"In September, the world is slowing down just enough to give us the time to appreciate its beauty."
― Unknown
September is a month of unparalleled beauty, almost like a second spring. As the heat of summer gradually yields to the gentle caress of autumn, the world undergoes a breathtaking transformation. The days may be getting shorter, but they are filled with a warm, golden light that bathes everything it touches in a soft, enchanting glow. Swainson's Thrushes are moving through southern Wisconsin right now, along with thousands upon thousands of warblers, vireos, flycatchers, thrushes, and many other southbound migratory birds.
During fall migration, many bird species rely on environmental cues, such as changes in day length and temperature, to trigger their journey south. They have an innate ability to sense these cues, which helps them prepare for the long and arduous journey. One fascinating aspect of this process is the development of a phenomenon known as hyperphagia.
Hyperphagia is a period of intense feeding and fattening that birds undergo just before migration. As the days grow shorter and cooler, birds instinctively know that they need to build up energy reserves to sustain them during their long flights. They become voracious eaters, consuming vast quantities of food, particularly high-energy foods like insects, berries, and seeds.
Today (Sunday) was one of the best warbler fall migration days I've ever had ― 20 species. Included in the spritely songbird mix was Black-throated Blue (two of them!), Cape May, Golden-winged, Blue-winged, Wilson's, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, and Blackburnian. Most abundant were Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, and American Redstarts. I heard the unmistakeable check chip-note of a Yellow-rumped Warbler and got to see it as well. For vireos there were Blue-headed, Yellow-throated, and Red-eyed. Other birds included Red-breasted Nuthatch, Scarlet Tanager, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and Gray-cheeked Thrush. I didn't make a list, but likely over 50 species for the duration of the outing.
While Sunday was a birding day, Saturday was all about bugs ― especially hoppers. I finally found a decent population of Locust Treehoppers Thelia bimaculata at Deer Creek, just across the street from where I live. Oddly, there were no males among them. Unlike tiger beetles, hoppers are pretty cooperative insects when it comes to portraiture. Finding them is the tricky part! As thorn mimics, they blend right into their surroundings and are easily missed.
On the same Black Locust Trees were the much smaller Black Locust Treehoppers Vanduzea arquata.
To give you a sense how small they are, here are a few with Black Ants tending to them. By tending to treehoppers, ants ensure a continuous supply of excretions of hopper honeydew. This ongoing source of sugar-rich food benefits the ants, especially during times when other food sources may be scarce. In exchange for access to this sugary substance, ants protect treehoppers from predators like ladybugs and parasitic wasps. Ants may attack or drive away these potential threats, ensuring the safety of the treehoppers. In essence, this mutualistic relationship benefits both parties: ants receive a reliable source of food in the form of honeydew, while treehoppers gain protection from potential predators. This interaction showcases the intricate web of ecological relationships that exist in nature, where organisms evolve strategies to cooperate and thrive together.
Still a few Buffalo Treehoppers around, but their summer lifecycle is past peak.
A Meadow Spittlebug ...
Red-banded Leafhopper ...
And here's a Northern Crab Spider Mecaphesa asperata awaiting prey ...
As I've mentioned in other posts, when you're on a bug hunt it isn't uncommon to happen upon a tree frog. This one gave a call, alerting me to its presence, but I was careful not to be too much of a bother to it ― it's a clean composition of a frog contemplating its next move.
With goldenrods at peak, Ambush Bugs can be found on almost every plant ...
Ambush Bugs have strong, raptorial front legs equipped with sharp, curved claws that they use to grasp and immobilize their prey. These front legs are adapted for capturing insects, and they can quickly subdue prey larger than themselves ― I've seen them take bees three or four times their size.
We'll close out this week's post with a bang of color, both native and non-native. Regardless of the introduced ones, they are all still masterpieces of beauty and diversity ― coming in an astonishing array of colors, each with its own unique charm, significance, and history. Here we have Compass Plant, Common Chicory, and New England Aster.
All images © 2023 Mike McDowell