Bobolink

Couple on quest to protect  bobolink

It’s unfortunate the bobolink can’t read. Otherwise, it would see the writing on the wall and make the necessary migration adjustment.
As it is, within the next decade, with the extension of the James Snow Parkway and other designated development, the songbird’s nesting space in the tall grasses of the expansive farmlands between Milton and Oakville could be wiped out.

Another Rare Moth Spotted at Glenorchy - Short-Lined Chocolate

This summer resulted in a real find as a Short-Lined Chocolate was discovered in the woods at Glenorchy. This dapper creature is a striking dark brown moth with diagonal thin white lines across the wing and a grayish wing border. The Short-Lined Chocolate, Argyrostrotis anilis, is a day flier, which is why it was out and about this July 1.

A search of the Ontario Insects website found only three references to this moth over the last 25 years.. These include a 1995 survey of Red Hill Valley by Bill Lamond, where its status was tentatively listed as Uncommon. Previously it was observed in 1984 at Pinery Provincial Park by Dr. Dale F. Schweitzer and again in 1991 by Alan Wormington near Westover and Hayesland. Local naturalists Bill McIlveen and his wife Irene have seen it only once, at Kerns Quarry in Waterdown. A web search indicates several recent beautiful photos of this species in the Ottawa area by Christine Hanrahan of the Ottawa Field Naturalists. Lynn Scott also maintains a site for moths observed in Ottawa. 

The rarity of this species is perhaps best underlined by a study being documented at the Discover Life website. This site has many excellent and unique projects related to biodiversity. Over the past two years John Pickering has been coordinating a project on moths. Two years of data collection at his site in Georgia has resulted in only 5 occurrences for this species out of a total of over 29,000 occurrences for 639 species.

Blue-fronted Dancer Damselfly

Blue-fronted Dancer

Another Unusual Moth - LeConte's Haploa

Another unusual moth at Glenorchy....

Carnage on Neyagawa - Virginia Opossum

This was a Virginia Opossum...killed on Neyagawa this summer.  
 

New Jersey Tea

New Jersey Tea is a shrub considered rare in this portion of the GTA. 

Painted Trillium

Note the long petioles on the leafy bracts which would suggest that these are Painted Trilliums.....

Another Rare Moth - Spotted Thyris

Another rare moth at Glenorchy....this one feeds on Houstonia and Clematis.
Find out more about this moth......
DiscoverLife 
Butterflies and Moths of North America

Virginia Bluebells - a special wildflower



False Mermaid - a Rare Vascular Plant

False Mermaid  (Floerkea proserpinacoides) 

Of note:

        "A flower of F. proserpinacoides is the logo for the Flora of North America project."

Find out more about this species at DiscoverLife

Black-throated Green Warbler

Black-throated Green Warbler singing in the Sixteen Mile Creek at Glenorchy in the vicinity of the proposed James Snow Parkway.  Recorded May 22, 2011.     

Bald Eagle Alert!!

Bald Eagle sighted at Glenorchy!


Bald Eagle Alert