Number 581, September 2011

Baltimore butterfly, Glendon Ravine, July 9, 2011, photographed by Carol Sellers (see page 6)

REGULARS FEATURES

Coming Events 18 Extracts from Outings Reports 8 For Reading 12 Mid- to Late Summer Wildflowers in 13 From the Archives 17 High Park Savanna In the News 16

Keeping in Touch 11 Nature Pix Tips 14 Monthly Meetings Notice 3 Monthly Meeting Report 7 TFN members in the News 15 President’s Report 6

TFN Outings 4

Weather – This Time Last Year 19 TFN 581-2 Field Naturalist September 2011

Toronto Field Naturalist is published by the Toronto Field BOARD OF DIRECTORS Naturalists, a charitable, non-profit organization, the aims of President Bob Kortright which are to stimulate public interest in natural history and Past President Wendy Rothwell to encourage the preservation of our natural heritage. Issued Vice President monthly September to December and February to May. & Outings Margaret McRae Views expressed in the Newsletter are not necessarily those Sec.-Treasurer Walter Weary of the editor or Toronto Field Naturalists. The Newsletter is Communications Alexander Cappell printed on 100% recycled paper. Monthly Lectures Nancy Dengler Monthly Lectures Corinne McDonald ISSN 0820-636X Nature Reserves Marcus Feak Webmaster Lynn Miller Elisabeth Gladstone IT’S YOUR NEWSLETTER! We welcome contributions of original writing, up to 500 MEMBERSHIP FEES words, of observations on nature in and around Toronto, $20 YOUTH (under 26) reviews, poems, sketches, paintings, and photographs of $30 SENIOR SINGLE (65+) TFN outings (digital or print, include date and place). $40 SINGLE, SENIOR FAMILY (2 adults, 65+) $50 FAMILY (2 adults – same address, children included) Include your name, address and phone number so submissions can be acknowledged. Send by mail or email. No HST. Tax receipts issued for donations. Send Deadline for submissions for October issue: Sept. 9. membership fees and address changes to the TFN office. Please note: TFN does not give out its membership list. NEWSLETTER COMMITTEE

Jenny Bull (co-editor), Karin Fawthrop, Nancy Fredenburg, Toronto Field Naturalists Elisabeth Gladstone, Mary Lieberman, Judy Marshall, Ruth 2 Carlton St, # 1519, Toronto M5B 1J3 Munson, Toshi Oikawa, Wendy Rothwell (co-editor). Tel: 416-593-2656 Printing and mailing: Perkins Mailing Services Web: www.torontofieldnaturalists.org

Email: [email protected]

Fuzzy foot mushrooms, watercolour by D.A. White.

September 2011 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 581-3

TFN MEETING

Sunday, September 11, 2011, at 2:30 pm

From Earthstars to Destroying Angels: A Look at Toronto's Charismatic Mycoflora

Richard Aaron, naturalist and TFN member.

VISITORS WELCOME!

SOCIAL: 2:00 – 2:30 pm

Room 001, Emmanuel College, University of Toronto, 75 Queen’s Park Cres E

Emmanuel College is just south of the Museum subway station exit (east side of Queen’s Park). Enter at south end of building, down a few steps on outside stairwell. Wheelchair entrance: second door south on Queen’s Park. Elevator inside to the right. Room 001 is one floor below street level.

For information: call 416-593-2656 up to noon on the Friday preceding the lecture.

Note: the 2011 Annual General Meeting will be held prior to our lecture on October 2nd.

ONTARIO NATURE 2011-2012 Lecture Series Rally for Nature Oct 2 Dragonflies & Damselflies Colin Jones, Project Biologist, September 21, 11:00 – 1:00 pm Natural Heritage Information Queens Park south side Centre, Ministry of

Natural Resources Join with other supporters of nature as

ON’s Biodiversity Charter for Ontario and over 5,500 Nov 6 Ontario’s Far North signatures are handed over to the province. The charter Justina Ray, Executive Director, outlines what the Province needs to do to stop Wildlife Conservation Society the loss of biodiversity by 2020 Please spread the word and help us gather hundreds Dec 4 What Species of Creatures: of people together to make sure that nature’s voice is Animal Relations from the New heard during the provincial election World Sharon Kirsch, freelance editor For more information or to get involved visit and writer ontarionature.org/rally4nature or contact Kimberley MacKenzie at [email protected]

TFN 581-4 Toronto Field Naturalist September 2011

TFN OUTINGS

• TFN events are conducted by unpaid volunteers. • The club assumes no responsibility for injuries sustained by anyone participating in our activities. • Children and visitors are welcome at all TFN events. Children must be accompanied by an adult. • If you plan to bring children in a stroller, be aware that there may be steps or other unsuitable terrain. • Please do not bring pets. • To get to outings on time, check TTC routes and schedules (www.ttc.ca or 416-393-4636). • Outings go rain or shine: check the weather by calling 416-661-0123 so you will know what to wear. • Wear appropriate footwear for walking on trails which may be muddy, steep or uneven.

Thur TAYLOR CREEK – Wildflowers Sept 1 Leader: Melanie Milanich 10:00 am Meet at Main subway station. Bring binoculars and lunch. Not circular, option to continue along high ridge west of Woodbine bridge along the hydro path possibly ending near Coxwell and O’Connor.

Sat WARDEN WOODS AND ST CLAIR RAVINE – Nature arts Sept 3 Leader: Joe Bernaske 10:30 am Meet at the Warden Woods Park entrance at the southwest corner of Warden Ave and St Clair Ave E across from Warden subway station. Bring what you need for drawing, photography or writing, and anything you want to share with the group during lunch. Bring lunch.

Sun YELLOW CREEK – Topography Sept 4 Leader: Alexander Cappell 2:00 pm Meet at the southeast corner of Yonge St and Heath St E. Walk will end at Sherbourne subway station.

Wed ETIENNE BRULE AND JAMES GARDENS – Birds and Butterflies Sept.7 Leader: Carol Sellers 10:00 am Meet at Old Mill subway station for a circular walk with dropouts. Bring lunch and binoculars.

Sat HIGH PARK – Getting to know grasses Sept 10 Leader: Joanne Doucette 10:00 am Explore the native grasses in the rare and unique black oak savannah at High Park. Meet at the main entrance to High Park at Bloor St W and High Park Ave. Bring lunch

Sun LECTURE – From Earthstars to Destroying Angels: Sept 11 A Look at Toronto’s Charismatic Mycoflora. 2:30 pm Speaker: Richard Aaron, naturalist and TFN member Emmanuel College, 75 Queen’s Park Cres E. See page 3.

