Exploring woodlands, etc.

 It has been fun to get out and explore natural areas, of course, and there are so many things in local woodlands and adjacent areas to enjoy and photograph. Here are some of the recent highlights.

One of the things I don't often see is the following. From a bit of a distance, it just looks like a whitish substance on a branch of an American Beech. This first photo is actually much closer than one would normally see it, and almost everyone walks by it, ignoring it.

 

 A closer look.....

 

  ...even closer...

...and an extremely close look! It is a mass collection of a very small insect called Beech Blight Aphid! If you jiggle the branch even very slightly, they will all get up and perform a wiggly dance, complete with waving their tails. Given that each aphid is only about 2 mm in size, one has to get quite close to see this intriguing creature in action! It is quite entertaining!

A close look at a leaf reveals an Arabesque Orbweaver.

Scattered about in small clumps of the beech/maple forest are a few of this next plant, which doesn't have leaves, but gets its growth from growing off the underground parts of other plants. It is American Beech Drops.

On another leaf is a non-native creature, a Chinese Mantid.

A new species of moth for Rondeau was discovered recently. It is Cockerell's Moth, quite small but interestingly patterned.

Leopard Frogs are out to enjoy a bit of sunshine on the cooler days. 

 

A Large Tolype Moth is resting on the side of a building.

Along some trails there is a profusion of American Hog-peanut, a member of the legume family.

While walking along a trail, I came across this Gray Treefrog. It was resting on a fairly good-size patch of lichens. What makes this interesting is that the treefrog can change colours, to more or less match its background, and therefore be harder to see. Since the lichens are quite variable, the treefrog has tried to match it by mixing its green and gray colouration.

A bit later, it was perched on a branch that had quite a different background, and its colours changed slightly as well.

I know that spiders are not the favourite creatures of many folks, but they are things that I enjoy finding and taking photos of. This first one is a Marbled Orbweaver, that similarly to the Arabesque Orbweaver shown earlier, is interestingly patterned. You can sometimes find them just on a leaf....

...or busily making its web, in hopes of capturing a few tasty flying insects to feast on.

This Pale Green Assasin Bug was on a leaf, prowling about for something to eat....

...and this young Pine Tree Spurthroat Grasshopper was on a railing obliging me.

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird was feasting at some nearby sunflower for nectar.

I spent a bit of time exploring the sandy beach, partly because Marie always had a preference for the beaches and shorelines, and came across this member of the Sand Wasp family.

Nearby the Sand Wasp, were a few of this rare orchid: the Great Plain's Ladies'-tresses. It is fairly common and widely spread in suitable habitat at Rondeau, and is coming into its prime right about now. 

Back to the more wooded habitats, was this caterpillar of the Virginia Sphinx species....

...and lots of White Ratttlesnake Root is found along many trails, especially where it isn't heavily shaded. It is a member of the Composite family, and there are so many of the Compositae family in these natural areas. Note the little green spotted Cucumber Beetle on one of the flowers.

Always an abundance of things to encounter, enjoy and photograph in high quality natural areas!!

 

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