Northward Bound!

We headed to the Bancroft area last week. We wanted to explore the Canadian Shield and find insects and other life not found in southern Ontario. The Canadian Shield spreads across eastern and central Canada, including parts of Quebec, Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta, the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. It also reaches into the northern parts of the United States. The region resembles a horseshoe shape that wraps around Hudson Bay. It's rocky hills and irregular basins are often filled with lakes and swamps. The Shield consists mostly of boreal forests which are full of coniferous trees including spruce and pine.

https://kids.kiddle.co/Canadian_Shield

Four-spotted Skimmer: A stop at a picnic area in North Kawartha provided a break from the drive and a plethora of insects, especially dragonflies. Eels Creek runs through the area providing habitat needs for many species. (And we didn't find any eels.)

Frosted Whiteface

Chalk-fronted Corporal, female

Chalk-fronted Corporal, male

Ebony Jewelwing

Hobomok Skipper

Northern Cloudywing

Tiger Swallowtail complex

Northern Leopard Frog

We arrived in Bancroft mid-afternoon and took the time to visit Eagle's Nest Trails! Several hiking trails are available to explore, many with interpretive signs.

Hooded Tube Lichen

A busy spot for Pileated Woodpeckers! Sap is dripping from freshly created Pileated cavities.

Spotted Salamander

The root of Wild Sarsaparilla was used by North American First Nations people to make a bitter tea that was used to treat heart pain, stomach upset, toothache and sore throats.

https://www.manitoba.ca/agriculture/crops/crop-management/print,wild-sarsaparilla.html

Bluebead Lily will produce blue coloured berries that are very bitter and mildly toxic to humans. The berries are relished by birds and small mammals such as chipmunks. Native bees, bumble bees, butterflies, flies and beetles visit Bluebead Lily for nectar and pollen.

https://rivercitygrandrapids.wildones.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/21/2025/10/Bluebead-lily-Clintonia-borealis.pdf

Canada Mayflower

Hickey's Tree Clubmoss\

One trail unexpectedly  led us to a wetland where we found more dragonflies!

Crimson-ringed Whiteface

Crimson-ringed Whiteface in mating wheel

View from the trail, overlooking Bancroft

View from the Hawk Lookout Platform.

 The Heart of Lambton County!

Found in central Lambton County, the Marthaville Habitat Management Area is owned by the County of Lambton and managed by the St. Clair Region Conservation Authority. This gravel pit rehabilitation site includes a 3km trail around wetlands, forest and tall grass prairie.

https://www.scrca.on.ca/portfolio/marthaville-habitat-management-area/

Phragmites australis was so abundant on the property that views of the water in past years were severely obstructed. It is an aggressive plant that spreads quicky and out-competes native species for water and nutrients. It releases toxins from its roots into the soil to hinder the growth of, and kill surrounding plants. Work has been done in the past few years to reduce and remove this invasive plant.  The cut stems in the photo are all from the phragmites plant.

https://www.ontario.ca/page/phragmites-fact-sheet

Our first insect encounter included 3 Tiger Moths, and 2 of them were mating! They were easy to see against the green background of the grasses.

Emerald Spreadwing - a new species for me!

Slender Spreadwing

Dot-tailed Whiteface

Eastern Forktail

A Green Frog was lurking in the reeds, hoping to use his long tongue to catch one of the flying dragonflies!

Orchard Oriole

An Osprey was being chased by a "daring" Red-winged Blackbird.

Yellow Lady's Slippers

One of the largest Garter Snakes I have ever seen. It was likely close to 1 metre in length!

Milkweed Stem Weevil - The milky liquid from inside the plant stem is oozing out after being punctured by the weevil's long, nose-like proboscis.

Petrolia Trails

These well-marked and maintained trails can be accessed from Petrolia Line in the flats at the east end of town.

We didn't actually find the Haunted Tree. I wonder if it has fallen over?

Turkey Vulture, missing a few feathers

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

We watched a Field Sparrow fly to the ground and emerge with a green caterpillar.

It then flew into the only tree in the meadow and prepared to feed another Field Sparrow.

Raising young is hard work. A female Savannah Sparrow must gather 10 times her weight in food to feed herself and her young during the 8 days they are in the nest!

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Savannah_Sparrow/overview

 Fluttering By!

Watching butterflies can be very peaceful! Their ability to fly on windy days is truly amazing. I often wonder if they stick to a destination, or are just happy wherever the wind may blow them. The following collection shows some of the butterflies I have encountered in the past week or two.

Silvery Blue (upperwing)

Silvery Blue (Underwing)

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Giant Swallowtail

Spicebush Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail

Common Checkered Skipper

Wild Indigo Duskywings, mating.

Question Mark

Silver Spotted Skipper

Hobomok Skipper