Graphite Bay, Calabogie, Ontario

Graphite Bay, Calabogie, Ontario A few nature pictures

We spent two weeks at a cottage on Graphite Bay on Black Donald Lake

Shortly after arriving, we noticed that a phoebe was frequently flying close to the cottage, we located the nest over a window.

They looked to be about a week old.

Over the next few days the parents were constantly flying back and forth with insects for the four juveniles.

After the fourth day the parents seemed to stop the feeding frenzy, we assumed it meant it was time for the young birds to leave the nest.

And sure enough three hours later, three had left. One, likely the youngest, left the next morning

There were lots of gypsy moths fliting about, so they provided a good meal.

Other insects were provided to the young, but some seem to escape from the parent who must have relaxed its grip.....

There were some other birds around, including a "flock"(??) of turkey vultures at a neighbouring cottage.

In the left picture there are two vultures, on the wooden railing, hanging their wings out to dry

A few other small birds as well

A family of blue jays were in the trees with the young demanding to be fed. Presumably the jay above is a young one whose hade feathers haven't come in yet.

Red-breasted nuthatch on the left coming down the tree head first as they are wont to do. What looked like a female downy woodpecker checked under branches for bugs.

We heard loons but never saw any. We had to settle for a group of eight mallards who swam by a few days, well out from shore.

There were lots of flowers, both wild and domestic, blooming.

Dying blooms, while not "perfect" deserve to be included too.

These are helleborine, a wild orchid

Clockwise: purple flowering raspberry, spotted jewelweed, red clover and vipers blugloss

Hosta, thistle and burdock blossoms.

If one looks closely there are many insects around.

Clockwise: inch worm, assassin bug, green budworm moth, and crab spider

ebony jewelwing, mayfly (moult)

Hoverflies (see below)

black horned smoothtail and an eastern calligrapher

bristle fly

But you didn't need to look closely for the gypsy moths who were in their breeding cycle...

male, female laying eggs

The females lay an egg mass in a fibrous cover. They were lining the base of one tree. The egg mass on the right seemed to have about 75-100 eggs, much less than I had read about on the internet. The eggs were very hard.

There was a resident garter snake who we nic-named Fred.

He had his home below the front door.

A nice sunny day brought Fred out to enjoy the warmth of the rocks.

There were a lot of very small toads in the grass, as the two weeks went by, there seemed to be fewer of them. Fred perhaps was enjoying them??

While not related, there were at least three other critters around.

Chipmunks seem to be around all cottages, a slug isn't very pretty stretched across a sidewalk - they look "cuter" in a mushroom (see below). The smallest smallmouth bass (11") caught off the dock. (All fish, except one, were returned to the lake.)

With all the rain, it seemed to be mushroom season.

A "cuter" looking slug.

Indian pipes are not mushrooms, even though I think they look like they should be. They are a perennial. (as you can likely tell with a full width picture, I really like Indian Pipes😊)

One sunrise and a few sunset images.

Sunrise reflected in low clouds

Late day sun and clouds

Sun on left shining through forest fire smoke.

The wind had died down, leaving a nice sky reflection.

Another day, but no calm....

Post sunset, 90 minute star trails with a photobombing satellite

Four miscellaneous pictures

Morrow Lake waterfalls at the end of a 3.6km round trip walk.

Eagle's Nest Lookout. (Go early in the day before the crowds line the trail)

Raindrop

Preparing for a marshmallow roast

Created By

Jim Robertson

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