What makes those holes in Goldenrod Galls? Beechwood / Don Valley (10 am & 1 pm groups) / October 8, 2019

Every winter, I notice holes in Goldenrod galls.

Goldenrod gall with bird drilling

I’ve guessed that it is Chickadees or Woodpeckers. At least part of the mystery was solved today as you can see from these photos.

Downy Woodpecker (male ) with Goldenrod Gall
Downy Woodpecker (male ) with Goldenrod Gall
Downy Woodpecker (male ) with Goldenrod Gall
Downy Woodpecker (male ) with Goldenrod Gall

Species list: mallard, wood duck, red-tailed hawk, ring-billed gull, belted kingfisher, hairy woodpecker, downy woodpecker, blue jay, American crow, black-capped chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, American robin, veery, European starling, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, white-crowned sparrow, song sparrow.  (18 species)

Mallards

There were many grasshoppers and some butterflies present in both morning & afternoon on this sunny, 10 – 15 degree day.

Two-striped Grasshopper (Melanoplus bivittatus) 
probably a Two-striped Grasshopper (Melanoplus bivittatus) 
probably a Red-legged Grasshopper (Melanoplus femurrubrum)
Red-legged Grasshopper (Melanoplus femurrubrum)
Hooded Owlet moth (genus Cucullia
Painted Lady

Some Botany:

Water Smartweed (Persicaria amphibia)
Wild-cucumber (Echinocystis lobata)
Panicled Aster (Symphyotrichum lanceolatum)
White Snakeroot (Ageratina altissima)
Heart-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium))
Arrow-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum urophyllum)

Park scenes:

10 a.m. group:

1 p.m. group

NATURE POETRY

Every leaf speaks bliss to me,
Fluttering from the autumn tree.       – Emily Jane Brontë (1818–48)

Miles Hearn

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *