A DISTRACTED BIRDER

The Ouimet Canyon loop May 26, 2012

From the parking lot it is a short walk to "boardwalk"
 that takes you gently down to a more level trail.
It seems like you are walking through the treetops.

This crosses a small crack (compared to Ouimet Canyon).

Looking toward Lake Superior, not that your going to see it from here.

I guess we could call this an "old growth" pine.

Lots of wildflowers were almost blooming.
Yellow Clintonia/Blue Bead Lily(look like tulip leaves)
Bunchberry (four-leaves)
Canada Mayflower (single leaf)
I find white flowers do not take a good photo with this camera.
 Something I will have to work on manual settings.

These are Wood Anemone. When they open on those delicate stems
even the slightest breeze will make them tremble.
Hence the name "windflower".

Wild Sarsaparilla, member of the Ginseng family.
The reddish leaves belong to this flower.

I've misplaced my flower book.
 Bought one June 11 - Winter Cress a.k.a. Yellow Rocket
Barbarea vulgaris
Mustard Family Brassicaceae

I never expected to see these.
Gaywings.
Fringed Polygala
There is a beautiful little patch of them on the trail between the viewing pods.

This is the first pod, looking north.
The column of rock is known locally as the "Indian head".

Looking south toward lake Superior.
 There is a second viewing  pod near the bend.

As for birds, I heard a Willow Flycatcher and a White Throated Sparrow.

On the road to and from the Canyon we saw the Belted Kingfisher,
the Eastern Kingbird and the American Bittern and a flock of Sandhill Cranes in a field.

The Red Wing Blackbird calls this home.
 An Orange Crown Warbler was not far away.

BIRDS OF DAWN

HURKETT DOCK  at sunrise , May 26, 2012

The start of a birding day.

Out in the shallows were a flock of Canada geese and one Tundra Swan. Puddling along the edge of the shore were Mallard ducks. In the inner Bay were a Common Merganser, a Bufflehead and a Common Goldeneye. Likely other ducks were hidden in the reeds. Great Blue Herons flew over. A Bald Eagle cruised around until it got chased off by some Ravens for a spell, but it came back. Other birds flitting and diving were the Barn Swallows and Tree Swallows that really love sitting on those boats. Ringbill Gulls and Herring Gulls either glided over or bobbed in the water. A Song Sparrow sang from the willows. In the reeds across the creek was a Semipalmated Plover.

If it hadn't moved I likely would have missed it.

Semipalmated Plover
Charadrius semipalmatus
Common on beaches and mudflats

We had hoped the sun would stay out as it lights up the whole western edge of the marshy bay. But the clouds moved in again and it was hard to make out the colours on the far ducks to identify any more. As we were leaving the dock an Eastern Phoebe was wagging its tail in the remains of a burnt trailer.

BUTTERFLIES FOR FREE

Dandelions are good for something besides wine.

Monarch

Monarch showing a bit of wear

Backside of the wings of the Monarch

Some manner of Sulphur -
they tend to keep their wings together.

Not sure , could be a Hop Merchant

Painted Lady

This is a dandelion.
You can see the normal stems beside it, and crossing over.
Somehow it managed to amalgamate its stems into one huge stem.
The heads have combined into one bloom.

MONARCHS OF MAY

MAY 19, 2012, my Nipigon garden visitors in a tree.

SUNBATHERS

PAINTED TURTLES

Painted turtle Chrysemys picta
Age to 11 years
Enjoying the May sunshine Maatta's Road, Nipigon

MARSH MARIGOLDS

Marsh Marigolds Caltha palustris

Don't mess around with this beautiful plant,
 I have book that says even the leaves can cause the skin to blister.

Hurkett Cove Conservation Area, May 10, 2012, complete with butterfly.
Original photo has been resized by pixels to get on this blog,
 so sharpness is missing. I hope to find a happy medium.

I couldn't see the butterfly in my viewfinder.
 The plant itself was about 20 to 25 feet away, as you can see in the other photo
 it is hard to make out, even when you know its there.
  I have cropped this down  from the last photo.

ON THE ROAD

When May Looks Like September

The Winter Burn on Maatta's Road, May 12, 2012

Poplar in leaf on the 81 Road, Kama Cliffs, May 12, 2012

Lake Superior peeking

Either the earth is round or I have to get a level.
 Lake Superior/ Kama Bay/Nipigon Bay

The new road that is going in from 81 Road toward Highway 11.
 Those are the Kama Cliffs near Highway 17.
 Soon be good blueberry country.

These are the Kama cliff tops.

Ruffed Grouse

Ruffed Grouse. One of a half dozen or so that daily patrol our yard.

Courtship.

I am looking forward to using my new camera on him.