A Monarch Butterfly (Danaus plexippus) feeding before the long journey south all the way to the mountains of central Mexico where it will overwinter. Next spring the offspring of this butterfly will then migrate back north over multiple generations before arriving back in Canada and repeating the process after the summer
Bright pink Broad-leaved Sweet Pea (Lathyrus latifolius) flowers against a deep green background
Birdsfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatus) in amongst the greenery
Sunset tree silhouette out on the lake during fieldwork
A Smooth Green Snake (Opheodrys vernalis) found while out in the field. This was one of only three seen during the full season
Here is one of the 30-40 Monarchs (Danaus plexippus) that were flitting around in a big stand of Goldenrods (Solidago sp.) as they collected enough nectar to continue their journey to Mexico!
Sulphur Cinquefoil (Potentilla recta) flowering in a scrubby area. Sometime you just need to look a little closer to find the natural world doing it’s thing!
A Hairy-banded Mining Bee (Andrena hirticincta) making the most of the plentiful Goldenrods (Solidago sp.) that can be found all over the place during late summer and early autumn
A juvenile Ring-billed Gull (Larus argentatus) flying high above the Otonabee River
Quintessential Canadian Shield habitat, lakes and mixed forest providing habitat for birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and so much more!
It May look like this Northern Water Snake (Nerodia sipedon) is blind or has something wrong with its eyes but luckily this is actually just a sign that it is about to shed it skin, as this is how snakes are able to grow! This particular snake was having a hard time seeing me which just goes to show how vulnerable they can be at this stage in the shedding process
A Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) hopping from rock to rock in Jackson Creek
Hidden in amongst the shrubbery is a Red-eyed Vireo (Vireo olivaceus), if you look closely you may be able to see the insect that he’s plucked from the branch!
Yellow flowers seem to dominate in the autumn and Goldenrods (Solidago sp.) seem to be among the most abundant!
Common Blue Wood Asters (Symphyotrichum cordifolium) making the most of the warm weather before autumn sets in
Holding down his Patch of lakefront is a big American bullfrog (Lithobates catesbeianus). This is a very dark morph of the usually quite green frogs, this species is the largest of all North American frogs
Sunset on the Lake
On the prowl through the undergrowth is an Eastern Garter Snake (Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis)
A Hoverfly in the Chrysotoxum family mimicking wasps and bees
Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina) looking quite prehistoric!
A Field of Fleabanes (Erigeron sp)
A Ring-billed Gull (Larus argentatus) lit up by the evening sun
A delicate Chicory (Cichorium intybus) flower waiting for some pollinators
Black Huckleberry (Gaylussacia baccata) out along the lakeshore slowly turning red as autumn
Smooth Blue Aster (Symphyotrichum laeve) covered in droplets our in the woodlands
Wild Carrot (Daucus carota) about to disperse it’s seeds
White Heath Aster (Symphyotrichum ericoides) lit up by the autumn sun
Paper Birch (Betula papyrifera) leaves backlit by the warm autumn sun
Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) taking over a log on the forest floor
A proud looking Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) contemplating his next move