The Ember-eyed Gatekeeper

Northern Goshawk 

A Northern Goshawk is a powerful apex predator tied to large tracts of mature forests containing large pines, principally White Pine, and large deciduous trees, especially American Beech here in the east. Within these forests, a relatively under-developed shrub layer is desired, and, as well, sufficient space between trunks is a necessary characteristic to enable these hawks highly dramatic and violent pursuit after their preferred prey: snowshoe hare and Ruffed Grouse. 

Northern Goshawks have very broad, relatively short wings and a proportionally long tail; these attributes allow them to hunt in spaces that require continual contortions in-between-and-around the trunks of trees and tall shrubs; they have remarkable equilibrium and are perhaps one of the most doggedly determined of all the raptors. Certainly, when prey is caught, which is often the case once a pursuit is initiated, they tend to exhibit a display of mercilessness, and are often grotesquely ruthless.  Goshawks have long, needle-sharp talons and a very powerful hooked bill. Their principal method of detaining their victim is by grasp-and-puncture; they get a hold of their prey, and, in combination with menacing lashings to their victims delivered from their heavy bills, use a pressure-release-shuffle mechanism; "walking" through and piercing the vital organs of their prey.

Northern Goshawks are very reclusive in nature. They are drawn to deep-forest haunts and often remain motionless, silently observing from a snag/ tree-limb-perch. The times I've been lucky enough to see a goshawk (Feb 2012, October 2012, May 2013, June 2013) there have been Blue Jays present and sounding alarm. Blue Jays mob, which basically means, harass, goshawks with a fervour similar to that seen with American Crows mobbing a Great Horned Owl. 

 June 21, 2013, or: A Beautiful Day

 I was in the middle of a long-ish hike in Central Frontenac. The weather was sensational: hot and muggy lending to that classic field work sweat-on-the-brow look and feel. In the middle of a point count, I could hear Blue Jays losing their minds over something perched near the crown of a massive maple that was several hundred meters away from where I was standing. The ruckus was, unfortunately, beyond a farm and property so I had to let it go and carry on with my walk. Roughly 15 minutes later, a heavy-appearing (thick bodied) hawk flushed from a perch that was roughly 80 meters north of where I was walking. Immediately, the brain starts to eliminate possibilities...."Red-tailed...no....Broad-winged...no...."...then this sensational hawk coasted... "Bingo!" One of two possibilities derived from the obvious droop to the wings as the hawk coasted through a wind-less sky: Red-shouldered Hawk or Northern Goshawk. I couldn't help but think, "...but those Blue Jays, they're going BoNkErS over this thing, it must be a Gos'." I continued on my way, and was nearing my final survey stop when this large bird casts a shadow on the ground in front of me. I spun around and the goosebumps started to cascade...an adult Northern Goshawk was hurriedly flapping, interspersing its flapping with prolonged glides, across a valley that was rimmed with forest-giant maples and pines. So close overhead was this bird, that I could just make out the sound of wonderfully choppy wing-strokes cutting through the air. I just stood there and stared until it was out of view; I never even thought to lift my binoculars; I was absolutely awe-struck. I mean, an azurian sky, insects hissing and buzzing, sweat beads dribbling down onto the side-burns and onto the lips; it was heaven. This mystical, I mean, a real, live, mystical beast, has a presence like no other; certainly, a moment I'll remember for good.

Happy Naturalizing and Happy Summer!
Jon

Image Source: Copyright Robert Bateman: http://www.artcountrycanada.com/bateman-robert-goshawk-and-ruffed-grouse.htm

Frontenac's Bounty: Part II

Fig 1: A female Tiger Wolf Spider (Tigrosa aspersa) with her brood. This species is the largest in the genus Tigrosa and is found in southern/south-central ON. As of Dondale (1990), their Canadian range was restricted to extreme southern ON. 

 Long Lake, Central Frontenac, ON - June 15, 2013.

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 Fig 2: The conspicuous and undeniably-beautiful Luna Moth! I found this freshly-perished male in the early morn' outside of the men's washroom at a campground that we were staying in. 

