Sunday, July 17, 2011

Hiking the Long Lake Wetlands. A Post to My World Tuesday.

Looking North
 With the uneven weather I'm a bit out of shape, so I took a concerted effort to hike twice in a row. Remember I'm lame so I have to work at this a lot harder than you. I suppose the heat and humidity isn't helping either. Anyway this brought me to the wetlands twice in a row, no real chore of course. These are two views of the wetland itself.


I had said in a previous post that I would add some further fireweed shots to show you its vivid colour. It gets its name from the fact that it is the first plant to begin the regeneration cycle after a forest fire. Nature is pretty smart. This weed is growing in an area of pin cherries, and dogwood on the borders of a small creek that feed the lower wetlands. The larger shots are not as advanced as the field shot, as the blooms start at the bottom and move upwards. You can see the pink tips on the plant in the field shot.
From The Southern End.

Field of Fireweed

Fireweed

Close Up.

Goat's Beard.

Spreading Dog bane.

Common Milkweed.

Bladder Campion.

Common Yarrow.

Common Mullein

Ripe Blueberries.

 All of the wildflowers are growing like crazy. The milkweed is covered in insects as you can see.The biggest problem was avoiding the stinging insects. Goat's Beard and Campion are favourites of mine so I include them wherever I can. Yarrow is distinguished from Queen Anne's lace by the fern like leaves. The blueberries no longer exist; I ate them all. The flowers of the Common Mullein grow on the stalk, and only a few seem to bloom at a time.


Dragonfly
 I included the dragonflies for Bob and Birgitta who were so intrigued by my previous post. This is a white Dragonfly in the top photo, and if you look closely at the wings in the second photo, they're two tone, clear and brown. He's also a white dragonfly. The moth is a close up of the one in the milkweed photo. I think Blogger is telling me that I'm out of copy space. But no post would be complete without a few birds.

So I included the Waxwings, the Song Sparrows, the Goldfinch, and the Robin to finish off. I'm not certain if the in flight pictures are of a Raven or a crow. It's too hard to tell.
Moth.

Cedar Waxwing.

Cedar Waxwing.

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow


Raven or Crow.

Robin

Male Goldfinch.
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37 comments:

  1. LouiseJuly 17, 2011 at 10:32 AM

    I'm very glad that you ate all of those blueberries. There is nothing quite as good as berries eaten right in the field, sometimes still warm from the sun. The fireweed is spectacular, but it's your pictures of birds that fascinate me. They're so clear, and so close. Even if you have a fancy lens, it takes a lot of patience to get so many pictures, of so many different kinds of birds. Usually, you hear a lot more than you see.

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  2. UnknownJuly 17, 2011 at 10:34 AM

    They are noisy Louise. So Just think what I'm not seeing.

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  3. Bob BushellJuly 17, 2011 at 10:35 AM

    Beautiful post, but I hope you don't mind, the moth is a butterfly, so near to our Large Skipper butterfly.

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  4. UnknownJuly 17, 2011 at 11:15 AM

    Great Bob. I checked it out and it's known here as a European Skipper introduced into London Ontario in 1910.

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  5. TexWisGirlJuly 17, 2011 at 11:36 AM

    very beautiful. i always enjoy your birds and insects, but that first shot stole the show in my book. the blue reflection just gorgeous...

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  6. UnknownJuly 17, 2011 at 11:52 AM

    Thanks Texwisgirl.

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  7. theconstantwalkerJuly 17, 2011 at 12:05 PM

    A lovely set of images of your stunning wildlife Gary. I agree with Theresa the landscape of the first picture is beautiful.

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  8. UnknownJuly 17, 2011 at 12:12 PM

    Thanks Andrew!!

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  9. RajeshJuly 18, 2011 at 12:06 PM

    Beautiful and scenic place. The flowers and birds are lovely.

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  10. TaniaJuly 18, 2011 at 12:08 PM

    The 2 first pictures looks like some place in Norway. You have so much lovely bird. The Cedar Waxwing is here to in summer time.
    Happy week to you!

