Wildlife at Home, the Wetlands and Lakeside Park

I am surprised that there are still lots of insects at Lakeside Park. The milkweed plants at the bottom edge of the lake have provided food for many different insects. These aptly named milkweed bugs are seen feasting on the milkweed seed pods: They are displayed in their different stages in the next photo. One adult is pictured toward the top, it is the only milkweed bug with wings and a different pattern on its back: This hickory tussock moth caterpillar is fattening up before the cold weather arrives: Red squirrels and grey squirrels are busily harvesting and hiding walnuts: I love the colours on the white-throated sparrows. This one is enjoying the bounty of seeds from the goldenrod plants: And one more photo of the great blue heron: Copyright  ©  wildlakeside.blogpot.com 2019 Scott Atkinson All Rights Reserved.

This morning started with a beautiful golden sunrise that lit up the tops of the trees and slowly descended to the lake. It unfortunately did not last and was soon eclipsed by a grey sky. Undaunted by the poor light, I set out with an agenda; to photograph some of the migrating warblers that are still passing through Lakeside Park. I set off, up the side of the lake, following some yellow coloured warblers which were flitting through the undergrowth. I took any opportunity I could to photograph what I saw on the way: There were lots of hickory tussock moth caterpillars, fattening up on the remaining leaves: A catbird sat out in the open for a few moments as I passed through a clearing: And at the top edge of the lake, I again saw the merlin on its usual vantage point, watching for any unwary birds: It was a failed effort on my part. As soon as I saw a warbler and raised my lens, it was gone. I decided to make my way back to the parking area and the fir trees besid...

I posted a photo of one of these white hickory tussock moth caterpillars yesterday. They appear to be everywhere at the moment, fattening up before overwintering in a cocoon which will be hidden in this fall's leaf litter. As I mentioned yesterday, do not touch them; they are beautiful but also poisonous: It appears to be becoming something of a morning ritual. This cormorant will circle Lakeside Park at approximately the same time every morning and occasionally touch down for a snack. The cormorant dived a few times and caught what looked like a goldfish this morning before moving on: I wanted to concentrate on insects this morning, using the flash on my camera, but unfortunately, the flash drained my batteries as I was taking photos of a striped bug. I turned to my telephoto camera, but the warblers and finches were still not cooperating. The great egret was hunting in front of the reeds to my left, but a little too far away for anything of any detail. Disappointed, I d...

So many photographers at Lakeside Park this morning, and I'm sure it is the warblers migration that is attracting everyone. It's good to see people at the lake who have a real enthusiasm for nature, but for me, it was just a little too much company and I felt the need for some solitude. I headed to the far edge of the lake, walking carefully through the branch-laden undergrowth and out into the open, where I was met by this stunning great blue heron who had also put some distance between itself and the photographers who were at the base of the lake: I took a few photos as I approached the heron, walking with slow deliberate steps, making my intention clear that I was simply passing through. The heron is perhaps also becoming used to me as it never moved at all as I walked directly underneath its perch and further along the edge of the lake. I have posted photos of the larger birds of prey at Lakeside Park, while the smaller raptors have been eluding me. That is, unti...