 Long Lake, Central Frontenac, ON - June 16, 2013

 Fig 3: A Virgin Tiger Moth caterpillar that was found under a log. 

Parham, ON - June 15, 2013

 Fig 4: A female Widow Skimmer 

Parham, ON - June 15, 2013

 Fig 5: From left-to-right: Color morphs of  Northern Leopard Frog. Note, on the frog at left, the large, dark-brown rectangular-shaped markings suggestive of a Pickerel Frog, and, as well, the overall tone to the green has more of a chrome influence, and, to note, the light-green coloration along the thighs

Long Lake, Central Frontenac, ON - June 15, 2013

Fig 6: A freshly-emerged female Eastern Pondhawk that was caught while it was slowly patrolling the edge of a woodlot.

 Parham, ON - June 15, 2013

Fig 7: The ultra-menacing (looking) European Hornet. At 1.5" in length, these buggers appear to be the Devil's droogs. This species was introduced into ON during the early 1970's, where they were first recorded in the Thousand Islands area. Since their introduction, they have found their niche in southern ON and continue to expand north; they are now a relatively common entity throughout the Frontenac Axis. Who knows, one of these GENTLE GIANTS could appear at a family barbeque function in Barrhaven West! I stirred this brute to get this photo. My 100m sprint time improved upon its release from its temporary inclosure.

Long Lake, Central Frontenac, ON - June 17, 2013

The Face of Beauty

The Sun sprinted down the corridor, how could it have forgotten to salute the night, "am I too late?" it pondered nervously. A turn of the Night's bedroom door-handle without a knock revealed a world unknown, a world wild, a world in the midst of a full-blown depraved heave; the calm creatures of the day, those resting and pondering and basking, had become writhing, hungry silhouettes swaying in the cool breeze of desire; the Night's plan unfolding in a smooth transition from light to dark...


"Whaa, uh, I, uh, pardon me, but I, uh, forgot to wish you, uh, well" fumbled the Sun. 


"Ah, HELL-ohh, no knock, eh? Ha! Nev-er--a-worry, oh, dearest, sincerest Sun, come on in and have a drink" the Sun watched as the Night's blood-tipped fingers firmly clasped a bottle of reserve, diamonds and jewels draped across its wonderfully dishonest disposition. 


"It's, uh, well....it's getting late, you, you see. I, uh, I...." nervously stammered the Sun.


"Sun, ha-ha-ha, my SUN, you worry too much; always in that head of yours" said the Night, gasping a big in-breathe while playfully biting its bottom lip, its fingernail, slowly tracing the cusp of an inviting proposition.


The Sun bashfully lifted its eyes to meet the Night's; the Night was in full-grin, welcoming, easy. The Sun, weighted down by morality, couldn't help but smile back; intrigued by the Night's endless ease.


"Listen, look here" said the Night, pointing towards a star-stricken marsh. 


"Watch, just, um, watch this, my dear Sun. Your creatures are creatures, after-all. Watch and listen, my dearest, sincerest Sun." 


...and so the Sun apprehensively glanced down towards the land....


Olivier the Bullfrog entered the marsh, proud in stroll, twisting ever-so-slightly at the hip as to accentuate his masculine posture; his eyes falling gently upon his onlookers, absorbing their loving gazes. He looked into the twilight-lit water's surface, eyes sparkling like a distant sunlit tide; one final reassuring glance before he unravels the quiet one's illusion of composure and locks her into a state of hope and caring. 


The Night's eyelids drooped down, hardening its expression...


"The Face of Beauty, do you have something against it?" inquired the Night.


"Well, no, no, it's, it's, well..." choked the Sun.


"Then why don't you come and have a drink, oh dearest, sincerest Sun? Your travels along eternity road, ha!, what travels, what weight....there's nothing to find, you're chasing your own mind, your own delusions" described the Night as it stroked its flowing mane of amorality.


The Sun glanced down towards the land once more, watching as Olivier gripped the hand of his quiet one, all clockwork now; rhythm swayed into motion. 


A great wave of exhaustion billowed up from the pit of the Sun's heart; eyes, dampened, shoulders, relinquishing.


