Snowy Egrets at Big Creek in Amherstburg

I went birding this afternoon at Ojibway Park and met up with Kit. We walked the tallgrass prairie area but other than a brief pocket of warblers it was pretty quiet. I did get really good looks at a Southbound Canada Warbler which was nice. I think it might be my first southbound Canada Warbler at Ojibway. Canada Warblers are my favorite Warbler Species! Common Nighthawks were noted flying overhead at Ojibway.

After our walk, Kit asked if I had seen the Snowy Egrets in Amherstburg. We headed out and sure enough we saw our target birds - two Snowy Egrets! We were hoping to pick out a Little Blue Heron but no, none were seen. Kit mentioned he still hasn't seen a Horned Lark, and along concession 7, just outside of Holiday Beach, I found some in a recently ploughed farmers' field.

Canada Warbler at Ojibway Park

False Smooth Foxglove at Ojibway Park

Good birding!
Dwayne

Late Summer Birds, Plants at Ojibway Park, South Cameron Woodlot

New England Aster

I've had a few more cool birds show up in my back yard this week:

Wilson's Warbler (first for the year!),
Nashville Warbler,
American Redstart,
Swainson's Thrush,
Great crested Flycatcher,
Northern Flicker

Nothing super rare but still, nice birds to be looking at from one's back porch--- whilst bbqing.

Wilson's Warbler - A new yardbird!

Drama at the Hummingbird Feeder

Can you find two warbler species in this Golden Alexander Plant

Milkweed Tussock Moth Caterpillar

The tallgrass prairie at Ojibway, and behind my house has peaked in terms of the late summer wildflower show. I've attempted to photograph and label some of the species at the tallgrass prairie that I recognize.  Some botanical highlights this week are:

Tall Ironweed (7' tall)
Tall Sunflower (8' tall)
Prairie Dock (common along the edge of South Cameron Woodlot)
Bottle Gentian (aka Closed Gentian)
Big Bluestem
Prairie Cordgrass
Switchgrass
Indian Grass
White Boneset
Sneezeweed
Nodding Ladies Tresses
Joe-Pye Weed
Smooth False  Foxglove

Bottle Gentian (or Closed Gentian)

Nodding Ladies Tresses - Ojibway Park

I've walked through the tallgrass prairie at Ojbiway for years, and always found this time of year to be enjoyable. An ocean of colour from the late summer wildflowers and lots of tallgrass to walk through. This year might be the first year I've attempted to photograph and ID some of the grass species that are present. One tallgrass plant that I did not seem to locate yet is little bluestem. I will keep an eye out for it though.  

Indian Grass

Switchgrass

Big Bluestem

Prairie Cordgrass

Joe-Pye Weed

Sneezeweed or Swamp Sunflower

White Boneset

Smooth False Foxglove

I must admit that I derive great satisfaction at looking at a plant and knowing its name, and perhaps a little about it. Plants can have their own story as well. The Indian Potato above has tuberous roots that you could prepare like Potatoes. Boneset used to placed in peoples casts as they thought it would help heal broken bones. Bottle Gentian is a flower that never "opens up" only a few insects that are willing to wrestle themselves into the flower will exchange polinating services for nectar. 

I have two last bontanical goals for the year: Fringed Gentian and with a little luck ... Great Plains Ladies Tresses!

I'm open to corrections on any of the species identified here!

Good Birding, Leping, Herping and Botanizing!
Dwayne

Bottle Gentians were featured on the 1 cent stamp in 1977