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Carden
Alvar Wildlife |
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On 14
June 2013, Ron Pittaway and I visited Carden Alvar with our good
friends Willie D'Anna and Betsy Potter of New York State. |
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Indian Skipper Hesperia sassacus
on Yellow Hawkweed, Wylie Road, Carden Alvar, on 14 June 2013. We
saw 20 species of butterflies, thanks to Willie and Betsy. |
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Common Roadside Skipper Amblyscirtes
vialis on Wylie Road, north of the Sedge Wren Marsh and just
north of the cattle corral on Sulphur Springs Ranch. 14 June 2013 |
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Betsy Potter took this
photo of a Silver-bordered Fritillary Boloria selene atrocostalis
on Wylie Road. 14 June 2013. |
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Underside of Canadian
Tiger Swallowtail Papilio canadensis feeding at a wet spot on
Wylie Road. 14 June 2013. |
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We found two Snapping Turtles beside
Shrike Road at the Carden Carwash on the Talbot River. This Snapping
Turtle did not move when we approached. It may have been about to
lay its eggs, Since it was off the road, we felt it was safe to
leave it there. 14 June 2013. |
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A Smooth Green Snake
about 50 centimetres long was crossing Wylie Road. 14 June 2013. |
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It flicked in
and out its forked red tongue with black at the tip, In this way it
"smelled" around in front as it crossed the road. |
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This colourful Pumpkinseed Sunfish was
on Canal Lake. For ID, we thank John Casselman and Jon Ruddy. Jon
also commented it appears
to be a purebred, since there is a lot of Pumpkinseed/Bluegill
hybridization. |
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Rock Sandwort
Minuartia michauxii likes alvar pavement habitat with very thin
soil such as open areas on Alvar Road. 14 June 2013. |
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We heard several
Golden-winged Warblers as we walked Wylie Road. 14 June 2013. |
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Upland Sandpipers were vocal and
visible, standing on posts and tops of trees. Likely they had young
walking about hidden in the grass. 14 June 2013. |
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Cattle grazing maintains uneven and
short grass microhabitats benefiting many birds such as Loggerhead
Shrikes, Upland Sandpipers, Vesper Sparrows and Common Nighthawks.
Windmill Ranch on Wylie Road. |
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Links |
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Carden Alvar Birding Guide
- by Ron Pittaway |
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Carden Alvar
Birds - 20 May 2013 |
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Carden Alvar on 6
June 2013 |
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