Butterflies!

Hello!

Ever have one of those days where you feel like everything's going swimmingly, only to discover later that nothing worked the way you thought it did?  Well it happens.  A couple hours of shooting butterflies at The Arboretum produced a sparkling array of blurry images.  Maybe I need glasses...

Anyway, there were a few half-decent photos from today, but before I get to those I'll start with this Hairstreak that I snapped in Windsor a while ago.  Not sure on the species, but it looks different than the Banded that I photographed last month in Cambridge (see earlier post).  Gotta get the book out for this one.  Gotta go buy the book...

Hairstreak (Satyrium sp.)

Ok, on to today.  There was a decent number of butterflies around, but not the diversity I`d hoped for.  A lonely Red Admiral and lonelier Red-spotted Purple paused for only fleeting moments before leaving me alone with the Monarchs.  So when life gives you monarchs...

Monarch (Danaus plexippus)

Monarch (Danaus plexippus)

It is interesting to note that this individual is obviously fairly old, as his beautiful black wing markings have faded to a dusty brown.  Of course for a Monarch, very old simply means more than a couple of months.  I can`t imagine he'll be making the trip south this winter.  Also interesting to note that he's very clearly a male, given the thin wing veins and enlarge sacs on the hind wing (located on the vein closest to the body).  Maybe just interesting to me...

One more Monarch for good measure.

Monarch (Danaus plexippus)

When all the other butterflies leave you, you can always depend on your underrated friend: the Cabbage White.

Cabbage White (Pieris rapae)

What's that you say?  An entire post without a frog picture?  Well don't you worry my frog-loving friend!  The anurans will be duly represented.

Look at the variation in these so-called Green Frogs!

Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans)

Cool eh?  No?  I understand.

That's all for now!

Kyle

Misidentifications do happen...

Hello!

It has been brought to my attention that I misidentified a certain critter in an earlier blog post.  A shameful misstep - all I can do is pray for forgiveness.  The creature in question is this one:

I identified this by default as a Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans).  It was found at an urban park that I have been visiting for years.  The park has some ornamental ponds which typically freeze to the bottom in the winter (making it next to impossible for frogs to overwinter), but attract Green Frogs and Leopard Frogs (Lithobates pipiens) throughout the summer.  I never gave it a second thought until an astute observer pointed out to me (with some relish) that I was wrong!

Although it is by no means a pretty example of either species this beast must be a Bullfrog (Lithobates catesbianus), not a Green Frog.  The primary difference lies in the absence of dorsolateral folds - folds of skin that run from behind the eye towards the rump.  Look at the folds on this Green Frog:

So I suppose mistakes do happen, and I guess I can live with myself.  At least this will make an interesting submission to the Ontario Reptile and Amphibian Atlas.

Kyle

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher

Hello!

Happened to be in the area, so stopped by today to see a Scissor-tailed Flycatcher found earlier this week at Luther Marsh.  This bird is a vagrant from the southern US (or further south), so is a rare treat to see in Ontario. It is particularly notable for the long tail-streamers that give the bird its name.  I didn't have my camera, but had a camcorder that I use for work with me and took a few shabby stills:

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus)

Scissor-tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus)

A pretty cool bird in an unexpected place, and a definite Ontario first for me!

Kyle

Different but the same...

Hello!

The photos have changed, but the quarry remains the same.  Here's a bevy of Meadowhawks:

White-faced Meadowhawk female (Sympetrum obtrusum)

Yellow-legged Meadowhawk female (Sympetrum vicinum)

Cherry-faced/Ruby Meadowhawk male (Sympetrum internum/rubicundulum)

White-faced Meadowhawk female (Sympetrum obtrusum)

Can I make an entire post without a frog photo?  Apparently not...

Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans)

And for variety, who doesn't like a Honey Bee?

European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera)

That's all for now.  Maybe someday I'll photograph something different...

Kyle