"I, uh, I think it's getting a little late, I, um, I best be on my way" said the Sun as it nervously twisted its bottom lip with its fingers.


The Night dropped its chin and raised its glass "as always, a pleasure, my, my dearest, sincerest Sssss'un."


"Yes, it's uh, it's always, always, uh, nice to see, to see you" muttered the Sun as it took one last  glance around the Night's room.


"Goodnight", saluted the Sun.


"You mean, GOOD-DAY, my dearest, sincerest!" introjected the Night.


"Oh, er, yes, yes, that's true. Well, bye" and the Sun slowly closed the Night's bedroom door and began to walk, hands-in-pockets, eyes intensely fixated on the ground in front of it. Unbeknownst to it at the time, its next phase of self-appraisal would be its most challenging.

Frontenac's Bounty

Hi there:

Here's a collection of photos that I've taken of some of North/South Frontenac's finest inhabitants. I certainly am  enjoying Cerulean Warbler surveys in the morning and I am equally enjoying stuffing, cramming, disorientating myself with the challenge of trying to learn about and ID everything under-the-sun come afternoon. There isn't much commentary to this post; it's all about the photos this time around.

Photos

Fig 1: Lancet Clubtail (M): Silver Lake, ON - May 29, 2013

Fig 2: Io Moth (M): Queens Biology Station, Elgin, ON - May 28, 2013

Fig 3: Harlequin Darner: Charleston Lake Provincial Park, ON - May 27, 2013

Fig 4: Wolf Spider, presumed genus: Lycosa: Murphy's Point Provincial Park, ON - May 23, 2013

 

Fig 5: Racket-tailed Emerald (M): Murphy's Point Provincial Park, ON - May 24, 2013

 Fig 6: Common Baskettail (M): Murphy's Point Provincial Park, ON - May 24, 2013

 Fig 7: Canadian Tiger Swallowtail - the early-flying swallowtail of deciduous woodland edges. Toledo, ON - May 25, 2013

 Fig 8: A Common Gartersnake gradually warming up to the idea of another day playing the part of the hunter/hunted. South Frontenac, ON - June 09, 2013

 Fig 9: A Long-horned Beetle, known as the Whitespotted Swayer, landed on my shirt as I was filling up the ol' Chrysler 200 at a gas station. The locals looked on as I excitedly took a few photos of this borer of dead/rotting pine and fir trees. Sharbot Lake, ON - June 10, 2013

 Fig 10: A car-struck male Juvenal's Duskywing. These butterflies are tied to eastern Oak woodlands. Eagle Lake, ON - June 10, 2013

 Fig 11: A forest giant! This remarkable Sugar Maple was the largest I'd ever seen; it must've pushed over 100 ft in height. It really was goreousness and gorgeousity made flesh. Mill Pond Conservation Area, Portland, ON - May 26, 2013

 Fig 12:  A Gnaphosid Spider - these spiders are quite nocturnal but can be found during the daytime by turning over rocks and logs in suitable habitat.

 Fig 13: A Dimorphic Jumping Spider: Its name originates from the fact that some males are black, like this one, and other males are gray! This species shows a 'Bart Simpson' tri-spiked hairdo.

 Fig 14: A female Amber-winged Spreadwing that was caught just before sundown. Shortly after this moment, a distant Yellow-billed Cuckoo let out its wild-man-in-the-trees song which seemed to echo off the rugged cliff-sides of Bob's Lake; regardless of the apparent nearby lunatic, the crickets continued their ensemble deep into the night. Bob's Lake, ON - June 05, 2013

Fig 15: A pair of Common Loons keeping a close eye on Erika and I as we canoed past their nest. North Frontenac, ON - June 05, 2013

 Fig 16: A Dung Beetle (Subfamily: Scarabaeinae) found while "Black Lighting" at Mark Conboy's place on the Queen's University Biology Station property. Elgin, ON - May 30, 2013

Fig 17: Sunset over Bellamy Lake: Todelo, ON - May 27, 2013

Happy exploring!
Jon