Highlights from the Burnt Lands (part 1)
August 15th, 2016
My latest new venture in nature-watching is the Burnt Lands alvar, a non-operating provincial park out in Almonte. An alvar, as I mentioned a few posts back, is a limestone plain with shallow soil. While most of eastern North America is naturally dominated by forest (the parts we haven't developed, that is), alvars create a more prairie or savannah-like ecosystem. Since this is a rare ecosystem here, rare flora and fauna are often to be found. The Burnt Lands have some startlingly rare orchids and other treasures besides. I plan to go back often this summer and fall and next spring and see what I can find.
This is Hairy Beardtongue, a wildflower somewhat characteristic of alvars. I've never seen it elsewhere in Ottawa. I became excited afterwards when I learned that this flower is a larval host for Baltimore Checkerspot, a gorgeous butterfly that I have yet to see. I'm probably too late for it this year, but next June I'll be looking!
1680x1050 wallpaper
Mating Aphrodite Fritillaries. These beauties are overall rather rare in our area, but common in the Burnt Lands. The photo didn't capture it, but those pale spots on their undersides actually gleamed silver in the sunlight.
Mosaic Darner, wallpaper available
ETA: Thanks to Gillian for pointing out that this is specifically a Variable Darner ("Mosaic Darner" is a general term for dragonflies of the genus aeshna, that's all I was sure of when I posted.) That makes it a lifer dragonfly for me!
A pair of Milkweed Bugs on their favorite plant. They had just mated.
August 15th, 2016
My latest new venture in nature-watching is the Burnt Lands alvar, a non-operating provincial park out in Almonte. An alvar, as I mentioned a few posts back, is a limestone plain with shallow soil. While most of eastern North America is naturally dominated by forest (the parts we haven't developed, that is), alvars create a more prairie or savannah-like ecosystem. Since this is a rare ecosystem here, rare flora and fauna are often to be found. The Burnt Lands have some startlingly rare orchids and other treasures besides. I plan to go back often this summer and fall and next spring and see what I can find.
This is Hairy Beardtongue, a wildflower somewhat characteristic of alvars. I've never seen it elsewhere in Ottawa. I became excited afterwards when I learned that this flower is a larval host for Baltimore Checkerspot, a gorgeous butterfly that I have yet to see. I'm probably too late for it this year, but next June I'll be looking!
1680x1050 wallpaper
Mating Aphrodite Fritillaries. These beauties are overall rather rare in our area, but common in the Burnt Lands. The photo didn't capture it, but those pale spots on their undersides actually gleamed silver in the sunlight.
Mosaic Darner, wallpaper available
ETA: Thanks to Gillian for pointing out that this is specifically a Variable Darner ("Mosaic Darner" is a general term for dragonflies of the genus aeshna, that's all I was sure of when I posted.) That makes it a lifer dragonfly for me!
A pair of Milkweed Bugs on their favorite plant. They had just mated.
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Mike
August 15th, 2016 at 8:35 pm
Nice... I really like the dragonfly.
Hopefully you'll catch some of the neat rarities there!
mustangsallie
August 17th, 2016 at 3:12 pm
Love that butterfly shot!
Gillian
August 21st, 2016 at 7:09 am
Hi Suzanne,
I wonder if that dragonfly is a Variable Darner? The stripe on the side of the thorax looks pinched in the middle, which is characteristic of that species. I haven't seen that species in Ottawa yet. Cheers!
Suzanne
August 21st, 2016 at 7:24 am
Hi Gillian,
It could be, the Burnt Lands park is known for harboring rare insects due to its unusual habitat! I'm afraid I've already deleted the other photos I have of this ode (and anyway, they all show it from pretty much the same vantage.)
I've posted a full-resolution crop of the side of the thorax on Facebook, perhaps that can resolve the question.