Weekend Findings - Aug 18-19, 2018

Hyde Park Drainage Pond - August 18 & 19, 2018

I go to Hyde Park, along Thames River and Springbank Park a lot because it's close to where I live.  I never get tired of these places as there is so much to see especially this time of year.  Both yesterday and today were quite warm.  

Northern Crescent

Clouded Sulphur

There were lots of Common Ringlets around.

Common Ringlet

Halloween Pennant

Widow Skimmer (male)

The pretty Eastern Tailed-Blue...it was opening its wings so I was trying to get a photo of the blue upper wings.  I got this photo and even one with the wings more open but it was blurry. 

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Lots of grasshopper species around.

Grasshopper sp.

Barn Swallows were flying around and feeding their young.

Northern Leopard Frog

Variety of Stuff at Hyde Park

Wednesday, August 15, 2018, Hyde Park, London Ontario

I went to Hyde Park in the afternoon.  It was pretty warm.  I stayed for about one hour and saw nice variety of things.

Bluet Damselfly sp.

Common Ringlet

Cabbage White

Song Sparrow

Eastern Tailed-Blues are so pretty when they are flying. 

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Many Common Ringlets today.

Common Ringlet

Great Blue Heron

Clouded Sulphur

I saw my first Clearwing Moth July 26/18.  I can't believe I saw another one today!  I was fumbling with my camera trying to get some nice shots as it was moving from flower to flower.  This is the best I can do.  It could be a Snowberry Clearwing.

Double-crested Cormorant

Halloween Pennant

This is a very beautiful flower...not sure what it is.

I managed to get one photo of this flycatcher before it flew off.  Then I saw it again on the walkway.  Not good at flycatcher IDs but I think it's an Eastern Phoebe.  

Red-Spotted Purple

Thames River Ongoing

Thames River - London, Ontario

A short blog today....continuing along the Thames....another very warm day (26c, feels like 35c and sunny).  The  Double-crested Cormorant was in the water and just climbed onto a rock for awhile.  

Double-crested Cormorant

Wing-spreading to dry its feathers

A Great Blue Heron resting and looking for lunch.

I noticed this little turtle.  I think it might be a Northern Map Turtle.

Not far from the little turtle was a Spiny Softshell Turtle basking in the sun.

Spiny Softshell Turtle