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

Odonate ID

Hello,

So I spent 5 minutes reading this evening (yes, I can read) - something I maybe should have endeavoured to do prior to my earlier post.  It's amazing how reading can really teach you things.  It has been good (read challenging) to catch up on some long-forgotten damselflies.

So to that effect, the third "bluet" in my series is actually a Violet Dancer - a damsel that I knew to be a riverine species but found some distance from the nearest river.  I'm quite doubtful of the first "bluet" as well, but I guess I didn't get that far in my reading.  The unknown pruinose (fuzzy) damsel is a Powdered Dancer (I believe).

As usual, if I'm wrong and you'd like to correct me please feel free.  Otherwise I'll never learn :).

Kyle

Odes!

Hello!

Where does the time go between blog posts?  I guess I have been a bit busy working on some big developments (more on this later).  At any rate, I have finally pulled a post together.

I spent some time this weekend chasing Odonates (or just Odes, if you want to throw some lingo around and sound cool at a party).  Dragonflies and Damselflies are amazing creatures, and there are tons around if you just take the time to look!  I have spent some intimate time with dragonflies in the past, but have been focussed a bit more on damsels recently.  Which is frustrating cause they're so difficult to ID!  Damselfly experts prepare - there will be a lot of question marks in the post (not the butterfly!).

Here goes:

Oh bluets, how I despise thee.  Here are three bluets which may or may not be the same species.  Actually they may or may not be bluets...

Bluet #1

Bluet #2

Bluet #3

Here's a few that I know (I think)!

Ebony Jewelwing

Eastern Forktail

Here's one I haven't the faintest clue about...

Who am I??

Here's a damselfly that looks a lot like a frog (couldn't help myself).

Northern Leopard Frog

And to finish off, a few dragonflies (soo much easier!).

Widow Skimmer

Yellow-legged Meadowhawk

Calico Pennant

And sure enough, just when you think you know something, doubts begin to creep back in.  I'm going to take a leap at this one and say...

Red-waisted Whiteface?

Alright all you Odonate experts - go ahead, make me look silly.  Seriously, I would love it if anyone could ID the unknowns or correct the knowns :).  The field guide is on the way, but until then it's a bit of a guessing game!

That's all for now.  Until next time...

Kyle

A Great Day in the Woods!

Hello!

Spent my Canada Day in the woods (the Canadian woods).  Herps were the target, and I was back to my favourite amphibian spot with a couple of friends.  The herp scene started off a bit slow, but there were lots of other things to occupy me.

Red Mushrooms

A Cool Slug...

Hairstreak (Satyrium sp.)

Eventually we started to turn up some herps, much to my enjoyment.

Red-spotted Newt (Red Eft) (Notophthalmus viridescens viridescens)

Wood Frog (Lithobates sylvaticus)

Undoubtedly the find of the day (and not made by me) was this picture-perfect (no pun intended) Four-toed Salamander.

Four-toed Salamander (Hemidactylium scutatum)

That's all for now!

Kyle