We photographed our first Horned Lark and have been enjoying the last of this season’s butterflies flitting about in the warm sunshine.   Some examples:

This is my first photo of a Horned Lark —- standing on the bottom of an overturned boat along Riverside Road.  I didn’t hear it sing and first thought it might be a White Throated Sparrow, which are commonly found in that location.  Compare the above with this Audobon photo.

This Painted Lady was one of several that were nectaring on the blooming clover (in preparation for their debatable migration to the Southern States).  We enjoyed a very heavy influx of Vanessa butterflies this year, mainly due to 2017 warm winter and spring.

We have been seeing lots of

V. atalanta

V. virginiensis

and V. cardui , these Painted Ladies.

On October 11, I saw at least 20 female Monarchs nectaring on the red clover, Trifolium pratense,  growing along Riverside Road in Britt.   I suspect that they are in reproductive diapause, heading southward.

We also saw lots of Clouded Sulphur butterflies …

Feeding on red clover …

and flitting about …

The Clouded Sulphur is one of several common Ontario Butterflies that overwinters in its chrysalis stage.

Anje’s Canna Lilies are still blooming …

And the ivies are still growing around the windows of the old LBI:

And the house at the end of the road is enhanced by the Sugar Maple at its entrance.

Last year we had our first snow at the end of October.  The end of October is only a few weeks from now!  Time flies.