Tue ASHBRIDGES BAY – Birds Sept 13 Leader: Doug Paton 10:00 am Meet in front of the library just east of Queen St E and Lee Ave. Bring binoculars. About 2 ½ hours. Lots of lunch spots at termination of walk.

Sat GLENDON CAMPUS AND RAVINE – Heritage and Nature Sept 17 Leaders: Nancy Dengler and John Court 2:00 pm Meet at the TTC bus stop on the southeast corner of Bayview Ave and Lawrence Ave E for a circular walk.

September 2011 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 581-5

Sun LAVENDER CREEK – Lost Sept 18 Leaders: Cameron Groves and Richard Anderson 2:00 pm Meet at the northwest corner of Gunns Rd and Weston Rd. Explore the lower course of Rowntree-Lavender Creek, an urban watercourse whose restoration potential is as obvious as the abuse it has suffered. This is a creek which badly needs more friends. A joint walk with the Toronto Green Community.

Wed HUMBER – Nature Walk Sept 21 Leader: Ed Freeman 1:30 pm Meet at the northeast corner of Scarlett Rd and Eglinton Ave W for a walk along the northward to Weston and coffee at Loblaws before taking a bus back home. About 2 ½ hour walk.

Sat LESLIE STREET SPIT – Nature Walk Sept 24 Leader: Karen McDonald 9:30 am Meet at park entrance at Leslie St and Unwin Ave for a look at the flora and fauna of the Leslie Street Spit. Bring binoculars. Morning only.

Sun MORNINGSIDE PARK – Nature Walk Sept 25 Leader: Brian MacFarlane, President of Curran Hall Community Association 2:00 pm Meet at corner of Botany Hill Rd and Plover Rd (Lawrence 54 Orton Park bus to Brimorton Dr) and follow the arrows to starting point for a hike along the wild side of Morningside Park on hilly dirt trails. Bring your walking stick if you have one. Learn about the restoration projects on Highland Creek and watch for spawning salmon.

Wed WILKET CREEK AND SUNNYBROOK PARKS – Nature, Fungi Sept 28 Leader: Pat Burchell, Past President of Mycological Society of Toronto 10:00 am Meet at TTC bus stop on Leslie St at the northwest corner of Eglinton Ave E for a circular walk. Morning only.

Jim Baillie Work Parties Need You !

We plan some work parties this fall to install more boardwalks in the Jim Baillie Nature Reserve to make it more user friendly, and there are several opportunities to help.

The building and installation work will be done in October and November on site, probably midweek, but weekends are a possibility if there are people who want to do it on a weekend. We plan to have the lumber delivered to the reserve. We will have to saw the crossbars on site and assemble with nails or screws and carry the sections to their installation locations.

We would be grateful to hear from people who have experience constructing boardwalks who might help us plan the work. Experience is not necessary for helpers. We hope some members will bring hand saws, hammers, screw drivers, battery powered equipment etc. Car pooling will be arranged.

Please contact Margaret McRae if you are willing to help, and you will be contacted to discuss details.

TFN 581-6 Toronto Field Naturalist September 2011

PRESIDENT’S REPORT

Summer gives some TFN volunteers a break from the our key decisions concerned our grant program. We monthly work of putting a newsletter together, but it is continue to focus on nature education for youth, but a busy time for the TFN office as membership have also funded a couple of initiatives that provide renewals and accompanying donations come in. nature education to all. Further to recommendations of Renewal reminders and donation receipts are sent out, the board’s grants committee chaired by Nancy membership records are updated, and all these Dengler, the board approved six grants which were financial transactions are accounted for. I would like disbursed in July (see below). The first four are to thank Nancy Fredenburg, Judy Marshall, and Louise basically renewals of successful youth education Dixon for this work, and for working to modify programs funded in 2010, which have been featured in procedures following the introduction of the online past issues of the newsletter. membership renewal option implemented by our Trees for Toronto, a joint effort of the ROM and indefatigable webmaster Lynn Miller. To me, online Toronto Forestry, has put up excellent informative renewal is a more convenient but still secure material on trees in Queen’s Park. There are plans to alternative that saves me the bother of finding my ever extend this to Toronto Island and other Toronto parks. less frequently used chequebook, envelopes, and This grant will support creation of a website that will stamps. I am sure there are many other current and provide more information to those whose interest is prospective members who agree – I have heard of at sparked by the display material in the parks. least one who indicated that he thought of joining the TFN, but didn’t because he couldn’t do it online – now Toronto Wildlife Centre (TWC) is Canada’s busiest he can. wildlife centre, where hundreds of volunteers and a small group of paid staff care for injured wildlife and At the same time Louise (our bookkeeper) has assisted educate the public on wildlife issues. The grant to the our Treasurer Walter Weary in compiling the material TWC will contribute to the salaries of seasonal staff, needed by our auditor in completing the annual audit, thereby freeing time of TWC Education Outreach staff and has begun training a new volunteer Jess Fang to for educational activities. takeover the bookkeeping. Thanks to Louise for all the work she has contributed over the past years, and These projects are consistent with TFN’s objectives, providing continuity through the service of several and will help to spread awareness of TFN and our treasurers over the last year, and also to Jess for programs. We will keep you informed about the work volunteering so cheerfully to take over in this key role enabled by these grants. Enjoy the season – I hope to as Louise devotes more time to other activities. see you at an outing, lecture, or outreach event.

Your board has met three times since my last report in Bob Kortright the May newsletter (written in early April). Some of

Organization Amount Program ON THE COVER High Park Nature $20,000 Young Naturalist Clubs Centre and Family Nature This Baltimore butterfly was Walks photographed by Carol Sellers on a Toronto Botanical $12,500 Living Winter Program butterfly count on July 9 at Glendon Garden Ravine. Forty-three were counted. Toronto & Region $12,500 Bus Grants for School They are quite rare in Toronto. Conservation Trips to Kortright Centre

Ontario Nature $10,000 Youth Summit See also Extracts from Outings Royal Ontario $9,000 Trees for Toronto Web Leaders’ Reports, July 10, page 10 Museum Resources and more photos in the photo gallery Toronto Wildlife $10,000 Urban Wildlife Education on TFN website. Centre

September 2011 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 581-7

MONTHLY MEETING REPORT

From Great Slave Lake to Svalbard: Travels in coastal areas without ice do have flowers but their the Arctic and Subarctic beauty pales in comparison to the glaciers. Sunday, May 1. Peter Money, geologist, TFN member Iceland, a mixture of arctic and subarctic terrain, was This written report cannot do justice to the wealth of once covered in birch forests, now largely cut. As land images that made up Sunday’s lecture. Peter presented above sea level it is geologically unique in that it is part us with slides taken over 5 separate trips between 2001 of an ocean ridge and formed of upwelling lava where and 2008. His photos are stunning: tiny flowers in two plates pull apart. New landmasses emerge and glorious detail; close-ups of tiny and huge mammals Iceland grows because of the ongoing rifting (7 mm per suggesting the photographer may have had to endure year and 7 metres since 930 AD). Volcanoes are active some discomfort to obtain them; images of glaciers in and seepage from hot springs promotes plant growth. all their magnificence and, of course, rock formations. There are many water birds that migrate to and from All these Peter used to take us on a tour of the Arctic Europe. Ledges on the east coast have colonies of Atlantic puffins. and Subarctic.

To begin, Peter mentioned three terms that might define Our final destination is Svalbard, an archipelago that is the Arctic: Arctic Circle, treeline and the 10°C part of Norway. Definitely Arctic, it has a similar isotherm. He concluded that all three are unsatisfactory climate to Baffin Island, due to a branch of the Gulf in defining the Arctic and certainly meant nothing to the Stream, in spite of being 10° farther north. Peter took plants and animals featured in his talk. Nature resists us to three islands. Spitsbergen is the largest, with rich man’s categorizations. tundra. Moss campion displays “compass flowering” there, the southern half of a clump blooming before the We started in the boreal forest surrounding Yellowknife north, providing a rough compass should you require before moving east, past the mountain roots of the Slave one. Nordaustlandet, the second largest island, is a polar Geological Province, to the “land of little sticks” and of desert with very few hardy plants. Colonies of Atlantic caribou and muskoxen. Next we were in the Seal River walrus live here. Svalbard has many ice (polar) bears. area of . We saw some wonderful close-ups of People must carry rifles in case they have to shoot, in ice (polar) bears taken when Peter was in the enclosure self-defence, as a last resort. and the bears came to look at him! What a delightful reverse zoo. This time, Peter could not close his presentation with a sunset, as there was none to be had this far north. Continuing eastward, we touched down in the Hudson Instead, the image of the late evening sun was a fitting Bay area. On the east coast of Baffin Island, we saw close to the array of stunning images. You have to see rocks that were folded back on themselves. Prince these to get the full effect. Peter, I am so glad you Leopold Island brought us nesting birds. Devon Island, learned to see beyond the rocks! north of the Northwest Passage, had bearded seals and wildflowers, including Pedicularis capitata (capitate Corrine Macdonald lousewort).

Geologically complex Greenland was our next Atlantic walrus, capitate lousewort and Atlantic puffins, destination. An ice cap covers most of the island. The photographed by Peter Money TFN 581-8 Toronto Field Naturalist September 2011

EXTRACTS FROM OUTINGS LEADERS’ REPORTS

The private lives of familiar birds, High Park, April 9. Lorraine Johnson's York University students join us. Leader: Joanne Doucette. Photo of swan feathers One said he'd be leading a Jane's Walk–one of more taken at Grenadier Pond by Anne Leon. than 170 in this city alone–on the weekend. Clearly, Jane Jacobs' message–"You've got to get out and walk!" –has inspired new generations of Torontonians.

Eglinton Flats and Smythe Park, May 7. Leaders: Nancy Anderson and Anne Byzko. Topham Pond has a new map in the parking lot and new signs describing aspects of the pond: fish, turtles, birds, etc. New trees have been planted at the east end of Little Pond. The willows were absolutely beautiful for photography in their lime-green lace. In Smythe Park we saw a larger turtle on a rock with two small ones. The frogs put on a wonderful concert all around us and we spent quite a while just listening. We also saw two of them mating. The park worker kindly opened the washrooms for us, and his niece and nephew showed us improvements that had been made at Topham Pond. I read an article I had

G Ross Lord Park, May 4. Leader: Rachel found on the net about turtles in Smythe Park and the Gottesman. We were disappointed not to find great author of the article was nearby! He had lived there blue or black crowned night herons seen in the past, and since he was a boy and told us the history of Smythe no sign of turtles. Water level was high and water very and the changes that had taken place over the years. dirty. We saw one garter snake, ground hog, and deer Old Mill to James Gardens, May 8. Leader: Leslie and racoon tracks. Birds included kingbirds, chipping Fitzgibbons. Plants in flower included lesser and song sparrow, robins on the nest, phoebe, brown celandine, cut leaved toothwort, ash, fragrant sumach, thrasher, Caspian tern, barn and tree swallow, downy marsh marigolds, may-apple, thalitrum, trout lily, woodpecker, flicker and turkey vulture. Plants included bloodroot, spring beauty. Not flowering were skunk bloodroot finished flowering, white and red trillium, cabbage, Solomon’s seal, sharp leaved hepatica, wild flowering purple violets, flowering periwinkle, ginger, and yellow bellwort. motherwort, dried teasel and dried evening primrose (new rosettes starting), toothwort (broadleaf and cutleaf), flowering Virginia waterleaf, abundant blooming trout lily.

Fifth Annual Jane Jacobs Tribute Walk: Proposed route of the Spadina Expressway, May 4. Leader: Pleasance Crawford and Helen Juhola. Our route has remained pretty much the same since we began this walk in 2007. However, the message that citizens–Jane Jacobs among them–stopped the Spadina Expressway has become increasingly relevant and important to convey. All along the route, we were struck by how early things were in 2010 and–by contrast–how late they seemed in 2011. A few examples: Although the bur oaks were leafing out a year ago, their buds were still closed this year. A yellow magnolia, whose flowers were finished last May 4th, was still several days away from blooming this year. The poplar catkins that were Two evening primrose moths on evening primrose. already falling to the ground a year ago were not yet Photo: Wendy Rothwell. releasing pollen. We were delighted to have several of

September 2011 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 581-9

Rouge Park, May 12. Leader: Peter Money. We saw Highland Creek and Scarborough Bluffs, June 7. 38 wildflower species including spring ephemerals in Leader: Blair Campbell. We observed how a flower. Birds included northern parula, yellow and meandering stream creates a wide valley over a long Blackburnian warblers, orchard and Baltimore orioles period of time. We heard the song of the red-bellied and male and female eastern bluebird. woodpecker and saw one doe and the efforts of one industrious beaver which seemed to be attempting to Leslie Street Spit, May 14. Leader: Joanne dam the settling pod at the R J Horgan filtration plant. Doucette. The Birding Festival made this a very special event with all kinds of walks. What a bonus! Many A Forgotten North York Creek, June 9. Leader: birds were seen including 8 warbler, 3 sparrow and 3 Alexander Cappell. The unnamed creek is first visible flycatcher species, indigo bunting, bobolink, and as a wet ditch in Willesden Park. It's buried in a sewer chimney swift. A dead garter snake was being fed upon most of the way, but the line of linear parks below street by humbug snails which were seemingly omnipresent. level and the willow trees reveal its former bed. In a We saw where a deer had bedded for the night. few places, we were on top of the East Don Valley's east edge, from which we saw panoramic vistas of the Guildwood Park, May 15. Leader: Melanie Milanich. Yonge St office towers and condos and of the Oak In spite of the rain we were joined by eight York U Ridges Moraine. At Glenworth Rd, the water pours out students in ecological botany who were eager to learn. of the sewer into a steep ravine and goes under Spring wildflowers such as spring beauty, white and red Sheppard E into the East Don. On this last (densely trilliums, trout lilies, may-apples and marsh marigolds wooded) leg, we were greeted by hordes of mosquitoes. were in abundance, perhaps more so than last year. This was the first time I spotted the rose twisted stalk in the East Don Parkland, June 12. Leader: Phil Goodwin. park. Forget-me-nots were spreading throughout the Snapping turtle nest was destroyed and eggs eaten at park, as is the garlic mustard around the perimeter. The Finch wetland, just west of the east Don on Finch Ave. park seems generally well maintained; however, Looks like 3 or 4 other nests in same gravel bed at the everyone wondered when the inn will be rejuvenated. bottom of the hill.

Leslie St Spit, May 21. Leader: Bob Kortright. Leslie Street Spit, June 11. Leader: Karen Phoebe Cleverley reported that she flushed two adult McDonald. Everyone liked the “Brake for Snakes” woodcock near embayment D, then noticed fluffy signs. In Embayment D, common carp were swimming chicks trying not to be noticed. While there have been and we saw a common tern with a small fish (alewife?) many reports of woodcock being flushed, this is the first in its bill and others on their nests at the reef-raft. in which I have heard chicks reported. Yellow warblers were singing and a female "clicking" at a common yellowthroat; cedar waxwing and eastern Todmorden Mills Wildflower Preserve, May 29. kingbird foraging; double-crested cormorants on their Leader: Paula Davies, Miriam Webster. Stewardship nests on Peninsula C. In and around Cell One, canvas- activities continue to pay great dividends with many back ducks were loafing, tree wildlife sightings and increases in swallows were on their nest native plant communities. Our boxes, and great egret was plantings, weeding, and soil foraging and being chased by improvement are based on plans we red-winged blackbirds. Some have developed. The goal is to copy participants retrieved some the template that nature has provided. illegally dumped material out We welcome new stewards. Training of the grasses near the entrance is provided, just bring a love of nature - thank you! and a commitment to do some hard but satisfying work! Sherwood Park, June 21. Leader: Janice Palmer. We How to draw birds, Toronto Island, inspected a fallen 185-year-old June 4. Leader: Joanne Doucette. Amercian beech. Problems in The cold and rain made drawing the park are really the result of difficult and lightning cut short our over-use – death by a thousand outing. But weather is weather! cuts!

House sparrow, drawn by Joanne Doucette, June 4 Continued on next page. TFN 581-10 Toronto Field Naturalist September 2011

Don River, Beechwood to Forks of the Don, June Glendon Campus and Ravine, July 10. Leader: 25. Leader: Margaret McRae. Invertebrates included a Nancy Dengler. The differences between the small few monarchs, cabbage white, anglewing, summer pink and white flowers of lopseed, Phryma azure, little wood satyr, skipper butterflies; ctenucha leptostachya, and the all-white flowers of enchanter's moths, ebony jewelwing. Among the birds we saw was nightshade, Circaea lutetiana, were noted. Spotted a flicker feeding its baby in a hole in a tree. water-hemlock was in full bloom in the Glendon quarry wetland. Male and female ebony jewelwing damselflies Warden Woods, June 28. Leader: Heidi Holmes. We were seen and over 30 Baltimore checkerspot butterflies talked about Hwy 401 altering the headwaters of Taylor during the post-walk extension. (See cover photo.) A Massey Creek, and the factors making it very swift after pileated woodpecker worked a dead stump just 10 m in rain and causing erosion; and about the ridges being front of us as we crossed back over the West Don. part of ancient Lake Iroquois and how the river had emptied directly into the lake, rather than the Don. Reptile and Amphibian Awareness, Beare Wetland, Rouge Park, July 23. Leader: Mandy Karch. We saw leopard frog and froglets, green frog (see photo on back page) and tadpole, gray tree froglets, and painted turtles - adult to 1 year old. Also stink bug, caterpillars (including 1 polyphemus), green darters, 12- spotted skimmers and other dragonflies, aquatic insects, toadflax brocade moth, locusts, and gastropods.

Garrison Creek, July 26. Leader: Alexander Cappell. We found a huge elm tree on Barton St and an even huger one on Humewood Dr. Shortly after we saw a northern mockingbird, a tropical bird came to look at us which Roger Powley identified as a cockatiel.

Charles Sauriol Conservation Area, July 31. Leader: Miles Hearn. Plants included big blue stem, rice cutgrass, stinging, false, and wood nettles, hog peanut, tall sunflower, grass-leaved goldenrod, bur oak, white elm, red pine, wild bergamot, cup plant, enchanter's nightshade, and water hemlock. Birds included wood Glen Stewart Ravine, July 6. Leader: Bob Kortright. duck, indigo bunting, and red-eyed vireo. Many participants contributed to identifying the many interesting plants among the large oaks including the similar leaves of maple-leaved viburnum and mountain maple–easy to distinguish when fruit is visible, as it was on at least one of each. The ravine is heavily eroded both because of foot traffic on the steep slopes and deep shade limiting growth of undergrowth that would protect the ground. A couple of plants were puzzling: Manchu cherry and a forb with tiny white flowers which might have been European gromwell. Between the two sides of Glen Manor Rd, the sides of this ravine have been planted in recent years with native trees and shrubs, although some are struggling with encroaching weeds. The final section of the ravine is planted with many exotics, including katsura and dawn redwood, with flowerbeds dominated by goutweed, although native shrubs are there too.

May-apple, Podophyllum peltatum (above), and cup plant, Silphium perfoliatum (right), drawn by D.A. White

September 2011 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 581-11

KEEPING IN TOUCH

We love what you’re doing: the beautiful magazine, Thank you for all your efforts. The outings are always the varied walks, and especially the investment of our a treat. funds with organizations like NCC, and in public Joan Richard awareness and youth education. We have doubled our …………………………………………………………. modest donation. Keep up the good work! I have to say it again! Lynn Pady’s photographs, back and front, of May’s edition are both Nature at its most Marg and John Catto delightful and photography as a high art. She’s a …………………………………………………………. marvel. Don’t ever let her go! Since, at 91, my Great My sincere thanks go out to all who work so hard Outdoor days are largely over, it’s a great comfort to behind the scenes to make TFN work. When I meet receive them so richly via the TFN newsletter in new people I always mention that the entire organiza- general and Lynn Pady’s photographs in particular. tion is run by volunteers with not even a paid secretary. Eva Davis I hope TFN can continue to reach out to find new …………………………………………………………. members. I delight in seeing potential new members’ In his excellent article and photographs on trilliums, faces light up when they hear about all the scheduled Peter Money asked for comments. He stated that he walks! had never seen the white variety of red trillium in Anne Leon Ontario. I have been fortunate to see it in three P.S. Cute BUT … There have been two separate different locations in southern Ontario. sightings of bears on the edge of Morningside Park last The first time, many years ago, in “Spooky Hollow” fall. I suggest TFN consider telling leaders what to (or is it “Sleepy Hollow?), the Hamilton Naturalists’ advise us to do if we meet one. I am carrying a noise- nature reserve, we saw one specimen. maker and flare-maker kit, though my screams, I’m told, may work better! On May 7, 2002 some members of the Richmond Hill Naturalists went for a botany walk on the property of Richview Nurseries (wholesale) on Vandorf Sideroad, north of Hwy 7. In the valley we were delighted to see three white red trilliums. The petals are creamy and the ovary always remains bright red.

Two springs ago, a friend and I went to a woodlot west of Kennedy Rd, north of Aurora Sideroad. Just before viewing hillside after hillside white with trilliums, we spotted a white variety of red trillium, again a thrill.

Marion Martindale

Ed.: Flora of North America (www.efloras.org) states that “Variety album differs mainly just in petal color, and probably should be reduced to the rank of forma. Many other colors occur sporadically in otherwise typically maroon to purple populations, most frequently a soft pale yellow, but also white with a pink overlay, or paler forms of reddish maroon.”

…………………………………………………………. Resistance is Futile! In June, Ken Cook sent a link to Spacing Magazine with time lapse photos of complete subsisdence of Finch Ave by flooding, presumably by Black Creek. B ack bear, drawn by Eva Dav s from a photo Check it out at spacing.ca/photoblog/?page_id=42) by Lynn and Donna Rogers on the cover of a 1996 An ma A ance of Canada pamph et. TFN 581-12 Toronto Field Naturalist September 2011

FOR READING

Kaufman Field Guide to Advanced Birding habitat, practice looking at flying birds too, listen, relax By Kenn Kaufman, published by Houghton, Miflin, – no one can identify all the birds.

Harcourt, 2011, $21.00 In addition to extensive sections on songs and calls, behaviour, and features of feathers, there are delightful tidbits such as a set of exercises including: find a bird This is a completely new and improved version of that cannot be identified with certainty, and notice Advanced Birding by the same author, published in the something you have not noticed before. He also Peterson Field Guide series many years ago. Given suggests that not counting species identified will allow improvements in field guides and the advent of the you to see more detail in the birds you see, because internet with a profusion of information in the listing causes you to shift focus from a bird as soon as it intervening years, the challenge is no longer that is identified so that you can look for other birds to add information cannot be found, but how to focus on the to your list – an example of the truism that we focus on right information. Accordingly, the author now puts what we measure. more emphasis on the principles and pitfalls of birding, although he still has chapters on challenging groups of The other two-thirds of the book covers challenging birds. groups in two ways: • introductions to groups that contain difficult The first 140 pages contain the best introduction to challenges (seabirds, raptors, shorebirds, gulls, birds and birding that I have seen. By learning how to terns, owls, hummingbirds, flycatchers, swallows, use a field guide, binoculars, sketchpad and pencil, and warblers, sparrows) your eyes and ears, and understanding better what you • focus on especially difficult groups within those see, it becomes easier to learn how to distinguish one families (eg: scaup, loons, accipiters, empidonax hawk (or even gull or sparrow) from another. Pitfalls flycatchers) covered include the perils of picture matching, how lighting alters appearance, especially colour, and why These accounts give excellent background on these this is even worse in photos than in the field, how groups, which will help you focus on the key features to expectations and desire can alter what you see, how size look and listen for. You may want to retain books that impressions are often deceptive, how abnormal focus solely on hawks in flight, or on shorebirds, gulls, colouration, mud, food, missing feathers or bill or seabirds of the world, but unless you are going to a deformities can alter appearance. Pitfalls also include hawk watch, pelagic trip or out specifically to look at escaped exotic birds or hybrids which might stump you gulls or shorebirds, this is the only supplement you will – Kenn covers which ones are more likely to occur. need to your field guide to become the most expert of Principles include: learn common birds and the groups birders (provided you also spend thousands of hours in they fall in, focus on shape, expect variation within the field). species, understand molt, learn what to expect in each Bob Kortright

VOLUNTEER SNAKE MONITORS NEEDED IN THE LOWER HUMBER RIVER AREA

TRCA has installed four basking areas for snakes along the Humber River near Old Mill and Bloor in the hopes that snakes will use them instead of the road for basking. The basking areas are surrounded by sand so that snake tracks (and other wildlife tracks) can be noted. During the installation staff discovered a ring-necked snake - a species that has not been sighted in Toronto in more than 30 years! “Brake for snakes” signs will also be installed soon.

If you would like to help TRCA monitor the basking areas to determine snake usage, as well as the road to look at snake injuries or deaths, please call TFN office for further information. If TRCA can prove that the basking structures are effective in reducing snake road kill, more will be installed!

September 2011 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 581-13

MID- TO LATE SUMMER WILDFLOWERS IN HIGH PARK SAVANNA

High Park’s black oak savanna has a few native wildflowers not reported elsewhere in Toronto. These include two rather inconspicuous species of Leguminosae (pea or bean family) and a brightly coloured species of Asteraceae (sunflower family).

The Leguminosae is the third largest plant family, with over 20,000 species. Many are of importance as sources of food directly, e.g. various pea and bean species, or indirectly, e.g. as sources of pollen for honey bees, or because of associated nitrogen-fixing bacteria that increase soil fertility. Family representatives in High Park include two bush clovers: round- headed (Lespedeza capitata) and hairy (L. hirta). The ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario identifies the habitat for both species as dry tallgrass prairies or roadsides and fields in relict or former prairies. Both species are reported by the ROM to occur from the Lake Simcoe-Rideau ecoregion south.

The ROM Field Guide notes that L. hirta may be up to 1.5 m tall and Newcomb’s Wildflower Guide confirms similar heights for both species. However, in High Park, amidst the shorter grasses of the savanna, the bush clovers are equally short, having no need to expend energy to become tall. These two species have clusters of almost identical small flowers (8-12 mm long in L. capitata, 6-9 mm in L. hirta). In High Park they avoid competition for pollinators by blooming at different times: according to my records early August for L. capitata and early July for L. hirta.

The Asteraceae family is the world’s largest, including some 22,000 to 26,000 species. Botanists have divided it into three sub- families and a number of tribes. Why a tribe is a subdivision of a sub-family is a mystery to me! Our High Park species is Liatris cylindracea, one of 18 species of Liatris (blazing star) occurring in eastern North America. The genus Liatris is included in the tribe Eupatorieae, type genus Eupatorium (several local species). The common characteristic of the Asteraceae family is Top: round-headed bush clover inflorescences made up of many small flowers, called florets. Middle: hairy bush clover Species may have a central core of disk flowers with a ring of Below: cylindrical blazing-star petal-like ray flowers or only disk flowers or only ray flowers. Liatris species only have disk flowers. Photos: Peter Money

In High Park I’ve seen L. cylindracea in bloom from late July to mid-August. L. spicata, not native to our area, has been introduced in the park. The species can be readily distinguished as L. cylindracea has few or solitary inflorescences, each with 20 or more florets, and L. spicata has a spike of numerous closely spaced inflorescences, with 5 to 9 florets in each.

Put your binoculars to good use. Search for small plants in the savanna! Peter Money TFN 581-14 Toronto Field Naturalist September 2011

NATURE PIX TIPS

The problem I had found most frustrating was the way Many TNF members enjoy creating digital images of sunlight either washes out colour or reflects off the the beautiful and fascinating birds, plants and flowers. Our workshop leader showed me how simple animals we see. We have some very talented it is to overcome these problems by adjusting the photographers in our midst, as readers of the exposure compensation. Newsletter will be aware. But I’m sure there are others like myself – novices who enjoy nature 1. Choose a Shooting Mode other than Auto. (On my photography as a hobby and would like to improve Canon camera, I choose “P” which automatically their skill. sets the shutter speed and aperture value based on the brightness of the subject.) So we thought it might be a good idea to start a regular feature in the newsletter whereby members 2. Press the Exposure Compensation button ( +/- on can share nature photography tips. You don’t have my camera). An Exposure Compensation bar to be an expert to contribute. In fact beginners are (-2…-1…0…1…2) will appear on the LCD probably more likely to be discovering new ideas. monitor. To get a darker image, move the curser to I’m starting the ball rolling with exposure compen- a negative value; for a brighter image, move it to a sation. Please send us your tips so we can share positive value. them in future issues. You can try various settings until you get the desired

result. When you play back the image, your camera

will display a histogram – a graph which indicates Today’s ‘point and shoot’ cameras have a dazzling whether the image is too dark (bias towards the left), array of features – so many, in fact, that those of us balanced, or too light (bias towards the right). who are intimidated by instruction manuals tend to Adopting this method has greatly added to my pleasure throw up our hands in dismay and just set the camera in photographing wildflowers. I hope you will find the to “Auto” mode. This often works quite well. same, and that you will send some of your successes to However, sometimes the results can be disappointing, the TFN for inclusion in the newsletter or on our particularly, I have found, when photographing website. wildflowers. So I was delighted by the opportunity to attend a helpful Wildflower Photography workshop at Article and photos by Wendy Rothwell the Carden Festival in June.

Before… … and after adjusting exposure compensation

September 2011 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 581-15

TFN MEMBERS IN THE NEWS

RIVERDALE IN BID TO BECOME FIRST CARBON HUMBER RIVER HERITAGE NEUTRAL COMMUNITY Madeleine McDowell was featured in an article in the

TFN member Rita Bijons is involved in Riverdale’s Globe and Mail on July 23. The reporter had joined attempt to become the first carbon neutral urban her and 90 other participants as she brought history community. Riverdale was selected from more than alive on a walk along Black Creek in Smythe Park. twenty neighbourhood groups from across the city TFN members are lucky to be able to join TFN outings because of their demonstrated passion and strong local led by Madeleine. (Full article at: www.theglobeand mail.com/news/national/toronto/history-runs-deep-in- leadership. The Junction was also chosen. (See torontos-humber-river/article2107315/) projectneutral.org). Up until now, communities working to become carbon neutral have been rural, TFN MEMBER RECEIVES NATURAL HISTORY such as Eden Mills, Ontario AWARD (www.goingcarbonneutral.ca). See www.ontarionature.org/media/

On June 13, the Toronto Star’s David Rider quoted Long-time TFN member Christine Hanrahan, who now Rita, who is a retired kindergarten teacher: “Many of lives in Ottawa, has been awarded Ontario Nature’s us have in our own homes made behaviour changes, or W.E. Saunders Natural History Award. She “has held a retrofitted, so a chance to come together as a long-time commitment to building awareness about the community is a very hopeful thing, a very exciting importance of protecting and learning from the natural thing. I’m grabbed at my heart by climate change. I world. Whether writing articles, posting nature photos, feel a fierce need to advocate for all those young lives I advocating for conservation, leading nature outings or was privileged to be in touch with all those years.” going on bird and butterfly counts, Christine is able to Full article at: www.thestar.com/news/article/1007253- awaken a sense of wonder in others. Christine belongs -riverdale-junction-vie-to-become-world-s-first-urban- to the Ottawa Field Naturalist’s Club and sits on the carbon-neutral-neighbourhood#article club’s birds and conservation committees as well as the Fletcher’s Wildlife Garden Committee. She also On July 21, Rita also made a deputation to the Parks & represents the club on the South March Highlands Environment Committee on climate change. See committee and the Larose Forest Advisory www.green13toronto.org/blog/21-july-2011-parks- environment-committee-deputations. Committee.”

GUIDELINES FOR SUBMITTING PHOTOS FOR THE NEWSLETTER

1. Preferably send photos of nature subjects taken in the Toronto area.. 2. On the front and back cover we only use photographs with landscape orientation (i.e. the horizontal edges are longer than the vertical edges) though we may be able to crop a portrait-oriented image to landscape if the subject is appropriately placed within the image. 3. Before sending a photo, please re-name it with the subject and your name. Both of these can be abbreviated, e.g. a photo of a great-crested flycatcher might be named Flycatch_grtcrst_JSmith.jpg We suggest not leaving blank spaces in the file name (i.e. use underscore). Make sure you retain the file type (e.g. jpg) when you rename. 4. If possible include the location and date of the photo in the accompanying email. If there is an interesting story associated with the photo, please tell us about it. 5. If possible, please email photos that are less than 1 Mb in size. Images taken at high resolution can be scaled down and still be suitable for newsletter production. In Windows, right-click on photo, choose “Send to … Mail Recipient” and choose “Make pictures smaller.” Or use Photoshop or equivalent freeware such as Gimp. 6. While we can scan print photos, the scans are often not of good enough quality for reproduction. TFN 581-16 Toronto Field Naturalist September 2011

IN THE NEWS

TASK FORCE TO BRING BACK THE DON stakeholders toward establishing an urban national SUSPENDED BY MAYOR park in the Rouge Valley of eastern Toronto. Looking From an article by Ian Merringer, Globe and Mail, Jul. to the future, our Government will engage a broad 15 – 20, 2011 at www.theglobeandmail.com/news/ range of stakeholders on the development of a National national/ toronto/don-rivers-gritty-past-stands-it-in- Conservation Plan, to move our conservation good-stead/article2099512/singlepage/#articlecontent objectives forward and better connect all Canadians “...The 16-year veteran and former chair of the Task with nature.” Force to Bring Back the Don [John Wilson]... is no longer in a good position to lobby city hall... He is the BRANTFORD FIRST CITY IN CANADA TO BAN task force’s former chair because the body no longer SHARK FIN exists. Even though the volunteer members funded Brantford city council voted unanimously in favour of themselves through donations and only asked the city prohibiting the possession, sale and consumption of all for some staff support and an occasional empty shark fin products. It hopes to set an example for the meeting room, Toronto Mayor Rob Ford declined to rest of the country. The Globe and Mail reported, May re-establish it this year...” 17, that “Every year, the shark finning industry kills an estimated 73 million sharks, and is notorious for its ROUGE VALLEY TO BECOME NATIONAL PARK cruel and wasteful practice of slicing fins off live fish Extracted from Prime Minister Stephen Harper's throne and letting them die slowly. Conservation groups say speech, June 3, at www.speech.gc.ca/eng/ one-third of the world’s shark species are now media.asp?id=1390 threatened with extinction.” “In this, the 100th anniversary year of our national Full article at www.theglobeandmail.com/life/food-and- parks system, our Government will create significant wine/trends/trends-features/brantford-first-city-in- new protected areas. It will work with provincial, canada-to-ban-shark-fin/article2025124/ regional, municipal, Aboriginal and community

ONTARIO NATURE 2011 YOUTH SUMMIT FOR BIODIVERSITY AND SUSTAINABLE LIVING

September 23-25, 2011 at YMCA Cedar Glen, Schomberg for students from grade 9-12 across Ontario

Registration deadline: September 1st

Ontario Nature is holding its second annual Youth Summit, bringing young leaders together to connect, inspire and learn from each other and experts in the fields of biodiversity and sustainable living. Hosted by the Ontario Nature Youth Council, the Summit will include activities and workshops on sustainable agriculture, bird banding, cooking with local food, and sustainability, nature photography and Ontario’s species at risk. More than 60 teens attended Ontario Nature’s first Youth Summit for Biodiversity in 2010 and their enthusiastic response was overwhelmingly positive. If you know young people interested in becoming environmental leaders, learning about hands-on-conservation, or meeting others who share a passion for nature, encourage them to visit Ontario Nature’s website: www.ontarionature.org/youthsummit or contact Sarah Hedges at [email protected] or 416-444-8419, ext. 241. Note: Toronto Field Naturalists are happy to donate funding for this summit and also sponsor up to 10 attendees from the Toronto area. To apply for sponsorship, please contact Ontario Nature.

September 2011 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 581-17

FROM THE ARCHIVES

RARE PLANTS ON THE TORONTO ISLANDS If you don't see all the plants, don't worry: it does not From TFN newsletter, # 325, Sept. 1979 mean the plant is extinct. Annual changes in lake levels dramatically affect the wet meadow vegetation. For Many TFN members know that the Toronto Islands are example, lake levels declined to below average levels in an important site for bird migration, yet relatively few the late summer of 1978. The once-flooded central know that the Islands contain many plant communities portions of the meadows became thickly covered by the and plant species rare to our region. On the Islands, small mint-like false pimpernel (Lindernia dubia). This habitats include woodlands, fields, prairies, dunes, plant was not recorded before in the meadows and this lagoon edges, wet meadows and beach strands. These year it has again disappeared except for a few patches in contain 49 regionally rare and uncommon plant species, the wet meadow north of the parks work yard. 6 of these are also considered rare for Ontario. Apparently its seeds lie dormant in the ground until lake The most important centres for significant plant species levels sharply decline. are in the wet meadows. Wet meadows at Gibraltar In the recent past these wet meadows have been mowed Point and north of the filtration plant contain the largest and sand has been dumped right on top of rare plants. diversity of significant plant species, in total 30 rare and Today these practices have been stopped and some of uncommon species. the wet meadows will be included in protected These meadows are dominated by bluejoint Environmentally Sensitive Areas. (Calamagrostis canadensis) and a sedge (Carex Steve Varga aquatilis) in the drier sections while spikerushes (Eleocharis species) are the dominant element of the wettest parts. Mixed in with these dominant species are showy herbs which flower mainly during late August and early September. There are about 200 specimens of the beautiful fringed gentian (Gentianella crinita ssp. crinita). In the three most significant wet meadows are large patches of the delicate Kalm's lobelia (Lobelia kalmii) - unknown elsewhere in the Toronto Region. By far the most common showy herb is the large purple- flowered false dragonhead (Physostegia virginiana). Surprisingly, although this plant is very common on Island wildlife areas, it has not been found anywhere else in the Toronto region.

