25-OCT-2012
Red fox
A group of us were wandering around the FWG, looking at the site and chatting, when this fox came along the trail, looked at us, walked casually out to the middle of this service road, squatted, pooped (he showed what he thought of us!), and then dashed off into the trees. Barry was quick enough to catch this photo.
31-OCT-2012
Evening grosbeak eating sumac seeds
It was a red letter day at FWG today, when I saw 10 of these beautiful birds. Back in the 1960s and 1970's, these birds were abundant, and in fall and winter would sweep into the city in huge flocks, descending on feeders and cleaning them out in no time. This feat gave them the nickname of "greedybeaks"! But then, numbers of grosbeaks coming into the city dwindled and by mid-1980's they were not being seen in the same numbers, and by the 1990's it was difficult to find them anywhere within city limits or even nearby. This autumn, recent reports of these birds have appeared from many parts of southern Ontario, so... it was no wonder some should appear at the FWG!
31-OCT-2012
Evening grosbeak eating sumac seeds
The birds were first seen eating ash seeds and then flew over to a stand of sumac and began eating the fruit there. Hopefully we will see these birds again at the garden!
31-OCT-2012
Western conifer seed bug nymph (Leptoglossus occidentalis)
A little while ago I posted a couple of photos of an adult Leptoglossus. Today, there was a small nymph on the walls of the centre at FWG. YOu can see, if you compare to the adult, how different it looks, with its small wing buds.
31-OCT-2012
Ash woods
Looking north along the Bill Holland trail from the south end of the woods. For the last day of October, there is still quite a bit of colour.
31-OCT-2012
Blue beech seeds (Carpinus caroliniana)
The drooping seed pods are very attractive when seen up close. They resemble to some extent, those of ironwood (Ostrya virginiana), which is not a big surprise as they are both in the Betulaceae family.
31-OCT-2012
Blue beech trunk (Carpinus caroliniana)
This is a good size blue beech, mature enough you can see the ripples in the bark that give it its other name of musclewood. This shows up better when the trunk is dry.
29-OCT-2012
Red-tailed hawk
This beauty was sitting on a fence just down the road from the FWG. I have also seen it a number times in the garden itself, but not close enough for a photo.
20-OCT-2012
Lupine
I was surprised to see this perfectly formed and very cheery lupine blooming at the garden, more a sign of spring than late autumn!
18-OCT-2012
Paper wasp nest
Barry found and photographed this large paper wasp nest at the garden. I was looking at it just before he photographed it and could see no wasps around the entrance so am unsure if it is an aerial yellowjacket nest or that of a bald-faced hornet. I am inclined to think the latter because of the sheer size of it. Once the hard frost hits, all these wasps, except for the queens, will die off.
18-OCT-2012
Autumn meadowhawk
These meadowhawks are often the last odonate to be found in our region, with records dating into November. In fact, according to local dragonfly expert, Chris Lewis, they have been seen up to 21 November (the latest record for them so far). Photographed by Barry.
18-OCT-2012
Fungi, possibly Oxporus sp.
Barry photographed this cluster of fungi at the garden recently.