Happenings at Sifton Bog

Sifton Bog (ESA), London, Ontario
Sunny, warm, 24 degrees, high of 27, feeling like 30. Walking at the beginning of the bog, the swamp is just mud now.  Nothing much around there.  At the actual bog pond, I noticed the pond lilies are finished.  I heard Green Frogs and Song Sparrows. 

Cottongrass

Cluster of Cottongrass

Green Frog

Sifton Bog (Redmond's Pond)

This damselfly below was so tiny.  With the bright sun, the blue at the top of the abdomen caught my eye.  I really cropped this picture, so the colour is not good.  It looked blue at the head part, and the wings were clear.  

Damselfly sp.

The flower below was in the peat mat close to the pond.  This is the only one I saw and it was very small.

Small White Lady's Slipper

Nightshade

Tansy

Chicory

Small Damselfly

Civic Gardens

It is a warm, sunny day, high of 22, humidex 25.  I went to see if I can find any butterflies.  I saw one Cabbage White.  So, I went for a walk at the west end of Springbank Park.  I found this damselfly on the walkway.

Blue-fronted Dancer 

Strathroy Lagoons - Butterflies and stuff

Saturday, August 5, 2017 

It was a cool day, partly cloudy and very windy, high of 20.  I've been going to Strathroy Lagoons since 1980. Especially, going August & September for shorebirds and in the fall for ducks. In those days there was usually one pond with a low water level with good mud flats for shorebirds.  
Today the 2 large ponds...the water level was high so no shorebirds to be found.  Both ponds were quiet, too.  I walked around the one pond to the right. The shrubs and vegetation have grown quite high and dense in places. In the 80's it was easy looking around the shore of the ponds with a lot less vegetation.    

Queen Anne's Lace

Jewelweed

Strathroy Lagoons

Common Whitetail

Teasel

Wild Bergamot

Field Bindweed

Bullrush

The butterflies were really flying all over the place because of the wind. I was able to get some photos as a few were able to hang onto a leaf for a minute.  

Viceroy

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Cabbage White

Eastern Forktail

Monarch

Monarch

There were a few Turkey Vultures flying over.  I also saw Robins, Red-winged Blackbirds, American Goldfinch, Song Sparrows, Barn Swallows, Tree Swallows and Mourning Dove. In October 1981, with other birders, we saw a Ruff here.

Turkey Vulture

Cabbage White

Viceroy

Viceroy

Milkweed Pods

Red Milkweed Beetle laying eggs? 

Milkweed Pods

Common Whitetail

Bluet Sp

Goldenrod