM by Peter Mills
Highlights from the count based on their local
rarity, significance, or charisma, included:
10 ELEGANT SPREADWINGS
49 EASTERN RED DAMSEL
1 SUBARCTIC BLUET
15 AZURE BLUET
10 VESPER BLUET
1 VARIABLE DARNER (early)
2 BLACK-TIPPED DARNER (early)
60 LILIYPAD CLUBTAIL
3 RUSTY SNAKETAIL
1 EASTERN LEAST CLUBTAIL
4 SKI-TIPPED EMERALD
1 FORCIPATE EMERALD
2 DELICATE EMERALD
4 CLAMP-TIPPED EMERALD
5 BRUSH-TIPPED EMERALD
(and, including "count week", we can
add KENNEDY'S, LAKE, and OCELLATED to our Somatochlora list)
1 DOT-TAILED WHITEFACE
1 WIDOW SKIMMER
Here is the Lake Emerald: photo
...and the rest of our Somatochlora emeralds from lately (clockwise from top right: Ocellated, Ski-tipped, Clamp-tipped, Brush-tipped, Kennedy's, Delicate, and Forcipate).: photo panel
We
had 67 species--a tie for our highest ever (2011).
Thanks to all who participated.
yellow-billed
cuckoo
Posted on July 4, 2014 at 09:29:48 AM by John Challis
What I was assuming was atypical calls of
black-billed cuckoo around our house finally revealed itself this morning, as a
pair of yellow-billed cuckoos in some oak trees by the roadside next to the
marsh and creek at the end of our property. No mistaking the yellow lower bill,
caught in the morning light, and the white markings on the under tail feathers.
The male actually mounted the female briefly. Green River Drive, Washago.
Re(2): Black-billed
Cuckoo - Bracebridge Lagoons
Posted on July 11, 2014 at 07:15:53 PM by Barbara Taylor
This morning at the Bracebridge Ponds we
finally spotted one adult Black-billed Cuckoo in the shrubbery near the NW
corner of cell 4. It wasn't calling, so just lucky seeing it.
Re(1): Black-billed
Cuckoo - Bracebridge Lagoons
Posted on July 5, 2014 at 02:07:10 PM by Goodyear
Two seen again this morning, west of cell 4.
Black-billed Cuckoo
- Bracebridge Lagoons
Posted on July 3, 2014 at 02:04:02 PM by Goodyear
This morning we heard and saw a Black-billed
Cuckoo at the edge of the woods west of cell 2.
Orange Bluets
Posted on July 3, 2014 at 10:09:56 AM by diannawolfe
Once again, not the best pic (it flew away
before I could adjust exposure), but I found a couple Orange Bluets while
wading around looking for the dog’s sunken Frisbee at Franklin Park on Sparrow
Lake the other evening. Lovely little creatures. (Kilworthy) photo
A Beetle and a
Damsel
Posted on July 2, 2014 at 08:12:19 PM by Barbara Taylor
Today I found two of my favourite insects -
photos below. I also came across an intergrade White Admiral/Red-spotted Purple
butterfly. Although White Admirals are common here, that was the first
intergrade I've seen. (Bracebridge)
Six-spotted Tiger Beetle - photo
Ebony Jewelwing (male) - photo
Re(1): Veeries -
many!
Posted on July 3, 2014 at 08:19:13 AM by missyinmuskoka
I too have been hearing the Veery's call behind
my cottage on South Kahshe Lake Road.
Veeries - many!
Posted on July 2, 2014 at 02:14:00 PM by John Challis
This morning I was serenaded by no fewer than
five veeries within 250 metres of our house. One directly behind our house,
three more in the fringes around the swamp behind our place and a fifth across
the road. In the minutes before storms blow through, they like to kick into
song, too.
We hear a veery or two in the spring usually,
but nothing like we're getting this year.
Many of the birds have resumed territorial calls
right now: ovenbird, chestnut-sided warbler, common yellowthroat (well, they
never gave up, really), Blackburnian, black-and-white, swamp sparrow. I'm
assuming they're working on inspiring the females into going for second broods.
Fragile Forktails
Posted on July 1, 2014 at 08:43:37 PM by diannawolfe
While not the best photos, one can clearly see
the exclamation marks on the shoulders of this damselfly, indicating it's a
Fragile Forktail. There were several on the emergent vegetation of the pond beside
our property in Kilworthy. Fragile Forktail: photo1 photo2
