Algonquin Scenes

This past Saturday, my family and I went to Algonquin Park. They wanted to see some fall colours, and I figured I could see some plants along the way!

After a 4:30am departure from London, we arrived in the park shortly after 10am. The leaves didn't disappoint.

Wanting to avoid the crowds, I suggested we try the Old Railbed, up Arowhon Road. It proved to be relatively quiet, away from the hustle and bustle of the main highway!

Arowhon Road

I hadn't been to the railbed since 2017, so it was nice to be back. Since vascular plants are starting to die down for the year (though there are still plenty to look at!), I have started to look at moss again. Here are the obligatory moss pictures :) 

Ribbed Bog Moss (Aulacomniu palustre)

Knight's Plume Moss (Ptilium crista-castrensis)

Dicranum sp. (tbd)

Red-stemmed Feather Moss (Pleurozium schreberi)

Juniper Haircap Moss (Polytrichum juniperinum)

Bristly Haircap Moss (Polytrichum piliferum)

I liked how this photo of Houghton's Sedge (Carex houghtoniana) turned out.

I didn't really have any special birds. Lots of chickadees and nuthatches, as well as a few warblers (Palm and Myrtle). A single flyover Rusty Blackbird and a young Yellow-bellied Sapsucker were probably the highlights.

We only made it as far as Wolf Howl Pond. Very picturesque. There was a pair of Wood Ducks and a few Ring-necked Ducks present on the pond. I should not I saw a Compton Tortoiseshell, the first I have seen in Algonquin. Good year for them, I have recently even seen some in London!

Next up was lunch. As expected, the lunch areas were crazy, but luckily we were able to find a nice quiet spot in the outdoor theatre parking lot.

Prickly-tree Clubmoss (Dendrolycopodium dendroideum)

Fringed Brome (Bromus ciliatus)

After a stop at the VC (picked up a book on ferns and an Algonquin bryophyte checklist), we went to the logging museum. It is a neat little place.

Bebb's Willow (Salix bebbiana)

Narrow-leaved Gentian (Gentiana linearis)

We went to Spruce Bog next. Not much to report on there, but it always a nice place to stop.

Last stop was the Old Airfield. I had the place to myself! 

Leathery Grapefern (Sceptridium multifidum) was a new one for me.

A good end to a great day! The crowds can be a little ridiculous at times, especially with the current situation, but we managed to avoid them for the most part. Algonquin remains one of my favourite places to explore.

 

Recent Happenings

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.

Plain Pocketbook (Lampsilis cardium)

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!).

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.

Rainbow Darter (Etheostoma caeruleum)

I explored the forest a little bit too.

White Ash (Fraxinus americana)

Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana)

Common Buckthorn (

Rhamnus cathartica)

This is Oriental Bittersweet (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.

Coryne Dubia

Crystal Brain (Exidia nucleata)

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!

Thursday Tidbits

School was cancelled today, so I went out on a hike to enjoy the nice weather. My destination of choice for today was Fanshawe Lake in London. 

My main focus today was plants, but found a couple other things as well. Lots of migrant Horned Larks today, as well as a Pileated Woodpecker. Found this friendly little Striped Skunk, apparently unconcerned with me being less than 10 feet away. 

I am a newbie to winter tree ID, but here are a couple that I have been able to identify. I must say, it seems tricky (and is), but I could see how this could become addicting... 

Boxelder Maple (Acer negundo)

Butternut (Juglans cinerea)

Autumn Olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)

Basswood (Tilia americana)

Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis)

Eastern Hop-Hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)

American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana)

I enjoy the challenge of mosses as well. Found a few species today.

Atrichum sp.

Sword Moss (Callicladium haldanianum)

Delicate Fern Moss (Thuidium delicatulum)

I am a person who is easily distracted, and today was no exception. I, of course, had to stop and look at some fungi and lichens!

Exidia recisa

Phomopsis sp.

Stump Puffball (Lycoperdon pyriforme)

Candelariella sp. (likely C. aurella)

Ceramic Parchment (Xylobolus frustulatus)

Splitgill Mushroom (Schizophyllum commune)

A few miscellaneous finds...

American Bittersweet (Celastrus scandens)

Red Bartsia (Odontites vernus)

Prickly Ash (Zanthoxylum americanum)

Unidentified tree disease (?)

A fun afternoon out, and got a good hike. Seems like a good place to visit in the future!

Oh, and just for fun, I'll make my prediction that the first Red-winged Blackbird of the season for the pond down my street will show up either tomorrow or Saturday. If I average out my spring arrival dates for that location, I get February 22, which, low and behold, is tomorrow. It is supposed to be warm the next few days, so maybe that'll give them a little extra push.