Last post I predicted that the first Red-winged Blackbird of the season would show up last weekend. That has not happened yet! I suspect within the next week I will see the first, hopefully by March Break at least! February 29th is the latest date I have seen them arrive in the neighborhood (for as long as I have been keeping tabs anyways). Still have a chance to "tie" that, but looks as though we will be pushing the arrival further into March!
Last weekend I took advantage of the nice weather and went out to one of London's ESAs (Environmentally Significant Areas). I was intending to scout out a spot I suspected had Mudpuppies and that I could potentially return to at night. Alas, I found that the water was just too deep, cold, and fast moving to carry out said operation with any success. Perhaps if I had waders (which I don't because they don't make them in my size!)
I did note a few other things in the shallower parts, such as some aquatic plants and river mussels.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgj7_gXhz2SLyHY7KVTmQLOGdP8q_R10xD5fVHhYrKk0-ZKmGbKVwgmPS8DSBr9vhHozvD4z59jB-lQGzA__X_daX2lOc2LkNnNLI0DZ3zd9_zKPpFRVdV3V7ZOVOtNj3D5Zmjy2Zh2Iapl/s320/IMG_4032.JPG) |
Plain Pocketbook (Lampsilis cardium) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsglsi6VjNQT9gSKlHV9pJSa7boW8qtLSQ3Y2C8wBZi6mQAgYRmhgeNUNCMAaUu54SHbWl0FukV3EQFB1m39hF4HOKW6r1m1CKh0DkYyY7k6d2RL6h4ozQ1wy-D0A30dyw7YhjnHauxzwE/s320/IMG_4024.JPG) |
Giant Floater Mussel (Pyganodon grandis) |
I found a neat genus of moss,
Fontinalis, which attaches itself to rocks submerged underwater. I found a couple other species of moss that were submerged, however I was unable to ID them (as of yet anyways, grabbed a couple samples!).
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjunQSeBXtmLOw3EnXSiyvrf_Ea0iOBR5nXrqpFfpzjdg5mkLLR0JNok-qg2EqC8wRGTPsyviALaY2i5fZQTd8rDgcxpyyybS4vAGrfLBtQwBJPzeHFBsaV3OIJEdYdebrbA8HHF0VAmmXj/s320/IMG_4020.JPG) |
Fontinalis dalecarlica |
Fish were surprisingly scarce. I only caught one, and in addition saw another one which narrowly escaped my net, which was likely a Central Stoneroller.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsUJxPgd89pWlE_ovKPxsmpc9jNFdFeeCUblG8LaXoC-7oAPfZFoYkIUsWNdqxm7v_zuZUGwUlDA-T4rAPudEZETkGkijlNA1z0AHnjDd7rSJIJxz7_UJtmuHR3b8npuUKevq7AlrRoSwA/s320/IMG_4117.JPG) |
Rainbow Darter (Etheostoma caeruleum) |
I explored the forest a little bit too.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYpRe2GWWNCvZJUfnKIoVMwSJlF3uGBnXHSI3kIf6-1KPD0zWtMmlI9mSJh-dE9KFpYiZCj1kL8QcIWlj3VkVnpSa-D9l7oh6KufbEv43uRnj5kP2QJzEmhizWJhE9gzrzsO4UvfyDPZ5e/s320/IMG_4057.JPG) |
White Ash (Fraxinus americana) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi340V9WeBLHF_guBMVStcmt1f1zQVAPPVQD_0i_34IkC5hUb62Sko7yN-MUT9RUlPKKuBbmjgF1jfBpSaKrF9ukQ86Hw5lb0H48ala_1UoFJSgMoVemoLVvDWSrRqEQPttkBhcWKzuBtj1/s320/IMG_4083.JPG) |
Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_a9usXc8FcMc8LsWeqGiVlTISdEd7XnCLcdzCu9cDC0N1CkJq6X2bkRpGw4q7XTEqBgH19VpkItl9rCBxKA3NgwE763G7M6g-R38_E17_vIhffBStbJoTp6fuss7Od8XENDpov7lCdtIo/s320/IMG_4196.JPG) |
Common Buckthorn (
Rhamnus cathartica)
|
This is Oriental Bitterswee
t (
Celastrus orbiculatus). It is similar to the American Bittersweet (
Celastrus scandens) I found last week, however it is an invasive species.
I found a nice Butternut tree (
Juglans cinerea).
Unfortunate for the tree, but interesting for me was the presence of Butternut Canker (
Sirococcus clavigignenti-juglandacearum). Butterut Canker is a fungus that (I am pretty sure anyways) will eventually kill the tree.
There were a number of small insects taking advantage of the warmer weather, including many stoneflies. I am pretty sure they are of the species
Allocapnia maria.
Of course, I am always on the lookout for interesting fungus.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4lLC037lHF4tCVvAplcdj4I7cSmjGVKV9_0rgFq5FUluHZywTbpuCPoZyZIt3Io7Q_IkwubdMUqELHFQ2matr6i0lx1fChcPYpfEmo5tj3R6WKiUvIgCFbS37VcwQxdkfpCB2as1wiK3k/s320/IMG_4269+%25282%2529.JPG) |
Coryne Dubia |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgdUv9XejVOgRErOyECuR-0HloBIcxpdYk656bHg4jXp8aHi4i-PLj-03ivsyeblNfH6T30GCs94V2EMmbjThfpN6Eh72r-PJe1Clwla14GYlXiOvzuThGF1HXBdVcqHd_iWpWX7ZLFcM9f/s320/IMG_4254.JPG) |
Crystal Brain (Exidia nucleata) |
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCGB7ltxoeDSJqD85F2a9caJVJXjBDr3DovC3ZiAAcEqzTeUwwMYnsmc8DoKncSZzqNUmBfa5xhp0mvmrFLLASqE85cNTyNWJ3BHrTOnMYNcFtutLQLspxZOcNHtWQYKQK42gvCe6MJKzh/s320/IMG_4212.JPG) |
Jelly Spot (Dacrymyces stillatus) |
On a side note, my friend Nathan just started a blog. Currently he is documenting his attempt at a Waterloo county big year. Go check it out
here!