A drive down Hwy 529 yielded these sights:

Arctic Skipper?

Back end of a ?? before it flew off.

Even the iridescent thorax doesn’t help me ID this moth:  HELP!

Swamp Candle, which I have just learned is NOT part of the Solidago (Goldenrod) family.

Taking some lunch home for the kids?

This Goatsbeard Umbel is worth clicking on.

Dogbane has similar toxic latex as the milkweed is a common food source.  AKA Indian hemp

Another little beetle looking for food on the Common Milkweed.

Iris versacolor are just about finished their blooming period (about 3 weeks).  All the energy is now going into the seed pods, later into the rhizomes for next spring’s rapid growth.

I couldn’t resist showing you this nice shadow of this Viceroy.

The smoke from the fires out west are spreading over the Great Lakes giving a red tinge to the evening sun.  Next post.

Took a detour to Skerryvore on the way to Parry Sound and took some pictures.

Results:

Vipers’ Bugloss sans honeybees.  (Click on the image to enlarge.  See any bees?  Normally these patches are “swarming” with honeybees.)  This plant is one of the most stable sources of nectar for honeybees.

Several Scenic Moose pastures

Nice drive.

Yes, a female, judging by its white wingtips …

White Admiral …  stirring something up.

Male … ebony jewelwing.

Lack of streaking on breast indicates female or juvenile American Goldfinch.

and a nearby Male American Goldfinch.

I liked the colours so I took a picture.

Line astern formation.  Searching the reeds for grasshoppers and other insects.

A songsparrow, perhaps?

Mourning cloak, one of the few butterflies that overwinter in the leaf litter or in the bark of trees.

Elusive American Redstart.  I don’t have many photos of these this year.

I have a lot more of these warblers … Chestnut Sided.

I spent some time with Stan and Harry who were removing the branches that covered the lodges at the  Sundance ceremonies at Portage Lake.  Many Crees (Moose clan) from the James Bay coast and Anishinaabe (Beaver clan)  from the Great Lakes gathered for 4 days of drumming, fasting, rituals and celebrations,  sleeping in lodges formed by these frames.

Portage Lake Dragonfly.

Red Winged Blackbirds don’t  let me get too close.

Nice Wild Chicory are starting to bloom along the shoulders of the roads now.

The Canada Geese and Mallard Duck families are maturing rapidly.   Here is a proud Mallard mom:

… with her ducklings:

I was asked if I’d ever seen more than one Clearwing at a time.  Rarely, as they tend to be territorial, like Ruby Throated hummingbirds.  Here are a couple of rare shots:

Very delicate, unknown moth:

Detail of one floret:

Mourning Cloak Butterfly:

Several folks have asked about the presence of the very dangerous Giant Hogweeds in the neighbourhood.  These are benign Cow Parsnips.

When in doubt avoid these large plants!