August Wildlife near Petrolia:

Great Spangled Fritillaries hanging out on Purple Cone Flower.

Snapping Turtle lurking in the pond and keeping an eye on me!

2 large Snapping Turtles surfaced and dove while swimming in the pond. They did not approach each other while I watched.

Tiger Swallowtail

The Wandering Glider is considered to be the most widespread dragonfly on earth with populations on every continent except Antarctica. They make an annual multigenerational journey of 18,000 km. Individuals have been known to fly 6,000 km!

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/108344-Pantala-flavescens

Juvenile Green Heron

Green Heron's could be seen and heard flying around Henderson C.A. One chose a Spruce tree to take a well-camouflaged rest. I probably wouldn't have noticed it if I hadn't watch it land at the top. Although they are known to nest in Spruce trees, there was no sign of a nest in the tree. This particular location was a little too close to a roadway.

 Bumblebee Watch!

We returned to Pinery Provincial Park for another Bumblebee Survey on August 25th.

After capturing each bumblebee, placing it in a vial and then on ice to slow it down, we were able to take a closer look at the bees. Each individual was photographed at different angles and then allowed to fly away from the same area it was captured. The data was submitted to Bumblebee Watch. BumbleBeeWatch.org

Sometimes the Bumblebees came to us! (Tiny speck on the net.) A simple flip of the net had it contained.

Getting a close-up!

A raised leg means, "get back, you're too close!"

Possibly a Brown-belted Bumblebee

Bumblebees weren't the only things we saw. This is a pair of mating End Band Net-winged Beetles.

A recently emerged Monarch still clinging to the remnants of her chrysalis!

 Eight-legged Friends!

This was my first siting of the beautiful Orchard Orbweaver which can be found from southern Canada to Columbia. It is distinctively coloured with leaf-green legs and sides. The underside of the cephalothorax (fused head and thorax) is spotted with yellow and black; the top is silvery with brown and black streaks. Some individuals display neon yellow, orange or red spots on the rear of the abdomen.

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/53467-Leucauge-venusta

The web is often horizontally displayed with the spider hanging down in the centre.

A close up of the spider revealed a prism of colour in some of the web strands!

A Grass Spider hanging out in his "hidey hole", ready to grab unsuspecting prey that get too close.

Lined Orbweaver

An Orbweaver made a web which joined my car to the roof of our house. Although back lit, the location provided a great view of the spider racing along the web strands, securing many insects that became trapped in the web.

Video of a very active spider catching insects above my driveway!

 Beach Birds!

Deryl has had some success in finding migrating birds by heading early to Canatara beach  before beach walkers flush the birds away. 

The common name of the Bonapart's Gull honours Charles Lucien Bonaparte, a cousin of Napoleon Bonaparte who made important contributions to American ornithology during the 1820's.

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

Red-necked Phalarope: Phalaropes reverse the usual sex roles in birds - Females are larger and more colourful than males. Females take the lead in courtship and males are left to incubate the eggs and care for the young. (This bird was not found at the beach, but at the lagoons.)

https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/red-necked-phalarope

Nonbreeding Sanderlings often stay on their wintering grounds along the Gulf Coast through the summer. They save energy by avoiding the long trip to the Arctic nesting grounds. This individual had stopped for a rest and some food on Canatara beach while migrating south for the winter.

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

Semipalmated Plovers are visual hunters. They run a few steps, pause, and then lunge at prey on the ground, grabbing smaller prey or pulling at worms much like Robins.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Semipalmated_Plover/id

The Semipalmated Sandpiper gets its common name from the short webs between its toes. ("palmated" means webbed.)

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

The White-rumped Sandpiper has one of the longest migration routes of any American bird, from Arctic Canada to southern South America. Southbound migrants fly over the Atlantic Ocean, then gradually move southeast along the coast before turning inland to cross the Amazon basin. The trip takes about a month.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/White-rumped_Sandpiper/overview

 Primrose Moths and other Favourites!

My first find of the beautiful Primrose Moth!

The Primrose Moth is a member of the owlet moth family. The larvae feed on primrose plants; adults do not feed. During the day, the adults hide in partially closed flower heads. It looks as if they crash landed head-first into the flowers! 

https://www.mothidentification.com/primrose-moth.htm

I was delighted to find 2 moths on the same Primrose plant in Canatara Park. Since they lay their eggs on Primrose plants, I will be watching this plant for larva!

Monarchs Mating

Harvestman meets Skipper. The butterfly was still safe after I took this photo!

Beautiful Wood-nymph larva found in Canatara Park on Aug. 19

Beautiful Wood-nymph Adult, (Midnight Moth Madness, July 7th.) The multi-coloured appearance of the adult resembles bird droppings which helps it to avoid predators. When found resting on a leaf, the moth is easily overlooked as a pile of excrement!

https://www.insectidentification.org/insect-description.php?identification=Beautiful-Wood-Nymph-Moth

'X' marks the spot! (Notice the 'X' under the bird.) Looks like the herons have marked their favourite fishing spot!

 Bugs on People!

Although these creatures aren't "True Bugs" by definition, they do "bug us" at times!

A Katydid (sp) perched on Allanah’s shoulder during one of our moth nights.

A Narrow-winged Damselfly (sp) hitched a ride on my pants.

West Indigo Duskywing took a break on Deryl's bike tire, while Deryl was also on a break.

Clover Hayworm on a hand during a moth night

Can't escape dragonflies while gardening and weeding.

Female Common Whitetail taking a break on Deryl's shirt.

Tortricid Leafroller Moth (sp) larva. Since I first viewed it on my camera strap, I don't have host plant information to help with species identification.

Very fresh Pearl Crescent on Deryl's hand.

 Recent Favourites:

My first Fiery Skipper of the season on August 3rd, which may have been the first in the county for 2023. This is the time of year when some species that bred further south, migrate northward.

As I watched this pair of Silver-spotted Skippers, a Black-capped Chickadee swooped down and ate one of them. Prior to the interruption, there had been some rapid wing fluttering which tends to occur prior to mating.

Large black beetle, possibly a Rough Hermit Beetle. It surprised us by flying and landing on a nearby tree.

A Meadowhawk and Harvestman having a "stare down".

Red-eyed Vireo holding an insect in its beak. Because the bird flew and didn't eat the insect, it was probably being saved for some young birds nearby.

Virginia Tiger Moths mating.

Well camouflaged Harvestman!

Ghost Pipe, Elgin County: Unlike most other plants, this species does not produce chlorophyll and as a result, is completely white. It relies on a large network of roots and fungi to "steal" energy from surrounding plants.

https://www.natureconservancy.ca/en/what-we-do/resource-centre/featured-species/plants/ghost-pipe.html