Kilally Meadows Environmentally Significant Area (ESA) is located in the floodplains of the North Thames River. It encompasses open meadows, riverside woods and swamps.
We went to Kilally on a sunny afternoon in early June.
Wildflowers were in bloom: Oxeye Daisy, Red Raspberry, Woodland Anemone, Black Medic, Bladder Campion.
Some non-native and invasive plants are taking hold here as well. According to Ontario’s Invading Species Awareness Program, Dog-strangling Vine forms dense stands and thick mats that crowd out native plants and young trees, preventing forest regeneration. Because its leaves and roots may be toxic, deer and other browsers avoid it, putting greater pressure on native plants. Dog-strangling vine is also a threat to the Monarch butterfly. Because it is a member of the milkweed family, Monarchs may lay their eggs on its leaves. When the larvae hatch, the leaves do not supply the nutrition needed and the larvae die.
Dame’s Rocket is non-native plant that proliferates in floodplains and moist forests and meadows. Although it looks attractive, it takes up space that would otherwise be occupied by a variety of native plants.
Near the beginning of our walk, a bird flew across the path in front of us and landed on a branch in full view. This female American Redstart seemed unconcerned by our presence and stayed perched for some time before moving to another branch, still in view.
We could hear a House Wren singing before we came across this beauty perched on a nesting box in the meadow.
We saw a few other resident birds: Northern Cardinal, Gray Catbird, American Robin, Song Sparrow, Mallards.
We found a variety of pollinators along the way.
Common Eastern Bumble Bees were visiting Dame’s Rocket. Non-native plants may provide only some of the nutrients needed by native insects. Many insects have developed longstanding, specialized relationships with specific host plants that are necessary to their proper development.
Some flies look like flies, but others do not!
Osprey Update
We continue to see only one chick at feeding time. This appears to be an only child. The male continues to deliver fish. We have not caught sight of the chick this week, but see the female reach into the nest to feed. In the heat, the female holds her wings away from her body, perhaps both to shade the chick and cool her own body.
Wandering Bee Bouquet
Heat Wave
The heat dome that plagued the U.S. made it’s way north this week. For five days we have had relentlessly high temperatures (into the low 30s) with high humidity (into the 40s) and little relief at night. The temperature is expected to drop on Sunday night.
Music for a hot summer day
/https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhsgho1ap5ip_hhyFhu-BXtcyrMbDSOwM
This YouTube playlist has
- Heat Wave (Joan Osborne cover with The Funk Brothers)
- Summertime Blues (Eddie Cochrane cover)
- Summer in the City (Lovin’ Spoonful)
- Hot Stuff (Donna Summer)
- Hot Fun in the Summertime (Sly and the Family Stone)
- All Summer Long (Beach Boys)
- Summertime (Ella Fitzgerald)
- Walking on Sunshine (Katrina of Katrina & The Waves)
- Sunny Days (Lighthouse)
- Saturday in the Park (Chicago)
- Summertime Blues (The Who – at Woodstock)