An "Inside" Thing With Wings!

I found an adult Grapevine Epimenis Moth fluttering in the basement after "day dreaming" about spring on my morning walk. It is only 2 cm wide and is uncommon in Ontario. No idea how it got inside. They emerge from March to May and since we have grapevine growing on one side of the house, I'll be watching for its siblings!

A caterpillar that probably wished he was inside is this Ruby Tiger Moth. I watched it crawl across a snowy trail at Wawanosh Wetlands yesterday.

A Black-capped Chickadee vigorously attacked some Burdock Seed heads at Wawanosh Wetlands. Burdock seeds can be very difficult to remove from clothing and hair. The little Chickadee was likely hoping to find the larva of the Burdock Seedhead Moth which overwinters in the seed head of Burdock. The larva will pupate in the spring and emerge as an adult moth.

Canada Geese have been gathering in large numbers as spring approaches.

17 Northern Pintails were found at Suncor Trail last week. I was happy to find 3 of them! When it comes to breeding, this species starts nesting as soon the ice begins to thaw, arriving by late April in places as far north as the Northwest Territories! (The Cornell Lab, All About Birds)

A lone male Long-tailed Duck swam close to the edge of the St Clair River as I walked along the path. He popped up several times giving me a few opportunities to take his picture! These birds can feed as deep as 200 feet, swimming with their wings, catching invertebrates and small fish! (The Cornell Lab, All About Birds.)