Mussel Mania!

We stopped at several locations along the Sydenham River in a search for mussels. Water levels were low at the time, and all specimens were deceased along the river bank. After photographing for identification purposes, all shells were left at each site.

The Sydenham watershed is a refuge for mussels; it supports 34 mussel species and is the most mussel diverse watershed in Canada. Mussels native to the Sydenham all belong to the family of river mussels Unionidae. They come in an astonishing array of shapes, sizes, colours and textures. They can be round and inflated or narrow and elongated; as small as your thumbnail or as large as your hand. Their colours range from a rich, chestnut brown to bright yellow with lime green rays. Their shells can have bumps that look like warts or they can have smooth, satiny ridges.

https://www.sydenhamriver.on.ca/sydenham-sar/mussels/

A probable Brown-lipped Snail "cruised" along the edge of a mussel shell. 

Deertoe Mussel: Many angles are required to photograph mussel shells and properly identify them. The outer and inner sides are shown for these mussels. We identified 10 different species.

Purple Wartyback

Rainbow Mussel

The flats at the edge of the river were covered in tiny shells.

Many raccoon tracks dented the mud: Mussels are an important source of food for raccoons.

Northern Clearwater Crayfish, deceased and very stinky!!

We also found a variety of colourful snail shells. 

 The Ausable River Valley!

Life on the forest floor!

Yellow-spotted Salamanders breed in early spring, often while there is still ice on ponds. Females lay up to 250 eggs and attach the egg mass to submerged vegetation. Adults are terrestrial carnivores that eat a variety of insects and other invertebrates, such as worms and slugs.

https://ontarionature.org/programs/community-science/reptile-amphibian-atlas/spotted-salamander/

Vernal pools (created each year from melting snow and spring rains) are critical for the development of the next generation of salamanders.

Eastern Red-back Salamander

Cross-breeding within the Ambystoma Species Complex makes it difficult to positively identify this salamander.

Earthworm (sp.) Salamander food!

Typical Leafhopper - I was surprised to find an adult leaf hopper this early in the season. After 2 photos, it quickly dropped to the forest floor and disappeared under the leaves.

Virginia Ctenucha Moth caterpillar: Adults are common in the warm months. This is the first time I have found it at the larval stage.

A Millipede (sp) was found on the underside of a stick. - A good spot to hide from hungry salamanders!

Spring Fishfly

Owl Pellet found under a cedar tree. Likely from a Screech or Saw-whet Owl.

Bones hidden within the owl pellet, including the skull and jawbone, show the owl dined on a tiny rodent, possibly a Shrew.

A First Bluebird and other Canatara life!

I found my first Eastern Bluebird of the year! The brilliant blue back caught my attention as it flew past and luckily stopped nearby. It was then chased away by an American Goldfinch and I lost track of it.

A dozen Canvasback continue to frequent Lake Chipican. They are diving ducks, seldom going ashore to dry land. They sleep on the water with their bill tucked under the wing, and nest on floating mats of vegetation.

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

Several gulls, including this immature Ring-billed Gull searched the debris that washed up on the Lake Huron shoreline for treasures such as dead fish, mollusks and other edibles.

A pair of unlikely friends: A female Mallard and female Hooded Merganser have been hanging out together for the past week in Lake Chipican. The Hooded Merganser kept a close eye on the Mallard as she fluffed her feathers.

Soon after, the Hooded Merganser completed her own preening routine on a log.

Northern Flickers spend more time on the ground searching for food than most other Woodpeckers. They drill their beak into the earth to find hiding insects. Mud is visible on the beak of this Northern Flicker!

 March Birds!

There was lots of activity in Canatara Park this week! Birds have been singing as they establish territory and search for mates. Some species such as this Common Grackle have started collecting twigs for nest building!

The Northern Flicker is one of the few North American woodpeckers that is strongly migratory. Most flickers in the northern parts of their range move south for the winter

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

Downy Woodpeckers (and other species) stay during our southern Ontario winters.

Eastern Phoebes are showing up in Canatara Park again. In 1804, an Eastern Phoebe became the first banded bird in North America. John James Audubon attached silvered thread to an Eastern Phoebe's leg to track its return in successive years.

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

American Goldfinches are unusual among goldfinches because they moult their body feathers twice a year; once in late winter and again in late summer. The brightening yellow of male goldfinches each spring is a welcome sign of approaching warmer weather!

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

Every year there is at least one Canada Goose that needs to check out the roof for nesting possibilities!

American Robins continue to dine on Multiflora Rose bush Rosehips

A pair of Black-capped Chickadees checked me out from above. 

 Lake Huron Beach Walk!

Friday morning hosted a pretty sunrise over Lake Huron with lots of silhouetted Gulls! 

After the sun rose, other birds, including a pair of Mute Swans made appearances.

The bill of the Northern Shoveler is very large and is shaped like a shovel. It has about 110 fine projections (called lamellae) along the edges that act like a colander, filtering out tiny crustaceans, seeds, and aquatic invertebrates from the water. They are normally found in wetlands but this pair was likely taking a migration break while hanging out with some Mallards on Lake Huron.

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

Red-breasted Mergansers in flight

Canada Goose taking a water break!

When one Gull catches a fish, other gulls want in on the action!

A very proud Ring-billed Gull strutted along the sand with his prized Goby before eventually swallowing it.

Several Gulls were feasting on mussel shells at the water's edge. The cluster of shells in this photo are likely Quagga Mussels, which are a sub species of Zebra Mussels. Both mussels are invasive to the Great Lakes and are native to Eastern Europe.

A migrating Killdeer took a break along the shoreline!  Killdeer are not normally associated with large bodies of water. They are well-known for living on dry habitats, but the Killdeer is actually a proficient swimmer! Adults swim well in swift-flowing water, and chicks can swim across small streams! (It didn't step into Lake Huron on my watch!)

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

Crashing Waves

Lots of track activity was visible on the sandy beach. A few Wild Turkeys had recently walked to the water's edge for a drink of water.

Water is essential to life. A set of unknown animal tracks, with a curvy dragging tail, walked to the lake for a drink. (Update: They are probably Muskrat tracks.)

I wasn't the only one walking along the beach. For a short stretch, a pair of Mallards joined me!