Did You Find Anything to Photograph at the Rattray Marsh?

Near the end of a recent walk through the Rattray I met another couple of photographers. As usual, we exchanged a few pleasant words and as usual I was asked the question I never know how to answer: “Did you find anything good?” I’m not really a photographer; I’m just an interested explorer who takes a lot of photos. So to me, it’s all good! As usual, I waffled and listed a few of the creatures and plants I had found the most interesting to photograph. I moved on with the vague suspicion that while I was having a fabulous walk full of photographic opportunities, they were having a hot disappointing morning because they were seeking a specific type of creature. I hope I’m wrong because the Rattray Marsh is a great place to find subjects for nature photography in Mississauga, if you’re willing to capture whatever you encounter.

Photo of Monarch on NaturalCrooksDotCom
Happily, Monarchs are in good numbers in Mississauga in 2018

Nature Photography In August at the Rattray Marsh in Mississauga, Ontario

Here are some of the plants, insects, animals and birds I found myself looking at through my lens at the Rattray in mid-August.

Photo of Ambush Bugs on NaturalCrooksDotCom

These dragon-like Ambush Bugs were perching on a Queen Anne’s Lace blossom hoping some unwary insect would land.

Photo of Hog Peanut on NaturalCrooksDotCom

Hog Peanut seems to be taking over the title this year for most abundant, lush growth from the Jewelweeds which dominated last summer.

Photo of Great Egret on NaturalCrooksDotCom

This Great Egret decided to pose where everyone could spot it after being flushed up out of the marsh.

Photo of Indian Pipe on NaturalCrooksDotCom

I hadn’t seen Indian Pipes at the Rattray before so I was pleased to see 4 separate stalks under the trees on the land-ward side of the Knoll path board walk. Getting an angle for a photo was its own little challenge.

Photo of Downy Woodpecker Youth on NaturalCrooksDotCom

The rather grubby looking Downy Woodpecker is actually a young bird. It flew in nearby while I was stalking an angle for the Indian Pipe photos.

Photo of Dragonfly on NaturalCrooksDotCom

I tried several times without success during the walk to get an identifying photograph of this dragonfly hunting from a perch out over the creek. Although I don’t know what type it is, I did learn its preferred hunting technique was to perch, then dart out short distances to try to catch prey. It would often “obelisk” pointing its tail up to the sky.

Photo of Double Crested Cormorant on NaturalCrooksDotCom

Way out in the Marsh, this Cormorant was drying its wings.

Photo of Wood Ducks on NaturalCrooksDotCom

And these Wood Ducks were also sunbathing.

Photo of Wild Cucumber on NaturalCrooksDotCom

Wild Cucumber blossoms stand up straight like candles among the twining leaves and stems.

Photo of Cabbage White on NaturalCrooksDotCom

Cabbage White butterflies were everywhere: flying, basking and taking nectar from the flowers.

Photo of Elderberry on NaturalCrooksDotCom

Elderberries are ripening.

Photo of White Baneberry on NaturalCrooksDotCom

And White Baneberry Doll’s Eyes are fully ripe. The location of this plant, under the garrotted Norway Maples, suggests it is a successful re-plant. A few years ago, I noticed they had planted back several specimens of Red Baneberry in this area. It’s hard to keep up with the alien invasives and the predations of the deer in a small park like the Rattray.

Photo of Great Blue Heron on NaturalCrooksDotCom

This Great Blue Heron had found the only mud-free spot to perch while preening. I might have gone around onto the shingle bar to look more closely at it, but there were too many biting flies. (Do Stable Flies live in the beach here?)

Photo of Evening Primrose on NaturalCrooksDotCom

I checked some of the Evening Primrose plants looking for Primrose Moths but only found buds.

Photo of Ebony Jewelwing on NaturalCrooksDotCom

This Ebony Jewelwing was easier to identify than the dragonflies.

Photo of Grasshopper on NaturalCrooksDotCom

This is one of those Grasshoppers that fly away displaying yellow wings with a black stripe. I can never seem to get a photo of them in flight!

Photo of Ladybug on NaturalCrooksDotCom

I looked briefly for ladybugs on the Common Milkweed but only found this Asian Multi-coloured one.

Photo of Sulphur on NaturalCrooksDotCom

This Sulphur found one of the few Dandelions in bloom. I think it’s a Clouded Sulphur.

Photo of Boneset on NaturalCrooksDotCom

Boneset was in bloom and the goldenrods were beginning to open.

Photo of Northern Cardinal on NaturalCrooksDotCom

Lots of Northern Cardinals were calling to keep in contact with their partners.

Photo of Jewelweed on NaturalCrooksDotCom

There weren’t many seed pods ready to trigger yet on the Spotted Jewelweed.

Photo of Black Capped Chickadee on NaturalCrooksDotCom

Like Cardinals, family groups of Black-capped Chickadees were everywhere.

Photo of Nabalus on NaturalCrooksDotCom

This plant, just starting to flower, along the landward side of the Knoll path may be a type of Nabalus. It was a spindly specimen with few leaves but it was valiantly starting to flower both at the top and at the leaf nodes.

Photo of Willowy Plant on NaturalCrooksDotCom

I was intrigued by this pink flower also along the dry woods part of the Knoll but I am suspicious it may be a type of Smartweed rather than a more unusual plant. I took photos of the leaves and stems so I’m hoping to key it out later.

Photo of Grasshopper Red Legs on NaturalCrooksDotCom

This grasshopper was in the woods not the meadows. I’m wondering, for obvious reasons, if it may be a Red-legged Grasshopper. I’ll be checking later. Judging by my series of photos, it may have been laying eggs in a crack in this trunk.

Photo of White Tailed Deer Fawn on NaturalCrooksDotCom

There were two of these mostly-grown fawns feeding near the Old Poplar Row spur path. I like their spots!

Photo of Ailanthus Moth on NaturalCrooksDotCom

This Alilanthus Webworm Moth was my bonus for taking photos of the Cabbage White butterflies taking nectar from the Purple Loosestrife. I never would have noticed it if I hadn’t scanned the flower heads through my 600 mm lens.

Photo of Belted Kingfisher on NaturalCrooksDotCom

And my favourite was this Belted Kingfisher that landed near me as I stood staring at the creek. As usual, it flew as soon as it noticed me but I had a lovely close look at it for over a minute.

So yes, I did find some good things to photograph–although I agree the actual photos could be improved. The Rattray Marsh offers many good nature photography opportunities even on a hot humid morning in August.

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Do you prefer to go for a walk looking for one specific thing or are you happier to ramble and take note of whatever is in view that day? Please share your experiences with a comment.

 

 

 

 

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