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!