Twining around the sedges and grasses in these wet meadows is the small white-flowered marsh bellflower (Campanula aparinoides). The stem has bristles which allow the plant to cling to the supporting vegetation. In early September the small wet meadow just behind the Ward's Island beach strand contains a solid carpet of the showy purple gerardia (Gerardia pupurea var. parviflora), another species rare to the Toronto region.

In addition to the showy herbs, the wet meadows Plants of Toronto Island wet meadows drawn by contain unimpressive plants which are in fact also rare Steve Varga, from his booklet Toronto Islands Plant Communities and Noteworthy Species, 1987, for our Region. Among these is the Baltic rush (Juncus published by and available from TFN. balticus) which has spikes that form a straight line due to the fact that they are all connected by an underground Ed.: Since this article was written in 1979, many of the root. As well, there is the rare Nelson's horsetail wet meadows on the islands have dried up or are in the (Equisetum X nelsonii), a hybrid. It is distinguished process of being invaded by shrubs and trees as they from most other horsetail species by its lack of side become drier, and it is unlikely that Kalm’s lobelia is still branches. Continued on next page.

TFN 581-18 Toronto Field Naturalist September 2011

COMING EVENTS

If you plan to attend any of these events, we recommend that you contact the organizing group beforehand to confirm time and place

Jim Baillie Memorial Bird Walks – Toronto Ornithological Club Aimed at the intermediate birder, but beginners also welcome. Free to the public; no advance registration required. • Sat Sept 10, 8 am – 12 noon. Fall migrants, raptors, High Park. Leader: Steven Favier. Meet in parking lot inside the Bloor St entrance at High Park Ave. • Sat Sept 17, 8:00 am – all day. Fall migrants, raptors, shorebirds, Leslie Street Spit. Leader: Bob Kortright. Meet at the foot of Leslie St (south of Lakeshore Blvd E). • Sat Sept 24, 8 am – noon. Fall migrants, Lambton Woods. Leader: Don Burton. Meet at James Gardens parking lot (access from Edenbridge Dr east of Royal York Rd, north of Dundas St W). • Sun Sept 25, 8 am – (all day). Fall migrants, shorebirds, waterfowl, Durham Waterfront, Pickering-Oshawa Second Marsh. Leader: Geoff Carpentier. Meet at Pickering GO Station, southeast part of parking lot.

High Park Walking Tours 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month, 10:30 am – noon. Meet at the benches across the road south of Grenadier Restaurant. Information: 416-392-0729 ext. 4 or [email protected] or www.highpark.org • Sept 4. Fall Wildflowers. Leader Ron Luft • Sept 18. Who Goes to the Park. A poetic visit to sites from the well-known book

Thickson’s Woods Land Trust Sat Sept 17, 9 am – 3:30 pm. Birds, Beavers and Butterflies Nature Festival. Fun for all the family. From Hwy 401 in Whitby, take Thickson Rd south of Wentworth St to Waterfront Trail. Info: www.thicksonswoods.com or 905-433-7875. Adults $5, Children $2, Families $10.

Rouge Park Weekly Guided Nature Walks Explore Rouge Park’s trails with a Hike Ontario certified volunteer leader. Information: visit www.rougepark.com/hike, e-mail [email protected] or phone 905-713-3184 Monday thru Thursday

The Market Gallery Until Oct 15, 2011. South St Lawrence Market, 2nd floor, 95 Front St E. Free. Mariposa: fifty years of making music. An interactive exhibition in partnership with York University celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Mariposa Folk Festival. Note: Gallery is closed Sundays, Mondays and holidays. Information: www.stlawrencemarket.com/gallery.

Water: The Exhibition, Royal Ontario Museum Until Sept 5. A celebration of the power and wonder of this life-giving substance and a call to each of us to become stewards of our blue plant. Information: www.rom.on.ca/water

Aster & Goldenrod Identification Workshop, Royal Botanical Gardens Thurs and Fri, Sept 15-16, 9:30 am – 4:30 pm. RBG Centre, 680 Plains Rd W, Burlington/Hamilton. Visit www rbg.ca to register by Sept. 6. Non-members: $275. Members $250. Students: $200

Lost Rivers Walks Sat Sept 17, 2 pm. Explore the Jones Avenue Pocket and Hastings Creek. Leaders: Helen Mills and Liz Hood. Meet at Donlands subway station.

Continued from page 17. present – if you find it, please let us know. Loss of wet users, though Parks is attempting to protect the dunes meadows is likely caused by various factors such as at Hanlan’s Point with cedar rail fencing. However, the frequent dry springs that follow winters with little snow wet meadow at Wards Island is still a delightful place within the watershed, tighter control of spring water for plant enthusiasts to visit in late summer and early levels by the St. Lawrence Seaway, and beach sand fall and the recent dune restoration following the erosion and even filling. The beaches are now used by installation of pipes at the Deep Lake Water Cooling many more people and are also subject to more project has a flourishing population of dune grasses “grooming.” The dunes have suffered erosion both and other native species. Note that the Gerardia from natural causes and from trampling by beach species mentioned is now Agalinis.

September 2011 Toronto Field Naturalist TFN 581-19

WEATHER (THIS TIME LAST YEAR)

September 2010 the autumnal equinox, and it rose to 30.8º on the 24th. By the 26th, we had the coolest temperature of the Record warmth hovered over the Ohio Valley this month with a minimum of 6.3º at Pearson and 8.6º month, but Toronto remained largely north of the downtown. frontal zone, with occasional exceptions. The result was an up-and-down month with active frontal Overall, September was a pleasant month: near-normal passages and wide swings of temperature. in average temperature (17.0º downtown and 16.5º at Pearson) and slightly wetter than normal, with 77.1 The first two days continued hot and humid from mm downtown and 88.2 mm at Pearson. Because of August, with a high of 32.7º (Pearson) on the 1st. By mostly warm fall weather in recent years, it was the the 4th, daytime highs were in the teens with autumnal coolest September since 2006 and the wettest since “troughy” cloudiness. A warm front brought return to 2003. Sunshine hours at 182.8 were slightly below close to 30º temperatures by the 7th, but then it cooled normal. down again with unsettled conditions and rainy Gavin Miller periods. The last hot spell of 2010 followed just after

Pondweed (Potamogeton sp), watercolour by David Andrew White TFN 581-20 Toronto Field Naturalist September 2011

Toronto Field Naturalists Publications Mail Registration No. 40049590 2 Carlton St., #1519 Toronto, Ontario M5B 1J3

Green frog in Rouge Park wetlands, July 2011, photographed by Yoshie Nagata