#norfolkwild

[norfolknaturalist]

Last year in August, I went on a night time hike with the Norfolk Field Naturalists and listened in on some hunting flying mammals! Check out my blogpost at norfolknaturalist.ca for more about this experience! . . . . . . . #nature #ontario #bats #batdetector #chiroptera #nighthike #norfolkwild #blognorfolk #norfolkfieldnaturalists #batsofinstagram (at Norfolk County, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CnMVAYNuBPt/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

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Sandhill Cranes (Antigone canadensis) in Port Rowan, December 2021. These beautiful birds are my first of 18 photos highlighted over my blogging year (December 2021 to November 2022) in my latest post on norfolknaturalist.ca. Check it out for some amazing creatures I observed over this past year in Norfolk County and some of the things I learned about them. . . . #nature #naturephotography #ontario #ontariobirding #ontarionature #norfolkcountywildlife #norfolkwild #gonorfolk #blognorfolk #blogwriter #scienceblogger #photosnature (at Port Rowan, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CmrvpKlpVQp/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[norfolknaturalist]

Transverse-Banded Flower Fly (Eristalis transversa), in my backyard, September 2018. These beautiful flies visit many different kinds of flowers in a variety of habitats, and are important pollinators. Larvae of this species are unknown. . . . For more photos and natural history check out my blog at norfolknaturalist.ca. . . . #nature #ontario #transversebandedflowerfly #eristalis #eristalistransversa #flowerflies #syrphidae #diptera #dipteraofinstagram #macrophotography #blognorfolk #norfolkwild #norfolkphotographer (at Simcoe, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjDBL5kO5O7/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[norfolknaturalist]

North American Spur-throated Grasshopper (Melanoplus sp.) in my backyard, September 2018. Grasshoppers in this genus feed on many different kinds of grass and other plants, occasionally feeding on fruits or even tree bark. . . . . . . . #nature #ontario #melanoplus #grasshopper #spurthroatedgrasshopper #grasshoppers #orthoptera #naturephotography #macrophotography #entomology #norfolkwild #blognorfolk #backyardgarden #simcoeontario #norfolkcountyca (at Simcoe, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CjP4IolO9qq/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[norfolknaturalist]

One of my most exciting recent sightings was this American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) spotted in Long Point this month. This was a species of bird that I always assumed I would never see, but all it takes is being at the right place at the right time. These secretive herons stalk wetlands for fish, amphibians, reptiles and insects. . . . . . . . #nature #ontario #americanbittern #bittern #botaurus #botauruslentiginosus #wetlandbirds #marshbird #herons #camouflage #ontarionaturephotography #longpoint #longpointbirds #blognorfolk #norfolkwild #norfolkontario (at Long Point, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/Cd9m4o3M2nq/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[norfolknaturalist]

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) in Long Point this month. Herons, like all Birds, are surprisingly light because of hollow, lightweight bones among other adaptations. Although Herons can be over a meter tall and have 2 meter wingspans they weigh a maximum of about 6 pounds. . . . . . . . #nature #ontario #greatblueheron #heron #heronsofinstagram #ardeaherodias #ardea #ardeidae #blueheron #heronphotography #heronphoto #birdsextreme #birdsinflightphotography #nature_obsession #wildlifephotos #longpointontario #spottedinlongpoint #norfolkwild #blognorfolk #gonorfolk #birdfact #beautifulnaturephotography (at Long Point National Biosphere) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQau06xgcz1/?utm_medium=tumblr

[norfolknaturalist]

Painted Lady Butterfly (Vanessa cardui) in my backyard, September 2019. These beautiful Butterflies migrate south for the winter, the next generation returning north in the spring. They are found worldwide, performing this north-south migration around the globe. . . For more fascinating natural history and facts be sure to check out @fieldguidespodcast ! I have just posted a review of this amazing podcast on my blog at norfolknaturalist.ca! . . . . . . . #nature #ontario #paintedladybutterfly #vanessacardui #migratorybutterfly #butterfly_photo #butterfliesofig #backyardbutterflies #natureinthecity #natureinfocus #fieldguidespodcast #podcastreview #norfolknaturalist #blognorfolk #norfolkwild (at Simcoe, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTwdXjertUH/?utm_medium=tumblr

[norfolknaturalist]

This is a Fly, killed by a Fungus in my backyard last month. Although many people have seen the incredible footage in BBC'S Planet Earth of Ants infected by Fungi, climbing trees to disperse spores from their bodies, little known is that these same sorts of infections occur all around the globe, including in my backyard in Simcoe, Ontario. This Fly was clutching the top of a stem in my garden, compelled to do so by a fungal infection that spelled its doom in order to spread the fungal spores as widely as possible. To find out more about this and for more observations of Flies in my backyard in June (including photos and natural history), check out my latest blogpost at norfolknaturalist.ca! . . . . . . . #entomopathogenicfungi #entomophthora #fungi #fungiofinstagram #complexnature #backyardwonders #flyphotography #macrophotographyworld #blognorfolk #norfolkwild #norfolknaturalist #sciencebloggersofinstagram #naturebloggers #ontario #nature #naturephotographylovers (at Simcoe, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CRMokDCJV7x/?utm_medium=tumblr

[norfolknaturalist]

