Category Archives: bugs

Wasp mating ball

Posted on July 12, 2019 by Alistair

  And now for something completely different.           catchphrase from Monty Python’s Flying Circus The observations made little sense to me. Why did a small group of sand wasps wrap themselves into in a ball? As far … Continue reading →

Posted in bugs | 4 Comments

Finn’s view

Posted on July 9, 2019 by Alistair

  Two days ago, I noted that during a walk in the woods, my daughter, Cynthia, managed nicer images than I did. Recently, my grandson, Finn, also spent a week with me. During our walks, he did likewise. He is … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, bugs, mammals | 6 Comments

Canada’s diversity

Posted on July 1, 2019 by Alistair

  Today, July 1st, marks Canada Day and the country’s 152nd birthday. Canadians value and celebrate diversity — by which they mean cultural diversity. However, some feel that the preservation of our species diversity merits a similar attention. This selection … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, bugs, commentary, fish, herptiles, mammals, weather | 7 Comments

Spider 1, Ant 0

Posted on June 9, 2019 by Alistair

  An ant likes nectar, but being a crawling insect, its ability to forage on many flowers is limited. That is, unless it is a flying ant, and can quickly move from one flower to the next. The problem, though, … Continue reading →

Posted in bugs | 3 Comments

May goulash

Posted on May 30, 2019 by Alistair

  This is a collection of some of May’s images that did not have postings of their own. A honey bee has collected pollen from a wild rose, and is carrying it as a packet on its hind leg. Honey … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, bugs, mammals, wildflowers | 9 Comments

Cute fly

Posted on April 25, 2019 by Alistair

  To suggest that a fly is cute certainly has to be a matter of taste. However, the Bombylius major does look like a child’s cuddly toy. Not only that, it is an effective pollinator as it goes around from … Continue reading →

Posted in bugs | 2 Comments

Falcon feeding

Posted on September 23, 2018 by Alistair

  A falcon is a small raptor that uses speed to prey upon insects, rodents, and small birds. We have two falcons present year round (plus three occasional visitors). The smallest of our regular falcons is the Kestrel (80–165 g). … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, bugs | 3 Comments

Darner mating

Posted on September 22, 2018 by Alistair

  One might think that the dragonfly season would be over — not so. Seen here are (what I believe are) lance-tipped darners mating three days ago. The male (more bluish) is the one above, while the female (yellowish head … Continue reading →

Posted in bugs | 1 Comment

Osprey harassed

Posted on August 30, 2018 by Alistair

  This has been a really good year for wasps — not so good for the rest of us. Ospreys feed on fish, and wasps really like that. An osprey has taken a fresh fish to the top of a … Continue reading →

Posted in birds, bugs, fish | 4 Comments

Western yellowjacket

Posted on August 3, 2018 by Alistair

  The western yellowjacket is a versatile wasp. It will nest in the ground, in tree trunks, or under the eves of porches. As with most of the creatures around, I tend to adopt a live-and-let-live approach. However, when this … Continue reading →

Posted in bugs | 3 Comments