Yearly Pilgrimage to Bird Feed Store: August 2020

Over the years, I have discovered that the birds in my yard eat about 300 pounds of seed in twelve months.

As I don’t like a mess of sunflower seed shells under the feeder, I feed them sunflower seeds with the shells already removed:

Crack Sunflower Chips

“Crack sunflower chips” are not sold in local stores so I must travel to rural feed stores. On one occasion I drove an hour only to find that they had no sunflower chips despite having been told on the telephone that they did. Another place where I went for years is now closed.

This year, I found this place on-line and was delighted that they had 300 pounds available. I quickly hopped in the car and drove to Caledon East.

Another year of bird happiness in the garden!

En route, I stopped on a gravel road by a small wetland:


I explored and photographed in the area for about one hour. These are the only vehicles which passed:

I found two plants that I had to look up in a guide. The first is a garden escapee:

Everlasting Pea (Lathyrus latifolius)
Everlasting Pea (Lathyrus latifolius)
Everlasting Pea (Lathyrus latifolius)

The second was Wild Garlic:

Wild Garlic (Allium canadense)
Wild Garlic (Allium canadense)
Wild Garlic (Allium canadense)

Even though it was midsummer, two plants that I associate with fall were in flower:

Panicled Aster (Symphyotrichum lanceoltum)
Common Ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

Other botany:

Tamarack (Larix laricina)
Bull Thistle (Cirsium vulgare)
Virgin’s-bower (Clematis virginiana)
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
Downy Willow-herb (Epilobium strictum)
Downy Willow-herb (Epilobium strictum)
Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
Ostrich Fern
Sensitive Fern
Marsh Fern
Indian-hemp (Apocynum cannabinum)
Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum)
Common Valerian (Valeriana officinalis)
Japanese Brome (Bromus japonicus)
Tall Meadow-rue (Thalictrum pubescens)
Wild Mint (Mentha canadensis)
Orange Day-lily (Hemerocallis fulva)
Joe-pye-weed (Eutrochium maculatum)
Joe-pye-weed (Eutrochium maculatum)
Curled Dock (Rumex crispus)
Corn field
Corn
Alternate-leaved Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)

Some flyers:

 Autumn Meadowhawk
 White-faced Meadowhawk
 White-faced Meadowhawk
Carolina Grasshopper
male Common Whitetail
male Common Whitetail
male Common Whitetail

Thanks to Ken Sproule for assistance in insect identification.

Red Soldier Beetles in Meadowsweet
Red Soldier Beetles in Queen-Anne’s-lace
Red Soldier Beetles in Queen-Anne’s-lace
American Crows
Song Sparrow
Song Sparrow

NATURE POETRY

O Earth, that hast no voice, confide to me a voice!
O harvest of my lands! O boundless summer growths!
O lavish, brown, parturient earth! O infinite, teeming womb!
A verse to seek, to see, to narrate thee.                                – Walt Whitman (1819–92)

Miles Hearn

3 thoughts on “Yearly Pilgrimage to Bird Feed Store: August 2020

  1. Lisa Volkov

    Good for you, Miles! You really are for the birds, and how many times have you had to hear that one (groan), but it’s so true!
    And such beautiful plants, entrancing creatures, even the road is a wonderful thing to see. Thank you so much, Miles!

    Reply
  2. Joyce Sparks

    I was so pleased to see your photos of wild garlic and Everlasting Pea since I, too, came across these plants on my outings recently and wasn’t sure what they were. Love your daily postings.

    Reply
  3. Charles Bruce-Thompson

    Perhaps, one of these days, a selection of photos you’ve taken of the birds you’ve seen at your feeder?

    Reply

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