Port Colborne

Day 2 of House/Cat Sitting: Saturday was spent exploring areas near Port Colborne. Our first stop was at Mud Lake.

This Solitary Sandpiper was the only shorebird I was able to photograph, however both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs were distantly visible. Blue-winged and Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon, Wood Duck and Mallard were some of the duck species we added to our bird list.

We counted 25 Great Egrets clustered at one end of Mud Lake! They will be heading south for the winter soon.!

It was a beautiful fall hike, but the 3.1 km walking trail didn't give us many views of the wetland.

Great Blue Heron at the "lookout"! He had a wetland view!!

The dry summer season has all but dried up the bog so we didn't find any wetland birds. However, we did learn some interesting history about the property.

The property had been used as a Prisoner of War Camp for German Soldiers during World War II. They were put to work harvesting Peat when European supplies of peat were cut off. Peat was used as a fuel source at the time.

A narrow gauge railway line was used to transport peat more efficiently out of the bog to processing plants. Remnants of the track and other buildings can still be found on the property.

Song Sparrow

Rapid movement in the goldenrod exposed some ongoing predator/prey activity. The spider quickly secured the insect by wrapping it in silk, as the grasshopper continued to "fight back". Once satisfied that the prey wasn't going to escape, the spider waited off to the side until the grasshopper stopped struggling.

A birder who we met at the Wainfleet Bog recommended visiting Morgan's Point. The bedrock shoal, sand dunes, tall grass meadow, woodlot and open areas lend to the site's importance as a stopover for migrating birds and butterflies.

Looking out at Lake Erie from Morgan's Point.

Several Black Saddlebags cruised above us in the air. I was happy when one landed on a nearby perch.

After leaving Morgan's Point, we noticed unexpected activity in the air. Several parachutes could be seen as they slowly drifted down to ground level. There is a skydiving centre nearby. 

Wainfleet Wetlands Conservation Area: A former quarry naturalized into a wetland with a hiking trail around the ridge.

Views of the former quarry.

A short portion of the quarry trail was roadside and we had to cross the road to stay out of the way of the horses and the dust they kicked up.

Leopard Frog in the quarry basin.

Lock at Port Colborne - Luckily we weren't delayed by any bridge closures from freighters passing through the Welland Canal system.

 Crystal Beach

While house sitting nearby, we explored Crystal Beach on Lake Erie, away from the crowds of the swimming area. A migrating Black-bellied Plover was a highlight of the visit.

Black-bellied Plover: Plovers as a group spend much of their lives on the ground, running along beaches and flats in search of food. This individual did a lot of running!! They eat invertebrates including insects, worms, crustaceans and mollusks which they pick or pull from muddy or sandy ground. They are also known to pick insects off low vegetation.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Black-bellied_Plover/overview

Double-crested Cormorants have less preening oil than other birds, so their feathers can get soaked.  Water doesn't "roll off" as it does on a duck's back. The wet feathers probably make it easier for cormorants to hunt and swim underwater with agility and speed.

https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Double-crested_Cormorant/overview

Ring-billed Gull and reflection.

We enjoyed a few hours meandering the trails of this 70 acre, reclaimed natural area. The park is located on former farmland which was donated to the town of Fort Erie.

Constructed Chimney Swift chimney for summertime roosting.

Clouded Sulphur - very few butterflies were found.

We watched a lot of aerial/bug hunting activity by several different dragonfly species. This Common Green Darner female was the only individual that settled in place for a photo.

Eastern Tailed Blue laying eggs.

Bluebird box in a field that would support the many insects needed to feed young Eastern Bluebirds during nesting season.

Shagbark Hickory - (Namesake tree for the property.) Sweet tasting Shagbark Hickory nuts are a favourite food of squirrels. A variety of other mammals and birds eat hickory nuts including chipmunks and black bears. (although Black Bears are not found in the area.)

https://www.ontario.ca/page/shagbark-hickory

Our next stop was at the Stevensville Conservation Area, a passive recreational area where visitors can experience a forest, meandering creek and wetlands. This C.A. and all others that we visited over the 2 days had no entrance fees.

Laurel Sphinx, hiding in plain sight!! I'm glad I took a second look at the leaf!

We carefully rotated the leaf to get a better view of the Laurel Sphinx. Notice the blue "horn" at the back end of the body.

Viceroy sunning on a Common Milkweed leaf: This individual, although already mimicking the colour and pattern of Monarch butterflies, seems to be reinforcing the perception that it is a Monarch by sitting on the Monarch's host plant!

I photographed a slightly different angle and got some interesting detail that I don't typically see on the Hickory Tussock Moth caterpillar.

 Mid-September Things....

So many obstacles on the forest floor for critters like this Hickory Tussock Moth caterpillar to navigate around! 

Some Warblers are making appearances, including this Common Yellowthroat who was hunting for bugs in a tree.

Eight Northern Flickers were searching for grubs in the grass. As I approached the field edge, they flew into nearby trees. Ground level may not be where you would expect to find a woodpecker, but Flickers eat mainly ants and beetles, digging for them with their slightly curved bill.

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

The Argus Tortoise Beetle is one of the largest Tortoise beetles native to North America. They are named because of the rounded, shield-like shell that covers their wings and bodies, just like a tortoise shell!

https://spiderzoon.com/insects/types-of-tortoise-beetles/

The Clavate Tortoise Beetle is usually found in places where wild Nightshade plants grow (fields, forests, roadsides and sometimes gardens.) Clavate Tortoise Beetles also have a clear protective shield! They like warm areas and are mostly active during the spring and summer months.  

https://spiderzoon.com/insects/types-of-tortoise-beetles/

Jewelweed seed pods are ripening. If the seed pods are touched when plump, the seeds inside will burst from their pod. Like burrs that stick to our clothes, and dandelion fluff that blows in the wind, explosive dispersal of Jewelweed pods is another form of moving seeds away from the parent plant.

An alternate name for Jewelweed is Spotted Touch-me-not. The coiled shapes of several pods are resting on the leaf. The coils help the seeds to spring away. The juice from jewelweed stems contains a compound called lawsone which can bring relief from itching due to poison ivy, mosquito bites, and even stinging nettle!

https://nativeplantgardener.ca/spotted-jewelweed/

Greater Anglewing....a species of Katydid. Their green colour helps these insects to blend in with their leafy surroundings. This individual landed at my feet while I was standing still.

The Locust Borer is a member of the Longhorn Beetle family. The black and yellow markings may help to keep predators away as at a quick glance it looks like a wasp or hornet. There is a distinct 'W' on the wing coverings which helps with identification.

https://extension.umaine.edu/home-and-garden-ipm/fact-sheets/common-name-listing/locust-borer/

With fewer people on the beach, Ring-billed Gulls have been "partying" in the sand.

I often find spider webs "stacked" upon one another. I wonder if it is extra security for one spider, or perhaps an intruding spider has chosen to build overtop of a resident spider's web to intercept the prized food???

Several Monarchs have been taking a well deserved rest at the beach after crossing lake Huron on their southwardly journey to Mexico!