August 14th promised to be another sweltering day. We decided on a morning walk before the worst of the heat.
Ospreys and other birds
We wanted to check if there was still a young Osprey on the nest at Greenway. We found one young bird calling urgently to be fed.
The eyes of immature Ospreys are an orange colour that gradually lightens to the yellow of adult eyes by about October of the year in which the Osprey hatched. Immature Ospreys have dark feathers edged in white, giving them a speckled appearance until the feathers moult and are replaced by dark feathers about 18 months after they fledge.
A trio of noisy American Crows flew back and forth across the road through the park and finally landed in plain view.
One of the Coves ponds extends into Greenway Park. In the shallow, sheltered water, we saw two Great Egrets and two Great Blue Herons wading in the distance.
No so many butterflies…
We thought we might find butterflies along the roadside and sunny paths. There were many Cabbage Whites and a couple of Peck’s Skippers.
Bees and other flying things
Bees in all sizes, shapes and colours made up for the scarcity of butterflies…
Bees, especially wild native bees, are the most important pollinators of food crops. There are about 800 different kinds of bees in Canada and about 400 different kinds in Ontario. Many are only identifiable at the genus level.
Western Honey Bee, a small carpenter bee, a type of sweat bee, small carpenter bee, a Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee (3 photos), another small carpenter bee, Common Eastern Bumble Bee (2 photos), Western Honey Bee.
The first two photos below are wasps (Great Golden Digger Wasp and Five-banded Thynnid Wasp). The last two are meadow flies that mimic the appearance of wasps as a form of defense against predators.
When we flushed Red-legged Grasshoppers from the path, they sometimes landed in sight. Next, a Hickory Tussock Moth, not yet flying! There were lots of Goldenrod Soldier Beetles on some Common Tansy, but not on the goldenrod that wasn’t yet in bloom.
A few invasives…
There are more and more invasive plants taking hold everywhere. Bindweed had covered much of the other vegetation along the road. Sow Thistle is an introduced plant and can affect the yield of field crops. Wild Teasel is also introduced and becomes invasive in some areas. There are five species of invasive Knapweed in Ontario. Even Bird Vetch is introduced, a fast-growing vine that can outcompete native vegetation by impacting sunlight, space, and the availability of nutrients. Sigh.
Osprey Update
We have not seen the female Osprey since sending our last post. We assume that she has left for her wintering grounds. The male is still a presence at the ballpark, perched on a light tower, sometimes consuming a fish. Before too long, he will be on his way as well.
This week’s flowers
Reminiscing
Here is the introduction to the song, “Those Were The Days”,
… Once upon a time there was a tavern
Where we used to raise a glass or two
Remember how we laughed away the hours
Think of all the great things we would do?
The song becomes much more joyous. Still, it had me thinking about songs about our better yesterdays. The playlist starts with one of the many versions of “Yesterday” on YouTube.
Yesterday – All my troubles were so far away … I’m not half the man I used to be
In My Life – There are places I remember … though some have changed
Crockodile Rock – I never knew me a better time and I guess I never will … Laa, la-la-la-la-laa
Old Time Rock and Roll – Today’s music ain’t got the same soul … I like that old time rock and roll
That Summer – There’s never been another summer … When I have ever learned so much
The Night They Drove Old Dixie Down – Like my father before me … I will work the land