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  11. Sylvia KJuly 18, 2011 at 12:23 PM

    Such a gorgeous place and such beautiful flowers and birds! How wonderful to have one's days filled with so much beauty! Thanks for sharing, Gary, enjoy your week!

    Sylvia

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  12. EG CameraGirlJuly 18, 2011 at 12:36 PM

    I'm glad you were able to get out and about, Gary. The temperature and humidity is pretty high this week so I hope you are taking good care of yourself.

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  13. AnonymousJuly 18, 2011 at 1:20 PM

    thanks to this post i learned the name of the flower i snapped at a churchyard a few weeks ago - fireweed.

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  14. ArijaJuly 18, 2011 at 2:28 PM

    The lake views are so green and peaceful. Thank you for all the wildflowers, all old friends of mine although they mostly do not grow here. Yarrow and common mullein I have in my garden and of the real, ground growing blueberries I am absolutely envious as here in Australia we can only get the big ones that grow on largish bushes and just don't have the same flavour.

    Gary, I haven't had my walks for the last 6 weeks either because of whooping cough that does not sit well with my pesky heart condition. If you can't breathe, you cant walk. I am totally out of shape and you have spurred me on to take my camera for at least a gentle hike. Thanks.

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  15. NatureFootstepJuly 18, 2011 at 2:38 PM

    great hike. :)

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  16. IndraniJuly 18, 2011 at 7:58 PM

    Incredible captures of the birds. Lovely!

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  17. stardustJuly 18, 2011 at 9:55 PM

    What a lovely place! Full of wild flowers and wildlife. I've gotten refreshed even only through your superb photos. Thank you!

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  18. Stewart MJuly 19, 2011 at 2:34 AM

    Hi there - I can see why a place like that would draw you back twice in two days - some much to see. Great set of pictures.

    Stewart M - Australia

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  19. snowwhiteJuly 19, 2011 at 2:53 AM

    Beautiful series of wild flowers and tiny creatures. I had not seen most of them before. Your great photos gave me a cool breeze for a while. Gray, thanks a lot for posting this.

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  20. UnknownJuly 19, 2011 at 4:02 AM

    Gorgeous nature!

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  21. SivindenJuly 19, 2011 at 4:12 AM

    The flowers are growing "like crazy" in my part of the world too, it has been a rainy summer so far. Interesting about the Fireweed name. And I like those shots of the crow/raven in the air. A wonderful landscape with so much life!

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  22. UnknownJuly 19, 2011 at 4:44 AM

    Thanks Rajesh.

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  23. UnknownJuly 19, 2011 at 4:45 AM

    Thanks Spiderdama.

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  24. UnknownJuly 19, 2011 at 4:45 AM

    Thnks SK.

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  25. UnknownJuly 19, 2011 at 4:46 AM

    It's tough in the humidity, isn't it EGW?

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  26. UnknownJuly 19, 2011 at 4:46 AM

    Glad to be of help Ewok.

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  27. UnknownJuly 19, 2011 at 4:47 AM

    Make sure you start gently and it will make you feel better.

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  28. UnknownJuly 19, 2011 at 4:48 AM

    Thanks NF.

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  29. UnknownJuly 19, 2011 at 4:48 AM

    Again thanks Indrani.

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  30. UnknownJuly 19, 2011 at 4:48 AM

    Thanks Stardust!!

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  31. UnknownJuly 19, 2011 at 4:49 AM

    Thanks Stewart!!

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  32. UnknownJuly 19, 2011 at 4:49 AM

    Thanks Snowwhite.

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  33. UnknownJuly 19, 2011 at 4:50 AM

    Thanks Lucka.

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  34. UnknownJuly 19, 2011 at 4:51 AM

    Glad you enjoyed it Sivinden

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  35. UnknownJuly 19, 2011 at 7:00 AM

    All are beautiful but I especially like the Cedar Waxwing.

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  36. UnknownJuly 19, 2011 at 11:54 AM

    They're a favourite of mine also!! Boom & Gary of the Vermilon River, Canada.

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  37. BarbJuly 19, 2011 at 5:07 PM

    I have most of those wildflowers here in the mountains of CO, but I'm feasting my eyes on those beautiful birds. I've enjoyed my hike with you.

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