Creepy Crawlies
August 15th, 2009
T'was a snaily morning along the Rideau.
I call that one "the apartment complex."
I found these caterpillars at Mud Lake today, and at first, I actually suspected that someone was putting me on. They didn't look like insects so much as ornate tassels knitted out of colored yarn, hung one on either side of a leaf to make a fool out of a nature photographer. But they were real. They're Milkweed Tussock Moth caterpillars. Their fancy appearance is intended as a warning to predators. Like monarch caterpillars, they are highly poisonous (and for the same reason: both eat milkweed.)
Young Wood Ducks
August 13th, 2009
At Riverain Park a number of Wood Ducks, mostly young Wood Ducks, have joined the year-round Mallard flock. At places like that they follow the Mallards' lead and come close to humans looking for handouts (Wood Ducks are normally quite skittish). Thus, very photographable!
There were roughtly eight juveniles milling around, probably ones who grew up on the Rideau, as well as a couple of adult females. No adult males, which is typical for this time of year. They always seem to disappear in late summer, probably gone somewhere secluded to molt their flight feathers. They'll be back in force come September.
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The duck in the middle is a juvenile male, far enough along that his eyes have turned red. The white and grey patterning on his cheek is the placeholder for what will become, in maturity, an ornate facial pattern of black, red, white and iridescent green. The slight swelling at his nape is the beginning of the adult's swept-back green crest.
A young female:
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This last picture is of a mature female, likely the mother of some of these juveniles. The large, wedge-shaped eye patch gives her away.
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Stages of Life
August 5th, 2009
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Purple Coneflower, aka echinacea. This is a native North American wildflower, although I don't think it's native to Ontario. I've only seen it in or near gardens.
Great Crested Flycatcher
August 4th, 2009
Great Crested Flycatchers seem to be moving through. Mud Lake was teeming with them yesterday.
This one must have decided that flycatching was too much work.
Black-Crowned Night Herons
August 3rd, 2009
The Night Herons at Mud Lake have fledged their young, and both adults and young are becoming a common sight. This one is molting, I think, thus the somewhat dishevelled appearance.
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Carrying lunch, maybe a catfish:
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A handsome adult. This is certainly the most classic Night Heron shot I've ever taken--a much more typical shape and pose than in the one pictured here.
Things Best Not Messed With
August 2nd, 2009
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Bald-Faced Hornet in a milkweed plant.
July 30th??
July 30th, 2009
Unlikely as it seems, July 30th and songbird fall migration is underway!
There were flocks of them on the ridge. Umpteen Yellow Warblers, Warbling Vireos and Cedar Waxwings, a few Eastern Phoebes, an adult male Yellow-Rumped Warbler, a Nashville Warbler, and last but definitely not least, a juvenile Canada Warbler (pictured below). That's a new species for me.
I also got a good Cedar Waxwing picture:
And this cutie of a Wood Duck duckling:
Wildflowers
July 29th, 2009
Daisy Fleabane
Goldenrod
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Peaceful Wallpapers
July 27th, 2009
This female Mallard seemed rather satisfied with life. That's one of her nearly-grown young behind her and to the left. This was in a shallow, slow-flowing part of the Deschenes Rapids, a popular nursery area for both Mallards and Wood Ducks.
Great Blue Heron at Dominion Arboretum.
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Another view of the Brant at Andrew Haydon Park, looking meditative.
My backlog of photos is dwindling. I would like Ottawa to please stop thunderstorming all the time so I can get out and take some more. After all, fall migration is coming!
Nothing To Hide
July 23rd, 2009
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This is a wildflower called Yellow Goat's Beard. It closes around noon (and on cloudy days), which explains, I guess, why it took me so long to see my first one :-)
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