20170801 Camp Eley FZ1000 photos

Posted on 2017/08/07 by brtthome

We enjoyed a wonderful visit at a little paradise on the North Channel near Iron Bridge. The quality of the hospitality was only exceeded by the charm and grace of the hostess.

I shared the use of the FZ1000 with Perry and Dax. Here are some of the photos we came up with..

Perry’s first B.I.F. (Birds in Flight) Photography …

Great Blue Heron does a fly-by for Perry …

Dax captures an uncommon Yellow Throated Vireo, lurking in the Fringed Brome, confirmed by Colleen’s knowledge of bird songs.

Dax captures a Bald Eagle harrassing a bird that he identifies as an Osprey…

Dax captures a Bumble Bee with an extended proboscis …

Dax’s Little Wood Satyr …

Obviously both of the above photographers know to look into the scene instead of looking at the scene!

These two photos were taken around 5:00 am with the camera propped on a bench, using a shutter delay and a shutter interval of 60 seconds. (EXIFs are intact for photographers.)

The above are worth enlarging (by clicking on the image and using your browser’s back button to return) to see the structure of the strikes. The mood of the scene as seen from the covered porch is quite well captured, I think. The only part that is missing is the swarm of mosquitoes that arrived at daybreak after the rain.

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20170729 Hwy 529 Bugs and Butterflies

Posted on 2017/08/06 by brtthome

A quick trip down Hwy 529 showed these images through the 100-400 mm lens:

This might be a female White-faced Meadowhawk(?) resting on a milkweed leaf…

If you are interested in learning more about Eastern Canada “Odes” (Dragonflies are members of the Order Odonata) have a look at Mark Dennis’s website: https://quebecodes.wordpress.com/ There you can follow links to his books and other sites of interest to naturalists. He’s a very assertive, direct and engaging writer.

The lack of “the spot” identifies this Vanessa as a Painted Lady…..

I suspect that this is a Generation 3 Monarch loading up with nectar to produce a 4th (Diapause)Generation that will migrate south during the end of August and September. See: https://monarchlab.org/biology-and-research/biology-and-natural-history/breeding-life-cycle/annual-life-cycle/

Monarchs in Generations 3 and 4 are the great- and great-great grandchildren of the overwintering monarchs. They are laid throughout the northern part of the range of eastern migratory monarchs from late May through July (Generation 3), and late June through August (Generation 4). Some generation 3 individuals emerge early enough to reproduce in the northern part of their breeding range or after moving south (see immature distribution map). However, Generation 3 individuals that emerge late in August will undergo diapause and migrate to Mexico, as will most Generation 4 individuals.

In the meantime I am keeping an eye on these rolled-up Staghorn Sumac leaves to see what emerges. Illinois Wildflowers suggests some possibilities.

Notice the huge blob of pollen on the leg of this Bombus:

Mary Anne Borg has great advice to attract and sustain these Great Spangled Fritillaries….

Most of the Spreading Dogbane has matured to the “bean” stage now. Some patches still have some blooms to attract pollinators, though. This pollinator attractor would make a good groundcover for open spaces.

Mark Berkery has some nice macro photography here: https://beingmark.com/2017/08/04/picture-perfect/

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20170728 Killarney and Burwash

Posted on 2017/08/05 by brtthome

Above Photo: Chikanishing Creek as seen from Hwy 637 about 1.5 km SW of the Main Entrance to Killarney PP.

We made a quick trip to Killarney to visit the “Friends of Killarney” bookstore at the park entrance. I was looking for this Dragonfly Field Guide. Alas, out of stock in Killarney so now we have an excuse to make a trip to Huntsville. On the way back from Killarney we made a quick detour to Burwash. This is some of what we saw:

Great Spangled Fritillary nectaring on Daisy Fleabane at Chikanishing Creek …

Spiraea alba, commonly known as meadowsweet, white meadowsweet, narrowleaf meadowsweet, pale bridewort, or pipestem

Blueberries are ripening …

Pretty green Grasshopper…

Ranchers despise the various species of Knapweeds, some of which are known as “Hardheads”.

The Large Leaved Asters are starting to bloom already …. signalling the approach of the end of summer!

Common Yarrow plants are still blooming…

Some wild hazelnuts that have not yet been harvested by squirrels, Blue Jays and humans….

Big crops of cultivar Honeysuckle berries at Burwash….

Orange Hawkweed, Devils Paintbrush are still blooming along the Burwash Road ….

If you are interested in Butterflies check this blog out: https://leplog.wordpress.com/2017/08/04/mid-atlantic-butterfly-field-forecast-for-the-week-of-2017-august-5/ Awesome stuff at that site!

And if you are local or passing through, this is always worthwhile: https://www.parrysound.com/parrysound-community/sideroads/ Great photography and interesting articles.

20170726-27 Trip to Manitoulin Part 2 of 2

Posted on 2017/08/04 by brtthome

This is part 2 of 2 about our trip to Manitoulin on a rainy July 26 and sunshiny July 27. Part 1 follows after this post. (Below this post if you’re using Brtthome’s Blog. or click on the previous arrow if you are using https://brtthome.com/2017/08/04/20170726-27-trip-to-manitoulin-part-2-of-2/)

This is some of what was seen through the 100-400 mm lens on the GH4 on that trip:

Common chicory (aka blue daisy, blue dandelion, blue sailors, blue weed, bunk, coffeeweed, cornflower, hendibeh, horseweed, ragged sailors, succory, wild bachelor’s buttons, and wild endive) was resplendent along most of the roadway.