Things with wings have been difficult to photograph lately, so here are a few "wingless things" that caught my eye.

The Baie Comeau is a self-discharging bulk carrier built in 2012/2013. The photo was taken just as it was about to leave Lake Huron and enter the St. Clair River. A self-unloader is a vessel with a bulk material handling system onboard, which allows unloading at any terminal with a minimum of receiving facilities.

https://www.lionbulkhandling.com/self-discharging-ships/

Bright sunshine highlighted the trees in Canatara Park with dark clouds approaching from Michigan in the background.

Some recent cool mornings tinged the leaves with an edging of frost.

Plants such as Common Viper's-Bugloss were continuing to bloom mid-November when growing in sheltered areas. 

As winter draws nearer, everyone is getting ready for the cold months, including Pearl the Squirrel!

There was a traffic jam at the back door!  All 4 squirrels eventually entered the tree hole. Squirrels prefer to nest in trees about 20 feet up and either build a nest between two branches or find a hollowed area such as in the above photo. They tend to have multiple nests for hiding from predators and storing their nuts.

Last Maple leaf clinging to the tree!

 Odds and Ends of November:

Throughout my travels in Lambton County, I discovered a variety of new (to me) species.

I noticed an odd circular "flower" in North Lambton. It is a species of False Earthstar fungi (Astraeus smithii) and was described as new to science in 2013! The fungus is found on the ground at forest edges and open areas. 

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/827187-Astraeus-smithii

Along the same trail, spiders were scurrying away including this "Drumming Sword Wolf Spider." I had to laugh at the name as I saw neither a sword nor a drum! It can be found in ground-level plants and leaves, particularly in woodlands and gardens. It makes no shelter and prefers to move from one area to another as long as there are leaves and plants to hide behind. https://thepetenthusiast.com/wolf-spiders-in-michigan/

Although most insects are difficult to find in the colder months, some signs of life from the summer past can be found, including this Cicada Exoskeleton. The adult Cicada left it behind when it emerged into adulthood with wings.

Redhead Ducks doing a fly-by in the early morning sun.

We've been paying close attention to fruit bearing trees such as Crabapples. Due to low food supplies in Northern Ontario, many Finch Species are heading further south for the winter. I found a few American Robins but we continue to hope that Bohemian Waxwings and Pine Grosbeaks will stop by for a feast.

Early November sunrise reflected on the sandy beach.

 Fall Birds!

In the fall, Cedar Waxwings can gather by the hundreds to eat berries, filling the air with high, thin, whistles. The name "waxwing" comes from the waxy red secretions found on the tips of the secondaries of some birds. The red wax tips are visible in the bottom bird.
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Cedar_Waxwing/overview

On a recent visit to Pinery Provincial Park, we found 7 Bohemian Waxwings hanging out with a flock of 50+ Cedar Waxwings! They regularly flew from the tree edges to puddles in a parking lot. Notice the rusty undertail which is a key diagnostic factor. Cedar Waxwings are white under the tail.

Ring-billed Gull scouting the shoreline for breakfast.

Gull tracks on the sandy beach.

Brown Creepers search for small insects and spiders by inching upward in a spiral around the trunks and limbs. They move with short, jerky motions, using their stiff tails for support. To move to a new tree, they fly weakly to its base and resume climbing up.

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

The last migrating Great Egret that I saw in Canatara Park on November 1st.

 Feeding the Birds at Pinery:

Black-capped Chickadee, patiently waiting his turn.

Tufted Titmouse, wondering when it will be his turn.

Sometimes the birds wait patiently.

Other times, chaos ensues. There is definitely a pecking order for feeding!

White-breasted Nuthatch

Nevertheless, it is a joy to feed these tiny creatures while connecting with nature!

 Things With Wings in November: 

Depending on their size, woodpeckers can peck 18-22 times per second at a force of 1,200-1,400 g's. Their small brain in relation to the skull size, and strong upper bill help them to absorb the impact of hammering without getting a headache. This Downy Woodpecker was quietly tapping for insects on the tree branch. https://www.birdsadvice.com/do-woodpeckers-get-headaches/ 

Blue-phased Snow Goose: A Canada Goose checks out the odd coloured goose that has joined the crowd!

Deryl found a Coopers Hawk eating lunch in Canatara.

Mallard Drakes showing off their colourful heads on a sunny day.

Waterfalls discovered at Short Hills Provincial Park in the Niagara region on a recent adventure.

Nature in November! 

I was intrigued by the inverted reflection of the forest in water drops on tree buds this week!

Signs of colder weather abound!

A rainbow formed in the crashing waves by the Point Edward lighthouse this week.

Green and yellow can make a striking pattern!

One more reflection!

  Insects in our Warm November:

The warm November temperatures extended the growing period of some flowering plants. Insects such as this Ailanthus Webworm Moth were able to find nectar on Thistle.

One of the most abundant "bee mimics" to be found recently is the Common Drone Fly. A dozen could be found in some Canatara Park gardens.

Notice the green tube in the middle of the photo: The larvae of Pine Tube Moths feed on White Pine needles. Young larvae spin silk and tie 5-20 needles together to form a tube. The larvae live within this tube. When the tube walls have been mostly eaten, the larvae will abandon their tubes and begin constructing new ones. The species overwinters in the pupal stage within the tube.

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/214161-Argyrotaenia-pinatubana

A tiny insect that I have not been able to identify has made a cozy cocoon on a Grey Dogwood twig. It was 1.5 cm in length.

The recent warm weather has not been kind to trees. A Flowering Dogwood thought spring had arrived and I found buds opening on November 15th. Next year's leaves started to grow last summer and require protection inside the buds during the winter. The emerging leaves are no longer safe from the elements and will not survive the winter. 

 A Grand Day at the Bend!

The winds were forecast to be from the North-west, making it a good day to check for Jaegers off the Grand Bend Beach. The Jaegers didn't agree with our thinking and we didn't find any. Jaegers are fast flying relatives of gulls. Outside of the breeding season, they spend their time on open water harassing other birds for food. 

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

Ring-billed Gulls enjoyed playing in the waves. 

Many Bonaparte's Gulls show casing their winter plumage, were in the area. We also were fortunate to find a Little Gull which was a little too distant for my camera. The Little Gull is a coastal bird that can sometimes be found on the Great Lakes during migration.

Despite being lulled by the rocking of the waves, this female Harlequin Duck kept one eye open as she watched us on shore.

Wind art on the sandy beach.