More Things With Wings from this week...

While hiking on the deserted trails in North Lambton, I finally got a picture of a Red-breasted Nuthatch.They have been few and far between in Lambton County this year!

 Deryl photographed a Golden-crowned Kinglet that landed on the ground in front of him! They move so quickly, it can be difficult to get a crisp image.

We were treated to the bugle call of Sandhill Cranes 

again when a pair flew over L-Lake at Port Franks.  

The vocalization continued when another pair of cranes who had already 

chosen the lake as a nesting site, were alert to intruders in their territory!

Earlier in the week, Deryl visited L-Lake and saw a Kingfisher resting in a tree. 

Kingfishers have been calling in Canatara Park but I have not seen one yet this spring.

While walking along the Nature Conservancy of Canada trail beside L-Lake, we found signs of Pileated Woodpecker activity. Unfortunately we did not find the bird. The cartoon character, "Woody The Woodpecker" was designed in the likeness of the Pileated.

Pileated Woodpecker taken in March 2018

Yes, its another Chickadee picture. This one surprisingly landed on very a thorny branch!

First Butterflies of the year!

I have been watching for butterflies as I usually see a few at this time of year.

Two Mourning Cloaks were spotted during a burst of sunshine yesterday afternoon!   

This one looks like it has been in a battle, but Mourning Cloaks are considered to be one of the longest living butterflies in our climate, living an average of 10 months. Although somewhat tattered, it looks pretty good for having survived a Canadian winter!  It tucks itself into tree bark crevices and is able to make a specialized type of antifreeze to survive the frigid temperatures.  

Just down the path, a flash of orange caught my attention and I saw my second butterfly

 species of the day, an Eastern Comma! This butterfly also over winters as an adult.

When it closes its wings, it "disappears" in the surrounding foliage.

The white coloured "comma" is visible on the lower wing.

A turkey track and a deer track are visible on a muddy trail.

Pussy Willows are bursting from the buds!

Red-winged Blackbirds and other birds are singing 

to defend their territory and attract a mate.

It has been a few years since we last noticed Coopers Hawks nesting in Canatara. Earlier this week, a pair were checking out a "sub-standard" squirrels nest.  I haven't seen them back to that nest so assume they are searching for alternate real estate!

I hope you have a chance to spend some time outside while maintaining physical distance.(6 feet, the wing span of a Turkey Vulture!)  Listen for the sound of Sandhill Cranes. (a loud, rattling bugle call). I saw/heard  3 migrating flocks yesterday. Eleven cranes are visible in this photo flying over Canatara last evening.

Are you going Squirrely???

Since some of us are going "squirrely" from social distancing in these uncertain times, I thought it would be fun to share some squirrel pictures I have taken over the years.  

The only Flying Squirrel I have ever seen at Henderson Conservation Area was in 2013.  We were watching a woodpecker inspect various tree cavities.  When the woodpecker peeked into this hole, out popped a flying squirrel, wondering who had disturbed his sleep!

This pair of black squirrels were just "hanging around" as they enjoyed the morning sunshine at Springbank Park in London.

We caught this one by surprise!!  

Exeter, ON is famous for their white squirrel population, but every once in awhile one pops up in a different location.  I found this one in Wyoming, ON several years ago.  I have heard there is one in Germain Park, but have not gone looking for it.

We don't see many Red Squirrels in Lambton County. 

I always enjoy watching them at The Pinery.

A safe space to eat some berries!

We placed a stick near the backyard feeder to provide a perch for birds.  
This squirrel took advantage of his extended reach to grab some lunch.

We often think that are too many squirrels in Canatara Park.  
These 2 are contributing to the problem!

All tuckered out after a long day of chasing nuts.

Spring Has Sprung...I think.

We woke up to very mild temperatures on the first day of spring, but were soon feeling the effects of a negative 10 wind chill later in the day.  Brrrrr!

 Although I haven't been able to sneak up on any Chorus frogs yet, their singing has been deafening in the forest this week  It always make me laugh when approaching wet areas teeming with the sounds of frogs. Before I can get within 3 metres of the water, the noise stops abruptly. They must have a master chorus leader instructing when "danger" is near.  Trying to locate one is next to impossible. (These pictures are from 2018.)

Their reason for making all the racket?? To find a mate, of course!

A Wooly Bear Caterpillar decided to celebrate spring and 
St. Patty's Day.  He was on our house brick early that morning.

Snowdrops were in bloom this week in Canatara Park!

I spied a sleepy Screech Owl in a Wood Duck box on Monday.  
It wasn't quite warm enough to come out of the box that day.

Usually Praying Mantis Egg Cases are well hidden in long grasses so I was surprised

 to see this one on a small tree.  If students ever get to come on a field trip this spring, it will be an easy one to point out to an entire class. Over 100 tiny replicas of the adult will emerge around the first week of June.

I liked the reflection of this male Red-winged Blackbird.  
I haven't seen any females yet this year.

Many of our Black Bird species can actually be quite colourful in the 
right light, including this Common Grackle at a backyard bird feeder.

Another colourful, but invasive bird is the European Starling.

A male Cardinal rests in the sunshine.
Birding has been referred to as the perfect activity while practicing social distancing!  
Stay safe everyone!

It's Maple Syrup Season!

Maple Syrup season is upon us. The Alvinston Maple Syrup Festival is cancelled this year due to cautions surrounding the Coronavirus outbreak.  Tapping trees to make Maple Syrup has been been a rite of spring for hundreds of years in North-eastern North America.

Many legends help to explain the discovery of Maple Syrup. But Indigenous people may have learned about the sweet sap after observing birds and animals drinking sap from cracks in tree bark. Tasting a frozen "sapsicle" from a Sugar Maple tree can be surprisingly sweet!

  Our indigenous populations heated rocks in a fire and placed
 the hot rocks in hollowed, sap filled tree logs to evaporate water.

Sugar Maple trees are reflected in the drip of sap leaking from the spile. When sap drips from the tree it is 3% sugar, on average  The ratio of sap to syrup is 40:1. Forty litres of sap must be collected to get enough sugar to make just 1 litre of maple syrup!

Early Pioneers boiled sap to remove water through evaporation. 
Cast iron pots allowed for a hotter fire to evaporate the water and create 
a sweeter, lighter coloured syrup, as compared to the hot rock method.

Metal pails are stored in the Sugar Shack during the off season.

Many advancements have improved the quality of syrup, including the use of plastic equipment. One tap hole will produce 40 litres of sap in an average season. By counting the tap holes in a sugar bush, you can estimate how much syrup will be produced.

Tourists from around the globe have toured the A. W. Campbell Sugar Bush.

Photo Booth!

A quaint ride along the forest road.

So much steam! When sap is boiled, water evaporates 
until the sugar density is 66% sugar.

Boiling syrup for taffy

Ready to pour on ice!

Yum!!