The end of summer is ushered in by the erratic flight of dampwood termites just before sunset. This bounty is a source of food for many birds and we have had the pleasure of sitting on the beach watching Bonaparte's Gulls gorging on Zootermopsis angusticollis. The winged form is called the alate and when they lose their wings they are de-alate (seriously!). These are sexually reproductive animals that use their wings for dispersal and will drop them upon landing. The gut of the termite is filled with microbes that are able to covert the fibrous wood material into something that will provide nutrition for the termite. This process is called acetogenesis.
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The Tarspots are a group of fungi that infect leaves. This one (Rhytisma punctatum) is a common, but relatively benign, fungus that infects Bigleaf Maple. It is most notable in the fall when the leaves of Bigleaf Maple start to fall. At this time of year one can clearly see the black, tarry areas where the fungus sporulates. The fungus protects the chlorophyll in the leaf from the usual breakdown by bacteria that an autumn leaf experiences. This leaves a green spot in the infected area while the rest of the leaf turns yellow. The result is interesting and sometimes attractive patterns on the carpet of maple leaves on the forest floor. Today was the first day I noticed significant numbers of Bigleaf Maple leaves on the ground - another sure sign that summer is truly over.
Usually, our annual war on Roof Rats (Rattus rattus) begins in November when the first heavy rains of winter tend to drive Roof Rats into the garage and the house. . The past two years however, our battle with the wiley and prodigious rodent has started at the end of August as the Roof Rats have turned to our tomato patch and started to eat our tomatoes on the vine just before they ripen. We think we finally have found the last remaining hole that they can gain entry into the house. This small opening along side the chimney required a gymnastic maneuver worthy of a Cirque du Soliel artist. Steel wool has proven to be the most evective deterrent to the chewing rodents. Roof Rats have proven to be an expensive species, most notably by eating the insulation off the wiring system of one of our vehicles. They were also the reason we eventually moved to an all metal garbage can for storing bird seed and entirely metal compost barrel. Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus )is a relatively drab thrush that is found here at Leaning Oaks as a summer time breeder. What it lacks in colour it more than makes up for in its singing abililities. The ascending spiralling notes of this species song is one of my favourite noises of spring and early summer. An added bonus is that it is one of the first songs in the morning and last of the day. The strains of Swainson's Thrushes singing often accompany my "cookie walks" with the dog as we do our last stroll of the day before bed. Our records here span from the second week of May until the 3rd week of September. Click here for a Youtube video of a Swainson's Thrush singing. This photo is a young bird feasting on Himalayan Blackberries, momentarily forgetting that his kind are skulkers that rarely spend much time out in the open. I'd like to know if Sympetrum madidum is breeding in the pond or not-I suspect not as I have only seen a few individuals around the property. This one may have come from other nearby ponds or lakes and was just hanging around feeding. The veins along the top margin of the wings can be a brilliant red, giving it the English name. The red face also makes it stand out. This is the largest of the meadowhawks that are found in B.C.. They breed in still waters in the southern half of B.C. |
AuthorsTwo biologists on a beautiful property armed with cameras, smart phones and a marginal knowledge of websites took up the challenge of documenting one species a day on that property. Join along! Posts and photographs by Leah Ramsay and David Fraser (unless otherwise stated); started January 1, 2014. Categories
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