Orange Mycena (Mycena leaiana) in Backus Woods, August 2021. These beautiful fungi grow atop and feed on decaying wood. . A New Post is up on my blog at norfolknaturalist.ca! It's Part 2 of my exploration of the world of Fungi with the Norfolk Field Naturalists! Check it out for more photos of fascinating Fungi (and a few non-Fungi) and some facts about them too. . . . . . . . #nature #ontario #orangemycena #mycenaleaiana #mycena #fungi_fan_club #fungifanatic #mushroom #saprotrophic #ecology #blognorfolk #norfolkcountyontario #norfolkwild #norfolkfieldnaturalists #norfolknaturalist #backuswoods #fungiphile #gonorfolk #exploreoutdoors (at Backus Woods) https://www.instagram.com/p/CUc9gzbAOci/?utm_medium=tumblr

[norfolknaturalist]

Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee (Agapostemon virescens) in my backyard this month. Agapostemon Bees make their nests in the ground, usually nesting alone. This particular species is one of several in North America which occasionally nests together with several other females, using the same entrance (which often looks similar to low ant mound). Although they use the same entrance tunnel, each female builds her own nest chamber for her brood and feeds them separately, so they aren't social bees like the more famous Honeybee or Bumblebees. . . . . . . . #nature #ontario #bicoloredstripedsweatbee #agapostemon #agapostemonvirescens #halictidae #sweatbee #beesinyourbackyard #bee_photography #gardenpollinators #pollinator #solitarybees #macrobee #beautifulbee #insectsworld #norfolkwild #blognorfolk #gardens (at Simcoe, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CREqAFtp32A/?utm_medium=tumblr

[norfolknaturalist]

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) in my parents' garden this month. This beautiful Sparrow is found across most of North America in a variety of habitats where they eat insects and fruit of many different kinds. Because of their wide range and varied habitats, their are many different subspecies and physical differences between them, with some being a third as large as others and having very different colour patterns. . . . . . . . #nature #ontario #songsparrow #melospiza #melospizamelodia #newworldsparrow #passerellidae #sparrowphoto #birdsnature #birdssinging #ontariobird #norfolkwild #blognorfolk #gonorfolk (at Norfolk County, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQib07AgfFI/?utm_medium=tumblr

[norfolknaturalist]

A New Post is up on my blog at norfolknaturalist.ca (link in profile). It's about my recent hike and the nature sightings and observations along the way! . . . . . . . #nature #ontario #muteswan #swanphotography #naturephotography #nature_photo #canadianwildlife #longpointtrail #longpointontario #norfolknaturalist #norfolkwild #blognorfolk #gonorfolk #scienceblogging #natureblogger #wildlifephotographs #natureobsession #natureobservation #naturewriter (at Long Point National Biosphere) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQdSnpCAVZw/?utm_medium=tumblr

[norfolknaturalist]

Leafhopper (Scaphytopius) in my parents' garden, September 2018. There are about 180 species in this Genus of Leafhoppers, distributed across North, Central, and South America. Between them they feed on a wide variety of grasses, shrubs and trees. . . . . . . . #nature #ontario #leafhopper #scaphytopius #leafhopperphotography #insectsofontario #insects_of_our_world #insectsofourworld #macro_shots #entomologyphotography #blognorfolk #norfolkwild (at Norfolk County, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CThriFDAi7O/?utm_medium=tumblr

[norfolknaturalist]

Cabbage Whites (Pieris rapae) mating in my parents' garden, September 2018. First spotted in North America near Quebec City in the 1860s, the Cabbage White has spread across the continent, and is one of our most widely distributed butterflies. Their caterpillars feed on a wide variety of plants, and secrete a fluid that repels ants. . . . . . . . #nature #ontario #cabbagewhite #cabbagewhitebutterfly #pieris #pierisrapae #pieridae #butterflies_of_our_world #insects_of_our_world #invert_macro #lepidopteras #gardenbutterfly #blognorfolk #norfolkwild #gardenbugs #backyardbugs #insectsmating (at Norfolk County, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CTfJ4pnA1UN/?utm_medium=tumblr

[norfolknaturalist]

Zebra Jumping Spider (Salticus scenicus) in my backyard, May 2018. These Jumping Spiders usually pounce upon small insect prey, but have been observed to hunt Moths more than three times their length or Mosquitoes twice their size. Before they take a leap, they attach a safety line of silk so that they can resume their perch if they fail to land on their target. . . . . . . . . #nature #ontario #zebrajumpingspider #salticusscenicus #jumpingspider #jumpingspidersofinstagram #spidersofinstagram #spiders_of_the_world #jumpingspiderphotography #norfolkwild #blognorfolk #simcoeontario #backyardspider (at Simcoe, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CPDPl0Fghet/?utm_medium=tumblr

[norfolknaturalist]

Odorous House Ant (Tapinoma sessile) in my backyard, May 2018. The name "odorous" comes from this ant's characteristic smell which is described as "rotten coconuts or over-ripe bananas it exudes when squeezed". I have never squeezed this species so can't confirm the smell. These ants have colonies that move from place to place every few days when less food is nearby or when the nest has been damaged or disturbed. . . . . . . . #nature #ontario #odoroushouseants #tapinoma #tapinomasessile #backyardbugs #backyardwildlife #macroant #macro_secrets #antsofinstagram #myrmecology #insectphotography #insectstagram #norfolkwild #blognorfolk #urbanants #antsofcanada (at Simcoe, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CO8AB4YAYEC/?igshid=38op3kkmqrc6