Wild, Wild, Wetlands!

Our day began with a drive to Peers Wetland, just north of Wallaceburg. I've always enjoyed this Conservation Area but hadn't visited in quite some time.

Upon exiting the car, we could hear the musical sound of Purple Martins, congregated around a large nesting box.

We took our time as we walked around the approximately 1 km trail loop. In the photo is one of several Green Herons found hiding in the reeds.

Hickory Tussock Moth caterpillars were abundant on the oak leaves. Hickory, Walnut, Pecan and American Hornbeam are preferred hosts but they can feed on most hardwood deciduous trees. These caterpillars will use their hairs for defense. The hairs are barbed, easily detach, and can become embedded in the skin, eyes, or mucous membranes of potential predators. When they spin their cocoons, the caterpillars incorporate the hairs into the silk so that the cocoons are also protected. 

https://extension.psu.edu/hickory-tussock-moth-caterpillar

 Leaf damage from Hickory Tussock Moth caterpillars.

Poison Ivy Leaf-miner Moth: Leaf miners get their name because they eat plant material between the upper and bottom layers of a leaf. Look at the bottom of the grey tube-like area on the leaf in both photos. A small, beige larva was actively moving. The shape of the body is in a different position in the 2 photos. 

We saw several Wood Duck families, one of which likely used this box at the beginning of the nesting season.

The Compass Plant gets its name from the tendency of its large, deeply lobed basal leaves to orient themselves in a north-south plane, with their faces pointing east and west to regulate sun exposure - Nature's Own Compass!

https://plantnative.org/native-plants/compass-plant-silphium-laciniatum.htm

Female Monarch Butterfly laying eggs on Common Milkweed.

Family of Mute Swans, taking a rest.

 Trail upgrades have greatly improved the walking experience!

An interpretive sign promotes the benefits of wetlands.

A drive to Reid C.A. provided looks at some different wetland species.

Notice the tiny red/orange mite, close to the head on the Summer Azure. Parasitic mites on butterflies are external parasites that may attach to the wings, neck, eyes, legs, or abdomen and can weaken already stressed insects. A lightly affected butterfly may still fly and feed, but heavier infestations can reduce activity, damage scales, interfere with movement, and lower survival.

https://spectrumcare.pet/insects/butterfly/conditions/parasitic-mite-infestation-on-butterflies

Dukes' Skipper - an endangered Species.

Giant Swallowtail, warming up in the sunshine.

Some rapid movement at the edge of the path caught my eye. Upon closer examination, I realized that a Garter Snake had just caught an American Toad.

This blurry photo shows how quickly the Garter Snake was thrashing around to keep the Toad from escaping. I was amazed at how high it could lift its body off the ground.

Going, going, gone! It didn't take long for the Toad to slide down a large length of the snake's body. The thickened lump on the snake is visible in the photo.

The tiny American Tree Frogs were slightly bigger than when we saw them 10 days earlier.