Rondeau Ric

Seaside Grasshopper, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, July 30, 2019. I found this grasshopper on the way to the beach and it was only because it moved. Trimerotropis maritima, known generally as the seaside grasshopper or seaside locust, is a species of band-winged grasshopper in the family Acrididae. It is found in Central America and North America

Laetiporus sulphureus, Rondeau Provincial Park, July 30, 2019. One of the many fungus in the park. Supposedly it tastes like chicken.

Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, July 23, 2019. This rare plant occurs in our yard. It was here when we moved in 17 years ago and seems to be holding its own. It is scattered through the dunes in the southern portion of the park. Opuntia humifusa The Eastern Prickly Pear Cactus is a perennial succulent cactus with jointed, rounded, but flattened, green stems, the segments of which are called “pads”. It may be horizontal or upright, growing up to 0.5 metres in height. Typical of most cacti, the pads are armed with barbed bristles and spines. Yellow, waxy flowers about two to three centimetres in diameter, with centres, bloom along the edges of the pads. The juicy, edible fruits are green, ripening to reddish-brown.

Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, July 28, 2019. Not one we usually see in the summer, we are in a migration area. Just sitting on the shore, no apparent injury. Aythya valisineria The species name of the Canvasback, valisineria, comes from Vallisneria americana, or wild celery, whose winter buds and stems are the duck’s preferred food during the nonbreeding period. source - Cornell Lab of Ornithology.

White tailed deer, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, July 26, 2019. This fawn has been staying in a corner our yard. There is no adult in sight but it seems to be doing well. It is cautious of us but stays close by when we come out. It had just hopped the fence into the neighbour's yard. Odocoileus viriginianus The white-tailed deer is a smaller ungulate species found in Ontario. They have a reddish brown to grayish brown body, with white belly, throat, chin and bum (under the tail). White-tailed deer have large ears and bucks (reproductive males) have large antlers that they grow every year starting late spring. source - https://wildlifeinontario.wordpress.com/mammals/white-tailed-deer/

Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, July 26, 2019. Each year about now cedar waxwings start coming to the little water feature in the yard. A memory popped up on facebook of today's post for last year, it was waxwings in the pond. Bombycilla cedrorum Because they eat so much fruit, Cedar Waxwings occasionally become intoxicated or even die when they run across overripe berries that have started to ferment and produce alcohol. source - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/cedar_waxwing

 Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, July 24, 2019. Just a few species of shore birds on the south beach. Limnodromus griseus Sometimes bird names just seem wrong: it only takes one look at a Short-billed Dowitcher to notice it’s not a short-billed shorebird! The name is meant to distinguish it from the Long-billed Dowitcher, but it’s only a subtle difference. Female dowitchers have longer bills than males, so if you see one with an absurdly long-looking bill, it’s probably a female Long-billed. But in general, it’s much more useful to listen to dowitchers than to look at their bills to tell them apart. source -  https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Short-billed_Dowitcher

A cat in a hat in a box. Oz knocked my hat down and it landed in this favourite box. Cats in boxes are easy. Cat in a hat not so much, but a cat in a hat in a box, priceless.

Northern waterthrush, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, July 23, 2019. Had a waterthrush show up in the yard. It spent about 20 minutes feeding and bathing before flying off. It returned later and Anne was able to see it. Parkesia noveboracensis As their habitats change during the course of the nonbreeding season, becoming drier or wetter, Northern Waterthrushes move around to seek optimal wet habitats that provide adequate food. For some, this means moving to a wetter part of the swamp, but others that winter in tropical mountain forests move downslope as the dry season commences. source -  https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Northern_Waterthrush

Stable fly, or not, Rondeau Provincial Park, July 18, 2019. Don't know the exact species but man, can they bite.

Now we have the answer. An eastern cottontail browses contentedly on the wildflowers in the yard.

Sailboarding at Rondeau Provincial Park, ontario, Canada, July 19, 2019

Rondeau Bay, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, July 18, 2019. While out on the boat I glanced at a patch of lily pads and thought I saw a giant snake. Did a big double take. It was part of the lilies, from what I can find it is the root system.

Ruby-throated hummingbirds, Rondeau provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, July 12, 2019. Put out a oriole feeder and had 7 hummingbirds on it in minutes. Then hung up the hummingbird feeder and had 5 more. We have had as many as 30 in the yard at one time, but that's mid August. Archilochus colubris Ruby-throated Hummingbirds prefer to feed on red or orange flowers (though it's not necessary to color the sugar water you put in a hummingbird feeder). Like many birds, hummingbirds have good color vision and can see into the ultraviolet spectrum, which humans can’t see.

Purple martin feeding frenzy, near Blenheim, Ontario, Canada, July 14, 2019. Most young have left the colony houses but some remain. There were 7 on the porch before I got this image. Progne subis The Purple Martin not only gets all its food in flight, it gets all its water that way too. It skims the surface of a pond and scoops up the water with its lower bill. source - https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/purple_martin

Pollinator, July 2019, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. Lots of pollinators in the yard just now. Don't know the species of this one, if you know please advise.

Juvenile spotted sandpiper, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. We have had spotted sandpipers in the yard before but this is the first time we have had one in our little water feature. Actitis macularius The male takes the primary role in parental care, incubating the eggs and taking care of the young. One female may lay eggs for up to four different males at a time.

Northern water snake, Rondeau Provincial Park, July 12, 2019. Out for a bike ride and went around what looked like a twig on the road. Turned out it was a small, 6 inch, northern water snake. Didn't have my camera so I used my Iphone for a close up. Nerodia sipedon sipedon Northern Water snakes give live birth (ovoviviparous) to 5-60 young in late summer or early fall.

Red Admiral, Hillman Marsh, Ontario, Canada, July 8, 2019. Road trip to Point Pelee National Park to see the nesting black terns. Boardwalk was closed due to flooding. Saw a group of Red Admirals just around the corner at at Hillman Marsh. Vanessa atalanta

Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, July 4, 2019. We see many more Baltimore orioles than Orchards. This year we have two pairs in the area and they come to the yard for the grapes and oranges we put out. Icterus spurius Orchard Orioles migrate north late in the spring and head southward early, with some returning to their wintering grounds as early as mid-July. Because of the short breeding season, researchers have trouble distinguishing between breeding orioles and migrating ones in any given location.

Crayfish species, ID help please. May be a virile crayfish based on what I could find. Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, June 4, 2019. Great Lakes watershed. About 50 cm long (2 inches).

May 4, 2018, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. Vireo olivaceus On May 27, 1952, Louise de Kiriline Lawrence counted the number of songs sung by a single Red-eyed Vireo seeking a mate on his territory 180 miles north of Toronto. He sang 22,197 songs in the 14 hours from just before dawn to evening, singing for 10 of those hours.

Blue headed vireo, May 15, 2018, Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. Vireo solitarius The Blue-headed Vireo is the easternmost form in the "Solitary Vireo" complex. Formerly considered one species, three species now are recognized. In appearance it is the most brightly colored of the three.

Texas, Jan 20, 2012. Vireo griseus Both the male and the female White-eyed Vireo sing on the wintering grounds, but only the male sings on the breeding grounds.

 Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada, May 4, 2018. Vireo flavifrons While the Yellow-throated Vireo is associated with forest edge habitat, it actually requires large blocks of forest to breed successfully. Numbers decrease sharply in forests smaller than 250 acres (100 hectares) in the northeastern United States. source -  https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Yellow-throated_Vireo/