If you are anywhere near Lake Ontario these days you may be besieged by battalions of Midges.

Midges are tiny, non-biting bugs that swarm together.

These bugs can be seen throughout the year but they’re most noticeable when there are mass emergences of adults, which is most common in the spring and fall.

The insects feed on plants and hatch in water and the sunlight draws them out.



During my walk near the eastern end of the Bluffs, I saw rabbits several times.





and my first photographable White-throated Sparrow of the spring.



A migrating Sapsucker was also about:

TODAY’S MYSTERY PLANT
At the conclusion of the post, I will identify it.

Other birds:
















Some botany:












MYSTERY PLANT
If you have seen more than a few of these posts you will know how often I photograph this beautiful, bright red-stemmed plant: Red-osier Dogwood.

NATURE POETRY
Shy bird of the silver arrows of song,
That cleave our Northern air so clear,
Thy notes prolong, prolong,
I listen, I hear:
“I – love – dear – Canada,
Canada, Canada.” – Theodore Rand
Miles Hearn
Once again, beautiful pictures of beautiful things. As for the midges–yes, I have encountered swarms of them before, especially near the Lake. I should have identified that Red-osier Dogwood, because when you showed it not long ago, I thought of how it resembled the “rabbit head” of the Wayfaring Tree. Thanks, Miles!