Orchid hunting

As much as I like birds, I get side-tracked from time to time, and there are so many things to get side-tracked with!

Last weekend I was on the prowl for an orchid species I hadn't seen in probably 35 years: Ram's Head Lady's-slipper (Cypripedium arietinum). It is fairly widespread in Ontario and elsewhere, but never common, and certainly not here in southwestern Ontario. I knew this species was likely still around in the greater Ipperwash area, as it used to occur (and maybe still does) in Pinery. However I recall hearing years ago that the Pinery population had declined significantly.

A friend gave me some directions to where I was likely to find it. With directions in hand, and a fairly good idea of the crown land layout that it was on, I headed out. As it turned out, it was closer to the beginning of the unofficial trail than I was expecting, so actually went at least a couple of hundred metres past it. It is a tiny orchid, barely 12-15 cm in total height. The sun was bright, and so the contrast and shadows did not make it easy to see. But by going well beyond it in my search, I came across several other orchid species.

This is Pink Lady's-slipper, a.k.a. Moccasin Flower (Cypripedium acaule) and is huge by comparison. There were at least a couple of dozen of these in flower, as well as numerous sets of leaves which will not produce flowering stems this season.

Another orchid I came across was Hooker's Orchid (Platanthera hookeri). I only saw basal leaves, no flowering stems, although it is more plentiful at another part of this site, and could be in flower now. It isn't nearly as colourful as the previous orchid, obviously, and one can easily walk past without noticing it.

Flower of Hooker's Orchid

I saw leaves of the Large Yellow Lady's-slipper, but none in flower. Again, it is more common elsewhere, not far from the Hooker's Orchid, and could be in flower very soon.

These next two photos show the target species. As mentioned, it is quite small, and easily overlooked. The macro lens used almost to its fullest was necessary to get these shots. I noted only two flowering stems and another 5 non-flowering plants. It is considered very rare in southwestern Ontario, and perhaps the only remaining population in Lambton County. It is likely the southernmost population in Canada.

Of course on the sandy pine forests of the Ipperwash area, there are other interesting, non-orchid species. Since I don't see them in Chatham-Kent, I took advantage of a healthy population of several species here just waiting to be photographed. This first species is Fringed Polygala (Polygala paucifolia), sometimes known as Gaywings. It really is a pleasing sight on the shaded forest floor.

A less colourful but still interesting plant is Starflower (Trientalis borealis).

In a nearby location, the Karner Blue Sanctuary owned by Lambton Wildlife, is a good population of Wild Lupine (Lupinus perennis). Wild Lupine is critical for the survival of the Extirpated Karner Blue Butterfly, which used to occur at this site. It formerly occurred in the St. Williams Forestry Station in Norfolk County near Long Point, as well as Pinery Provincial Park. Some of the reasons for this dainty butterfly's extirpation are controversial, but it is largely due to some ill-advised management of the habitat. And that could be the topic for a completely separate blog post.

How high's the water momma?

If you have spent any time along the Great Lakes recently, you will likely have noticed the water levels are high. Which reminded me of the late Johnny Cash song which I used for the title of this post. And it is a fair question to ask. Just how high is the water? An excellent source of information is found on this web site, which is that of the US Army Corps of Engineers, and is updated weekly.

In a nutshell Lake Erie, for example, is about 15 cm higher than it was a month ago, and is only about 15 cm below the all time record high for the month of May, which was set in 1986. It currently is about 132 cm higher than the average lake level since water levels were recorded. The greater than normal precipitation and cooler than average temperatures are at least part of the reason. So it is no surprise that when there are strong sustained winds from the east or southeast, places like Rondeau and Erieau get battered. For those with waterfront property, the good news is that the forecast is for the water levels to start to go down.

We will see.

On one of those windy times, I stopped by Erieau. It was kind of wild. I don't recall seeing it quite like this before in the spring. Some years, there is virtually no water at this base. You can see the post with the rescue pole, which is normally about 50 metres or so from the lake, but at this point it is in the lake.

While I was photographing I noticed a shorebird taking refuge in the lee of the base of the pier. It was a single Whimbrel. Since I had on a wide-angle lens, this is all I got. If you look close in the centre, you should see it.

 It didn't stay long, but when it did get up to fly to the east, it realized that it wasn't going to happen. It was flapping hard, and the wind was actually blowing it backward, so it eventually gave up and turned to let the wind whisk it the other direction.

The east shore of Rondeau isn't much better off. There is little or no beach left along the north half of the peninsula, and extensive pools of water are collecting on the inside of the first dune.

 There are some shorebirds making do, such as the occasional Black-bellied Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Ruddy Turnstone and others.

Spotted Sandpipers always seem to survive and will be nesting soon, if they haven't started already.

Spotted Sandpiper

At the very end of the South Point Trail, the southeasterly winds were crashing on shore, spilling over to flood the trail. Either that, or the portable washroom overflowed!

Away from the shoreline, however, it is business as usual, although the roar of the wind and waves on such days can be heard from any point in the park.

Baltimore Orioles are abundant.

Cedar Waxwings have increased noticeably in the last few days. They won't begin nesting for a few weeks yet. In fact, they seldom start their nest building process until at least the third week in June.

Warblers are still passing through. Some, like this Canada Warbler, are more often heard than seen, as they move through the dense shrubbery. On occasion one might even get a photo, although a branch or two partially obscuring the perfect view seems to be the norm.

