Nature Scattergood's Journal

Up at Scattergood since Friday. It has been very warm - up to 30 deg C - and mostly clear with light breeze. This morning, at Green (Avon) Lake, many Autumn Meadowhawks were emerging, sitting on rushes and other aquatic vegetation, their wings glistening, their flight very laboured. Several other dragonflies and damselflies were about, including (Res grade) Eastern Forktail, Violet Dancer, Blue Dasher, Variable Darner (photographed in flight!). Thanks to all who verified or corrected my initial identifications.

Mixture of sun and cloud with heavy rain on 24th afternoon. Toured Green (Avon) Lake south shore, finding several Slender Ladies Tresses orchids. Not many dragonflies, but Frosted Whiteface (provisional) seen. Family of three River Otters seen feeding close to the beaver dam. Mother still seemed to be doing most of the foraging although the kits looked the same size as her. A large scat, about 15 cm long and perhaps 4 cm diameter was found on the trail between Scattergood and Green lakes. It appeared to be all plant matter and could have been a Black Bear. Did not look fresh.

Wonderful, calm, warm-hot weather after some rain on 23rd night. Covered both shores of Green (Avon) and Clifford lakes, as well as the west end of McGregor Lake and inflow swamp. Surprisingly few dragon/damsel-flies about and no frogs seen except bullfrogs - very numerous at Clifford L.

Reached Scattergood at 3 pm. About 15 deg, sunny, moderate breeze. Very little birdsong - just robin and winter wren. Two Yellow-rumped Warblers and two Turkey Vultures near cottage. One snapping Turtle and several Painted Turtles hauled out on logs at Clifford Lake. No sign of beavers at the Scattergood outflow. Trilliums just coming into flower, including both red and white. Trailing arbutus in flower near Clifford Lake. A few mosquitoes, but not biting. Many stoneflies in flight over the lake. Both of our plastic chairs have blown off the dock into the water.

Up on Sunday afternoon. Very hot in Ottawa (32 deg). Overcast and signs of recent heavy rain. Monday am walk to Hidden Valley and take dragonfly pictures at Green Lake

Quite mild but rain and cloud on and off. Fungi are everywhere! We have never seen such a diversity of 'caps', 'boletes', amanitas, brackets, jelly fungi, you name it... Practically everywhere you look there are little fungi poking up there heads from leaves, trunks, fallen logs, even in the middle of roads: amazing. Angela spotted a young Grey Treefrog in the bog behind Williams' - lovely little emerald gem. Most dragonflies have gone but still some meadowhawks and one variable dancer. A few migrant birds, including Grey-cheeked thrush and black throated green warbler

A beautiful Saturday, but rain moved in at 8 on Sunday, so we left. Saturday morning spent at Green Lake photographing dragonflies and damselflies. Also several good pictures at Scattergood Lake. A few fungi appearing, including Russula spp. First N Leopard Frog photographed!

A beautiful Saturday, but rain moved in at 8 on Sunday, so we left. Saturday morning spent at Green Lake photographing dragonflies and damselflies. Also several good pictures at Scattergood Lake. A few fungi appearing, including Russula spp. First N Leopard Frog photographed!

Very hot throughout, with daytime up to 33 C. and nights not going below about 16 C. Heavy rain just before we arrived on 8th afternoon, so quite humid on 9th morning. Walked to the Aire Pellisier at the head of McGregor Lake, but was told by the attendant that i could not walk out on the dock. Saw a snipe probing mud along the river bank. Many flying ants in the cottage but we cannot find out where they are coming from.

Temperature up to 30 deg and sticky in the evenings. Bugs moderate in the forest but none on my deck. Worked at McGregor Lookout, across to SW lookout, then around Clifford Lake. Four Rose Pogonia on a floating log - seems to be the northernmost record in this part of the world (on iNaturalist).