Early Summer Things

A young Coopers Hawk, getting much bigger by the end of June!

Ruby-throated Hummingbird mom sitting on her nest!

First view of the Hummingbird babies! Two tiny beaks are poking above the nest! One beak is closed, the other open slightly.

A white Earwig! After closer inspection and some quick research, this earwig had recently moulted and hadn’t acquired its brown/black colour yet.

Young Praying Mantis. They are much easier to spot in the fall when they have reached maximum length. This individual was about 2.5 cm in length.

Cabbage White Butterfly nectaring on Yellow Butterflyweed.

Common Checkered Skipper, male

Least Skippers, mating

Tawny Emperor

Tiny Monarch egg, 2 mm long.

Freshly hatched Monarch caterpillar, about 3 mm in length. It doesn't even have the diagnostic stripes yet!

We found an active Red-headed Woodpecker nest with 2 adults bringing food to the tree cavity! This species is Sarnia's "Official Bird!"

Viceroy: The Monarch Mimic!

 Critters in North and East Lambton!

It's always helpful when a species' name reflects its appearance! This dragonfly is a Dot-tailed Whiteface! (yellow dot on the abdomen (tail end) and a white face!)

Green Darner female laying eggs on plants under the water.

Video of Green Darner laying eggs.

Blue Dasher, male

Lilypad Clubtail

The exuviae (exoskeleton) of a dragonfly nymph is hanging on a plant in the centre of the photo. Dragonflies start their lives under water. After spending up to 4 years in the aquatic environment, they will crawl out of the water and shed their skin. Once the wings are dry, they will fly away, looking for food and eventually a mate.

Monarch butterfly on Common Milkweed.

Monarch caterpillar on Butterfly Milkweed, one of 11 larva we found!

Camouflage is an important defense in survival! A Mottled Sand Grasshopper blends in perfectly with its sandy surroundings!

One of my favourite butterflies, a Coral Hairstreak. I often see them on Orange Butterflyweed.

I noticed the striped legs matched the stripes in the antennae on the Coral Hairstreak. A friend then pointed out the leg stripes resemble Pippi Longstocking's, stockings!

Delaware Skipper getting minerals from the mud.

Tawny Emperor, warming in the morning sun.

Common Yellowthroat male. I'm sure there was a nest nearby which is usually on or near the ground and supported by sedges, grasses, reeds, cattails, or other low plants!

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

Norfolk County!

We made a day trip to Norfolk County towards Lake Erie, on the weekend. This Harvester was one of 3 that we found. I had only ever seen the species once before and it was over 10 years ago. The larva of the Harvester is the only carnivorous caterpillar in North America! It feasts on various species of Wooly Aphids.

American Copper was a "lifer species" for me! It was one of many butterflies drinking nectar from Orange Butterfly Weed plants.

Edward's Hairstreak! One of 4 species of Hairstreaks that we found.

Great-spangled Fritillary is the largest Fritillary in Ontario.

Tawny Emperor admiring its reflection on a vehicle.

Tiger Swallowtail taking a break in the shade on an incredibly hot day. It was too hot for both butterflies and people that day!

The only Gray Hairstreak we found landed on Deryl's hat. Butterflies will sometimes land on people to get the salt from our sweat.

Many Tiger Beetles reside in our near sandy soil. It was "mating day" as Big Sand Tiger Beetles were trying to pair up.

Big Sand Tiger Beetle pair.

The Ghost Tiger Beetle was a new species for us! They are much smaller than many of the other Tiger Beetles and could sit on a dime. Because of their camouflage, it is easier to find them by watching for their shadows.

The Punctured Tiger Beetle is identified by the twin lines of indentations on either side of the mid-line. Both adults and larvae are predators. The larvae live in deep burrows, and use their large size and humped back to help capture prey. Adults are the fastest known species of tiger beetle. They can run 125 times their body length in one second and can chase down their prey both on foot and while running!

https://www.longleggedybeasties.com/2019/06/punctured-tiger-beetle/

 Scenic Views of Eastern NFLD!

Topsail Beach

Looking back at Signal Hill from Cape Spears.

Looking down from Cape Spears.

Cape Spears

Ocean views from East Coast Trail

We drove south towards Trepassey hoping to find Caribou. We spoke to a local who said there used to be a few hundred in the area, but they were sadly all gone.

On the return trip from Cape St. Mary's we stopped at Landwash Beach, Branch NFLD.

Some of the rocks at Landwash Beach were extremely colourful.

A trail we explored just before finding the Steller's Sea-eagle.

Our last morning in Newfoundland at Middle Cove Beach!

And a few final pics of some of my favourite birds!

Black Guillemot on a rocky perch!

Northern Gannets "sword" fighting.

A final wave good-bye from an Atlantic Puffin!