"Out & About" Photo Blog: Oshawa Second Marsh <br/>August 13th, 2014

There was a hint of fall in the air today... cooler and a strong breeze. I love it.

My usual entry point to the marsh is through Ghost Road Bush, so even with repellent on I had to donate some blood to the marsh mosquitoes. I was greeted by thousands of Touch-Me-Not/Jewellweed along the boardwalk.

They're not popping yet.

Leaf Miners intrigue me. They're the larval stage of some moths, flies & beetles that live and eat between the top & bottom surfaces of leaves. They leave snake-like trails or blotches. These are the first blotch-type that I've come across.

The blotches are obvious but if you enlarge the images you can see a few trails too. They're unsightly but apparently cause minimal or no damage to plants.

My favourite land snail. I love its colors. I often see dozens of them at a time. This guy was alone though.

Shades of pink & purple are everywhere in the marsh... some Purple Loose-strife here.

Loosestrife in the foreground and Joe-Pye Weed behind.

Joe-Pye Weed

And lots of Himalayan Balsam.

I've only seen Wooly Bears the last few years. Not sure what this one is. Turns out it's a Yellow Wooly Bear. Thanks John.

Chicory

A colorful tangle.

I made it down to the lake today. This bay has thousands of water lilies on it.

Where Farewell Creek leaves the marsh and enters Lake Ontario. It's a pretty spot.

Very little activity on the lake today. These Cormorants were a ways off shore. They have a distinctive profile.

They're streamlined in flight. I love watching a small flock of them flying single file, just above the lake surface. I've only seen them do that when they're a fair ways from shore though.

I saw a couple Monarchs today. They're few and far between this year. This one though, is a Viceroy... thanks Gerry.

I often forget that butterflies have four wings. From many angles, they can easily be mistaken for only two. I think there's an insect of some sort in front of one wing in this shot... that I didn't see at the time.

Silverweed grows just fine in sand. When it does, its red runners are easy to see, looking like highways on a road map.

Later stage of Bladder Campion?
Update: I guessed wrong. It's Bouncing Bet... a cool name. Thanks John.

Some stretches have very little color.

... so share some blossoms (Goldenrod) when you find them.

Another of my favourites... Black Swallowtail.

With the heavy growth along the creek and channel, getting a clear shot of a heron or cormorant that may be alongside is next to impossible.

This Cormorant is staring right at me. Once you get too close (which isn't very close at all), they fly along the water surface for a 100 yards or so before they lift up, making a flight shot next to impossible too. Herons do the same thing. A smart move to be sure but it doesn't help photographers.

Red Admiral

Burdock almost has its burs ready to catch a ride home with passers-by.

This Turkey Tail fungus picks up the colors of its surroundings.

My first stop when I get home from the marsh is usually the patio with a glass of iced tea... or if it's hot enough, a cold beer. As I was sitting there today I thought I'd add one more shot to the day.

It was overcast so this hot-pink Phlox beside the patio looked 'hotter-pink' than usual.

The 'ex' (exhibition) opens in Toronto this Friday. When it's over, the kids are back to school and the roads get busier again. 2014 is quickly slipping by. Tempis fugit.

The Friends of Second Marsh web site...