Muggy Day

Springbank Park, London, Ontario

I took a brief walk at Springbank Park this morning.  It was cloudy, dull, threatening rain, and muggy.  I saw the regular birds I usually see, Robins, Cardinal, Barn Swallows, Gray Catbird, Red-winged Blackbirds, Red-bellied Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, Chipping Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Mallard, Canada Geese, Yellow Warblers, and Warbling Vireo.  Not a good day for photos.  Here are a few I took.

Gray Catbird

Cardinal

A muggy, hazy day. 

Thames River

Beautiful Morning in Hyde Park

Hyde Park Drainage Pond - London, Ontario      

I went for a walk in Hyde Park this morning.  It was nice and sunny, high of 19c.  I didn't get out on the weekend because it was rainy.  Birds I saw are Red-winged Blackbirds, Canada Geese, Mallards, Song Sparrow, Field Sparrow, American Robin, Osprey (2), Barn Swallow, Common Grackle, and a Sandpiper sp.
Most of the time I was there, 2 Ospreys were circling around and hovering...didn't see them catching any fish though.

Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

Song Sparrow

Chicory

Crown Vetch

I didn't see any butterflies on the milkweed today...saw a few dragonflies and a White-tailed Deer. 

Milkweed

Cattails

First Day of Summer

Hyde Park Drainage Pond            20c, sunny, warm

I thought I would go to the Hyde Park Pond this morning.  I didn't walk too far as I saw another Great Blue Heron so I spent time watching it.
Other birds around were Red-winged blackbirds, Barn Swallows, Rough-winged Swallows, Mallards, Canada Geese, Robins, Song Sparrows and American Goldfinches.

There were a few dragonflies and damselflies flying about.

Bluet Species (damselfly)

Common Whitetail (female)

Many Cabbage Whites were around and this Azure.

Azure Species

Pleasant Morning at Civic Gardens

Civic Gardens Area, London, Ontario       22c, sunny

The last couple of days with the humidity and high temperatures feeling like 40c, I stayed indoors.
Today, the air is clearer so I decided to go to Civic Gardens in hoping to find butterflies.  I had no luck, saw 2 Cabbage Whites. 
I walked through the gardens and went to the Pond where the water lilies are.  There are fish in the pond and I've seen a frog there once.  Took some photos and went to the river to the walking bridge.

At the walking bridge, I can see a Great Blue Heron in the distance.  I love herons, so I spent time taking photos and watching it. 

 Then it flew under the bridge to this big rock on the other side.

Birds and Reptiles

Thames River
It was a sunny warm day, 26c feeling more humid in late morning.  I thought I would walk along the river to see what I can find.
This bird flew over the river and landed right in front of me.  It seems to be an Eastern Kingbird.

Killdeer

This is a different rock in the middle of the river from the one I saw in the May 26 post. I thought I was only seeing this one big turtle but there were little ones too!

Northern Map Turtle

The Northern Map Turtle is a species of "Special Concern".

Northern Map Turtles

This woodpecker was working around the tree.

Hairy Woodpecker

There were schools of fish in the warm shallow water.

The next turtle I saw is an endangered species that I've always wanted to see.  The Spiny Softshell Turtle.  It was far away so I was using my telephoto lens to try to get closer photos.  I finally saw my first Spiny Softshell Turtle...very, very exciting!  I'm not identifying the area I saw this because of the status.

The Spiny Softshell Turtle is a medium-large freshwater turtle that is easily recognized by the shell, which is round rather flat, and leathery.  It is also distinguished by its snorkel-like snout.  The shell is soft, olive or tan in colour with dark blotches and tiny spine projections along the front shell.

The Spiny Softshell Turtle lives in rivers and lakes.  In Canada, it is found in Quebec and Southwestern Ontario - Lake St.Clair and Lake Erie.  The majority in Ontario are found in the Thames and Sydenham Rivers and at two sites in Lake Erie.

Hyde Park Stroll

June 12, 2018

Hyde Park Drainage Pond - Sunny, 25c, Warm

I went to Sifton Bog...didn't see much so went to the Hyde Park Drainage Pond.  It was quiet.  Canada Geese and Mallards were in the pond.  There were wild flowers here and there.  I saw a few damselflies and a couple of dragonflies. 

Birds I saw or heard....Song Sparrows, Robins, Red-winged Blackbirds, Catbird, Common Grackles, Turkey Vultures, Killdeers, Barn Swallows. White-throated Sparrow and American Goldfinches.

The Purple Swamp Iris was taken in Sifton Bog. 

Purple Swamp Iris

Bladder Campion

Bird's Foot Trefoil

Wild Daisy

Soapwort

Below (centre) is an unidentified damselfly.

Nature London Walk - Trees

Nature London Walk - Mount Pleasant Cemetery
June 6, 2018

When Mount Pleasant was established in the 1870s, William Saunders, founder of the McIlwraith Ornithological Club known as Nature London today, helped determine the tree species to be planted.  Today, the cemetery harbours a great diversity of interesting trees, including very old specimens of Tulip Tree, Cucumber Magnolia, Osage Orange, Redbud and more.

Dawn Redwood

Dawn Redwood

Copper Beech

Copper Beech

Cucumber Magnolia Tree  (Species at Risk)

The tree above was an interesting tree but I can't remember what it was.

Sycamore

Sycamore

W.E. Saunders was a Canadian Naturalist born in London, Ontario.