Plants and bugs of Rondeau, and another threat to some shrubs

 I've been giving my camera equipment, as well as myself, a good workout lately, but being careful not to get too caught up in the heat and humidity. Rondeau gets a lot of my attention, as most readers will know. And this is a wonderful time to find late summer flowering plants, as well as a multitude of different insects that come to visit. Here are some of the highlights, starting with plants. American Ginseng is an endangered plant, and I have been keeping an eye on a few individuals as they progress through the season. This first photo shows a plant with developing seeds. A short time after they turn red, they will fall off.

One that is coming into peak form right now is American Hog-peanut, next, a member of the legume family.

A Carolinian species that likes rich woods is next. It is known by several common names, the main one with which I always thought was appropriate is Richweed (Collinsonia canadensis).

There are quite a few along the Rondeau Road area, in various stages of development.

A colourful, but not native plant is Creeping Bellflower. It is not widespread.

One that I thought was quite late to be in flower, but was in fine condition, is Flowering Spurge. It often is found in open areas, such as prairie or savanna, but this one was along a heavily shaded road edge.

Great Blue Lobelia, next, is fairly widespread and distinctive.

Indian Tobacco

Lopseed

A plant that I am always on the hunt for, although knowing its unpredictability in flowering makes it a challenge even at the best of times, is this little orchid, the Nodding Pogonia. It is an endangered species, with the only known location in Canada being at Rondeau. It is often very difficult to see, as this next photo shows. I photographed this with a 100 mm macro lens at a distance of about 6 inches! It can easily be missed, or worse, stepped on, so its location is not advertised, and even I seldom go out unless I think the weather has triggered its flowering, when it is more noticeable.

It looks a little bit showier when it finally opens, for a day.

Pale-leaved Woodland Sunflower

Another endangered species is next. It is Rough Blazing-star, and generally considered to be a prairie or savanna species. It occurs in a couple of savanna type habitats at the park.

Related to the Creeping Bellflower, shown earlier, is this native one, known as Tall Bellflower.

And a tall flowering plant but with tiny flowers is next: White Vervain.

Wood Nettle

And finally, Woodland Sunflower. It differs from the Pale-leaved Woodland Sunflower, shown previously, in that the base of the leaves are tightly clasping the stem.

And there are various insects to see in a variety of places.

Ailanthus Webworm Moth (not native)

Fall Webworm Moth caterpillar

Next is a member of the Leafcutter Bee group. Specific species is yet to be determined.

Lemon Cuckoo Bumble Bee

Northern Paper Wasp

Next is a Perennial Mason Wasp, an endangered species.

Pitted Mason Wasp

Pure Green Sweat Bee

Spurred Ceratina

On one occasion when I was out exploring I came across this chunky looking caterpillar. It is a Tulip-tree Silk Moth, the first time I had ever seen this caterpillar.

It was partially wrapped up in this dead American Beech leaf when I first discovered it.

 For anyone who has been out roaming the park in recent weeks, you might have noticed a lot of Spicebush shrubs looking very unhealthy. Some just show signs of a problem with a few of the outer leaves....

...while others are completely dead, or at least appearing so.

 The cause is somewhat inconclusive at this point, but there are several things that may be happening. The most likely one is something called Laurel Wilt. Regardless, it is quite widespread at Rondeau, especially towards the north end. Hopefully the cause can be determined, but it is unknown what a solution might be, if any exists. I plan to discuss some of the major forest changes at Rondeau in more detail in a future post.

 Also a reminder is that both my books, Life On A Sandspit, and Natural Treasures of Chatham-Kent, are available at the following locations:

-Friends of Rondeau Bookstore (inside the Rondeau Visitor Centre) 

-Bayview Market, just outside the Rondeau gates

-Mindful Market and Eco Hub, main street, Blenheim

-Mitton's Jewelers, main street, Ridgetown 

-Book Brothers, King St E, Chatham 

 

If you would like to subscribe, or unsubscribe, to Nature Nuggets, send an email to: prairietramper@gmail.com 

 

Autumn migration, re-appearance of an endangered orchid, and more!

 There is always something to see, even in the mid-summer heat. I haven't ventured too far, but try and catch up to as many things as I can, all the while being a bit more focused on things to help move my next book project along.

The autumn shorebird migration is well underway, as evidenced by an increase in the species and numbers at sewage lagoons or areas of exposed mudflats. One of the highlights was to see my first of year Stilt Sandpiper....

..and my first of the fall, Pectoral Sandpiper.

Both Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs are around, at least in small numbers

Lesser Yellowlegs

Least Sandpiper

Spotted Sandpipers are quite plentiful these days, with both adults....

...and the unspotted young. It is not uncommon to see 30 or more at the lagoons.

Anytime I get close to wetlands, there are some of the larger birds to be seen. None are migrants, yet, and will likely be around for a few months. These all breed in the area, so are just out wandering around feeding, etc.

It is a bit hard to believe that Sandhill Cranes used to be a bit of a rarity, but now you can find them quite regularly, since they have become regular breeders in the larger wetlands. This one was feeding with its mate, in a recently harvested wheat field.

It is the time of year when some of the tallgrass prairie plants are nice and showy, and not always in a prairie. Flowering Spurge, shown first, usually occurs in wide open prairie and savanna sites, but this one was along the more forested Black Oak Trail at Rondeau.

Gray-headed Coneflower is doing well in any kind of a prairie setting, along with its tallgrass prairie companions.

Culver's-root is a rarity of the tallgrass prairies.

While I was on my way to check on the Nodding Pogonia, the endangered orchid that only occurs in Canada at Rondeau, I came across this moth in the grass along the trail. It is a Giant Leopard Moth, and fairly uncommon. I think it is only my second record for Rondeau.

The orchids I was searching for were not out in flower on this visit, but a few days later, found some that had been in flower the day before. The blooms only last for a single day. This photo is from a previous year, and I have been checking up on this orchid in various ways for exactly 50 years! Needless to say I will be out again shortly when the conditions are right for the next blooming period, so stay tuned for an update (hopefully!).

With a fair bit of moisture in recent weeks, it bodes well for a good showing of fungi. They are fun to find and photograph, but not as much fun to try and identify. Here are some of the more distinctive or colourful ones I have encountered in recent days. The first ones have not been nailed down as to species quite yet. I often try and photograph the gills on the underside, as they can assist in their identification.

This next one is quite possibly a Lactarious psammicola. I am not aware of a common name.

This next one is probably a Red-mouth Bolete.

And finally, a Yellow Earth Tongue, sometimes called an Orange Earth Tongue, and typically grows out of a mossy log.

If you would like to subscribe, or unsubscribe, to Nature Nuggets, send an email to: prairietramper@gmail.com