Nesting Time!

Over the past several weeks, birds have been busy preparing for the next generation. Above, a Red-winged Blackbird female carries nesting material. She will weave a cup-like nest with grasses, suspended in and supported by plant material, often within the cattails.

Common Grackles typically nest high in coniferous trees between two vertical limbs or on a horizontal branch. They build a bulky cup made of twigs, leaves, and grasses and will use bits of paper, string, cloth, and corn husks. The female does most of the work and reinforces the nest cup with mud before lining it with fine grasses and horse hair.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Common_Grackle/life history

A Flycatcher (sp) high in a tree, sitting on her nest.

A Baltimore Oriole sits above the beginnings of a nest.  Males will bring material to the female, but the female does all the work in weaving the structure. The nest is built in three stages: First, the female weaves an outer bowl of flexible fibers to provide support. Next, springy fibers are woven into an inner bowl which maintains the bag-like shape of the nest. Finally, she adds a soft lining of downy fibers and feathers to cushion the eggs and young.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Baltimore_Oriole/lifehistory

We watched a female American Redstart building her nest at the Pinery. It looks complete but she was flying in and out, preparing the finishing touches!

Common Grackles have been collecting insects and grubs to feed their already hatched young. There are 2 dragonflies in the beak of the bird in the lower picture.

While on a birding tour at McGregor Point Provincial Park this week, we found a Brown Creeper nest, tucked up high, under a loose piece of bark on a dead Ash tree! The bottom of the nest was just barely visible to us. The female takes a week or two to build the nest, while the male helps by bringing nesting material. She builds the frame of the nest by layering twigs and strips of bark. She uses insect cocoons and spider egg cases to stick those materials to each other and to the inner surface of the tree bark.

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

Two Brown Creepers are visible on the tree trunk. Food for their hungry offspring is visible in the beaks of both parents.

 Pinery - May 23, 24, 2024

While Deryl was riding his bike for his Birding Green Tour, I had my own adventures at Pinery Provincial Park.

After circumnavigating my legs 3 times, a very new and fresh Eastern Tiger Swallowtail finally posed for a photo!

Dusted Skippers are rare residents in Ontario, mostly restricted to the dunes in Pinery Provincial Park and North Lambton. They were plentiful during my visit.

The ROM Field Guide to Butterflies of Ontario, Peter W. Hall et al, 2014

I unexpectedly found 2 Mottled Duskywings, simply while walking along the roadside. This species had been extirpated from the Pinery and a reintroduction program was initiated in 2021. It was a thrill to see this new (to me) species!

Another unexpected occurrence was learning that I had shared a washroom with a Milk Snake. I wasn't aware of its presence since it was curled up behind the garbage can and was only 8 inches long. Cleaning staff found and removed it, but after they left, I watched it slither right back into the washroom, under the space below the door.

Giant Leopard Moth - also evicted from washroom building.

Many sizes and colours of fish could be seen in the water including this Pumpkinseed! It is a member of the sunfish family.

A Snapping Turtle lurked at the water's surface along the Riverside Trail.

Green Year Hotspot Tour!

Deryl is continuing his Green Birding year in 2024. On May 23/24th, he cycled 184 km from home, through North Lambton, Grand Bend and back. (He also hiked 15 km along some trails.) A few of the highlights are shown below. To read his full trip report check out this link: 

https://ebird.org/tripreport/244439

Riding through Pinery Provincial Park.

20 Dunlin were spotted at Ipperwash Beach.

Purple Martins on private property by Ipperwash Beach.

Turkey Vultures, Ipperwash Beach

 

Sandhill Crane at L. Lake in Port Franks.

No colts were visible.

Great Blue Heron, Riverside Drive, Port Franks.

Bald Eagle cruising low along water channel as it passed by Riverside Trail in Pinery Provincial Park.

Eastern Phoebes continue to nest along the Riverside Trail.

Prairie Warbler, Dunes Beach, Pinery.

Clay-coloured Sparrow, Klondyke Sports Park, outside of Grand Bend.

Ausable River Cut Conservation Area

 Night Life!

We have made a few attempts in the past month to find moths in our backyard and elsewhere. With sunset times being earlier at this time of year, we aren't staying up quite as late. However we will find more species as we get closer to the summer solstice and warmer weather. Below is a selection of some of the interesting moths that have come to the light!

The Harnessed Tiger Moth was extremely active near the light and took awhile to settle down on the sheet. The closed wings were hiding the bright colours of the body. (below)

The bright underside of the Harnessed Tiger Moth was visible when the moth was at its most active.

When I noticed this Plain Plume Moth on the back of the lawn chair, I knew I needed to get a ruler. It was larger than most Plume Moths that we find.

Ipsilon Dart Moth

Red-fringed Emerald

Straight-lined Plagodis Moth

Variable Carpet Moth

Bicoloured Woodgrain Moth

Bristly Cutworm Moth

Curved-toothed Geometer Moth

 Blackwell Trails - Wings!

Silvery Blues were abundant on a morning walk at Blackwell Trails! This species has been expanding its range southwestward in Ontario and has just been found in Sarnia in the past few years. 

The ROM Field Guide to butterflies of Ontario, Peter W. Hall, et al.

The very round circles, ringed in white on the underwing, help to identify the Silvery Blue.

One even landed on my wet shoe!!

Juvenal's Duskywing: This individual was one of 18 that we saw. In total, we viewed 56 butterflies, representing 9 species!

Orange Sulphur

The Argus Tortoise Beetle is one of the largest beetles native to North America. It resembles a turtle in shape with the colouring of a ladybug. They over winter at the adult stage.

https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/216654-Chelymorpha-cassidea

Near the parking area was a Mallard Hen and 2 ducklings.

 Long Point Provincial Park:

View of the wetlands, looking towards Long Point Bay.

Summer Tanager, female - an exciting find for our visit!

This species breeds well south of the Great Lakes but individuals visit Ontario every year.

Purple Martin housing

Eastern Kingbird 

Cedar Waxwing snacking on Highbush Cranberries. 

3,000 Cedar Waxwings were reported that morning.

Reminder sign to watch for wildlife on the road.

We did our part when my friend spotted a Blandings Turtle in the park crossing the road. She moved it to the edge, being sure to take it in the direction it was headed.