When one is hiking the trails of Rondeau, some of the sloughs appear to be partly covered with brown blobs.

 It isn't an early form of algae. It is actually the male flowers of the American Beech which have finished their function and have fallen off.

male flowers of American Beech

 The female flowers are smaller and less obvious.

Female flowers of American Beech

 If the number of flowers is any indication, it looks like it will be a good year for beech-nuts this fall, much to the delight, I am sure, of critters like Wild Turkeys, squirrels and mice.

On those days when it was actually warm and sunny, winged critters besides birds can be seen.

American Lady

Northern Crescent

Spicebush Swallowtail

 I saw my first Monarch of the season just a few days ago. Some years they are hard to find until well into June, but rumour has it that it was a good winter for them in their Mexican highland wintering area, and decent numbers are well on their way here. This individual was very fresh looking, so presumably it had just recently emerged somewhere in the midwest, such as Missouri, and then caught a southwesterly wind to aid in its arrival here.

Dragonflies are out and about, and there are ample small flying insects for them to feast on.

Green Darner

 This next one is a presumed Carolina Saddlebags. It has a very limited range in Ontario, arriving when it occurs, in late May. It is considered rare in northeast Ohio, so is presumably rare here as well.

May is.....

A) A month too busy to post blogs!

B) Lyme Disease Awareness Month. Many of you will be aware of the challenges of dealing with Lyme Disease which I have shared over several posts. If you haven't seen them, you can check some of them out here, here, and here.

Black-legged (a.k.a. Deer) Tick

I periodically get questions about LD testing and such. In my opinion, current LD testing in Canada is hardly worth going through, since the spirochete which causes LD can move around, and isn't always detected in the blood, therefore giving a potentially false result. If you find a Black-legged Tick (a.k.a. Deer Tick) embedded in you, carefully remove the tick and keep it in a hard plastic container. An old film cassette container works well. (I have had ticks chew their way out of a zip lock bag!) Take the tick in to your local health unit to be sent away for testing, but keep in mind that it can take five weeks or more before you get the results back. In the mean time, carefully monitor the tick bite site to see if any rash appears (that may take a week or more) and also monitor yourself to determine if you experience other first stage symptoms such as chills, fever, aches and pains that you might normally associate with getting the flu. If those occur, see a doctor asap, and hope that the doctor is Lyme Literate enough to give you an antibiotic.

Also keep in mind that not all Black-legged Ticks carry LD....some experts suggest that fewer than 40% do.....so even if you are bitten, you might escape contracting LD. The best advice is to be aware and be cautious, which I have outlined in some of those previously written posts.

C) A great time for birding. I haven't been out as often as I would like for birding.....what birder has :-).....due to energy levels related to Lyme Disease, as well as other commitments which unfortunately coincided with days when birds were most plentiful. But I have been out to enjoy some great times with birds, and other birders.

I noted this sub-adult Lesser Black-backed Gull during a recent visit to Wheatley Harbour.

On one of my times checking out the Erieau waterfront, I came across this Red-throated Loon. It was quite cooperative, at times popping up from a dive too close to focus! As I was processing the photos on the computer at the end of the day, I noted that one of its eyes seemed to have been injured, which may have explained it being so approachable.

One time along the Erieau Rail Trail, I saw a Sora. Often when one encounters a Sora, the best view you get, if any, might be like this:

 Or this:

 But on this occasion, the bird was quite willing to come out in the open. I watched and photographed it for the better part of an hour, and when I left, it was still out. These images are hardly cropped at all.

Songbirds, and warblers in particular, are a highlight of the spring migration. I've been able to catch up to most of the usual warbler migrants, but not all that many have provided the kind of photo op that a photographer would like, since the birds are often high up in the trees searching for insects to replenish their energy so they can go on the next leg of their journey.

Blackburnian Warbler

Blackpoll

Black-throated Green Warbler

Cape May Warbler

Of course it is always a highlight to see nesting Prothonotary Warbler, an endangered species in Canada which has its Canadian stronghold at Rondeau.

The most common warbler by far is Yellow Warbler.

Colourful non-warbler highlights include:

Scarlet Tanager

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

 Just yesterday, I managed to catch up to both Yellow-billed Cuckoo and Black-billed Cuckoo, although the former was the only one I got decent photos of. Note the distinctive yellow bill, the rusty patch on the wing, and the bold black and white pattern on the undertail, none of which occur on the Black-billed.

D) Nesting season. Some species have been underway for weeks, as this recently hatched Killdeer would indicate.

 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are busily nesting. This one below was building its nest when I caught this adult heading off for some more nesting material.

 On a recent hike along Spicebush Trail, I noted a peculiar lump on the branch of an American Beech tree. It is a Ruby-throated Hummingbird nest, barely 4 cm in diameter. Hopefully I will be posting some nest action photos in the near future.

Birds aren't the only types of wildlife nesting. When you see a large Snapping Turtle out crossing roads, well away from water, you know it is a female looking for a place to lay her eggs.

E) Orchid season. One of the first orchids to appear is now out. This is Showy Orchid (Galearis spectabilis), an uncommon orchid of rich woodlands. I keep an eye on a small colony of them at Rondeau, and normally they begin to flower on about May 21. However the exceptionally warm weather earlier in the week brought this one to flowering a bit ahead of schedule.