Not What it Seems!

Despite initial impressions, the "thing" on the leaf (above) is actually the caterpillar of an Eastern Giant Swallowtail.

Straight-on head shot of the same caterpillar: If you enlarge the photo and use your imagination, 2 eyes, a nose and a mouth display a sad face but they are just marks on the body of the caterpillar. The actual head is the much smaller dark "ball" touching the leaf surface.

I found a second caterpillar! The 3 leaflets of the Hoptree are visible in the photo. The Common Hoptree is a species at risk and is limited to SW Ontario. Some young trees were planted in Canatara a few years ago. "If you plant it, they will come!"

The Eastern Giant Swallowtail is North America's largest butterfly with a wingspan up to 113 mm. (photo taken last year)

A Great Spangled Fritillary continues to fly in Canatara.

Hackberry Emperor! This is a first for me in Sarnia and possibly a first for Canatara Park! 

Silver-spotted Skippers are commonly found in the meadow, but I don't usually look down on them. This individual was nectaring on sweet ground clover.

I saw my first Canada Goose goslings of the year in Canatara this week. Several nests had apparently been predated earlier this spring by raccoons, however one family managed to survive.