What's going on?

Hello!

Two updates in the same week??  You must think you've fallen down a rabbit hole.  Most significantly, this means I've actually been outdoors twice this week!  Excellent.

Went birding today, and found some other cool stuff along the way.  Couldn't keep the macro lens off for long, but did manage to shoot at least one bird.  Everyone's favourite:

Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)

I really was looking for birds when I came upon this lovely Viceroy, a species which has eluded my lens several times of late.

Viceroy (Limenitis archippus)

I swear I was also looking for birds when I stumbled upon this Question Mark.

Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis)

Continuing on the now-established butterfly theme, I spotted these two Eastern Tailed Blues.  And yes, they are doing what you think they're doing...

Eastern Tailed Blue (Cupido comyntas)

A few more bugs, just to round things out.  This cool (presumably Ichneumonid) wasp:

Unknown Wasp (Ichneumonidae?)

And this awesome caterpillar.  If anyone knows what it is, let me know!  I thought he was a Yellow Bear at first, but now I'm not so sure...

Unknown Caterpillar

Though they may not be adequately represented in the photos, I did actually see some birds today.  About 4 hours in the Hamilton area produced 13 species of waterfowl, Short-billed Dowitcher, Solitary Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, Carolina Wren and lots of other common stuff.  All-in-all a great day!

Cheers!
Kyle

Identification Correction

There seem to be a lot of these recently...I wonder why...

Anyway, the Hairstreak sp. that came up two posts ago - I'm going to go with Eastern Tailed Blue (Cupido comyntas).  Any takers?  Hearing no objections, I shall consider it approved.

These are close kin to the Hairstreaks (same family) so I guess I don't feel that bad...

Kyle

More Butterflies!

Hello!

For reasons unimportant, I decided to celebrate today with a little photo jaunt.  It rained hard all morning and when it cleared in the afternoon, I was hopeful that the butterflies would be taking advantage of the improving weather.  They were, and I ended up with a few nice surprises.  It's a long one today folks, you might want to settle in.  Here goes:

Monarchs.  Always good.  One obligatory shot:

Monarch (Danaus plexippus)

While following the Monarchs around I was pleased to spot a Silver-spotted Skipper.  Doubly pleased because it's probably the only skipper I can positively identify in the field.  What's a skipper you ask?  Exactly.

Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)

If you look closely at the above photo you may notice two little mites (small reddish dots on the body near the base of the right forewing).  Poor guy!  Though I've certainly seen insects carrying many more than two.  One more showing the silver spot that gives them their name:

Silver-spotted Skipper (Epargyreus clarus)

The next critter to wander into view was one of my favourite flower visitors.  Like a cross between a butterfly and a hummingbird, this little fellow is actually a species of hawk moth.  They never land, and I find them incredibly tricky to shoot!

Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe)

Those wings move a mile a minute!  1/200s doesn't even come close to nailing them down.

Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe)

Look at those clear wings, totally lacking the coloured scales that define most butterflies and moths.  I wonder if the scales would inhibit the hovering...

Hummingbird Clearwing (Hemaris thysbe)

Butterflies and moths are not the only pollinators about.  Let us not forget the humble Bumblebee.

Bumblebee (Bombus sp.)

Just as I was about to leave, one more little gift - a very cooperative Red Admiral.  I find this species usually very flighty and quick (maybe just my bad luck) but this individual hung around for a couple of shots.  Rather nice of him really.  He is quite fresh, and his colours are brilliant!

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

Gotta love the crazy underwing patterns on those admirals!

Red Admiral (Vanessa atalanta)

Well that's all for now.  All-in-all, a productive hour of shooting!

Cheers!
Kyle

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