Midges, Bunnies and a White-throat: April 2021

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

Midges

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

Midges

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.

Midges

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

Midges
Midge
Midges

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

Cottontail Rabbit
Cottontail Rabbit
Cottontail Rabbit

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

White-throated Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow

A migrating Sapsucker was also about:

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (male)

TODAY’S MYSTERY PLANT

At the conclusion of the post, I will identify it.

Other birds:

Song Sparrow
Red-breasted Mergansers
Common Grackle
Northern Cardinal (male)
Buffleheads
Red-winged Blackbird (male)
American Robin
American Robin
Black-capped Chickadee
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal (male)
Double-crested Cormorants
Field Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird (male)
Field Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird (male)

Some botany:

Indian-hemp (Apocynum cannabinum)
Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides)
Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
Willow (Salix)
Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides)
Japanese Ladybug on Silver Maple twig
Manitoba Maple (Acer negundo)
Willow (Salix)
Weeping Willow (Salix)
Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)
Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)

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.

Red-osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)

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

1 thought on “Midges, Bunnies and a White-throat: April 2021

  1. Lisa Volkov

    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!

    Reply

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