A Pleasant Day

Hyde Park Drainage Pond - London, Ontario

I went for a short walk to the Hyde Park Drainage Pond.  It was actually sunny today with a few clouds, high of 9c. I spotted the Great Blue Heron right away, saw some Mallards...the pond was fairly quiet. 

As I was looking at the pond, I can hear Canada Geese in the distance.  They came down, circled around and landed in the pond.  What a sight!.  I'm estimating 125 geese, probably more.  They all came landing in the water together.  Now, the pond is noisy and active! 

Still some nice coloured trees. 

There were lots of Woolly Bears around.

The odd flower still blooming.

As I was looking over the long grasses, I noticed a long, slender brown mammal running down the large rocks and into a large drain pipe.  I couldn't get a photo.  I thought maybe a mink or weasel.  I've seen otters, muskrats and beavers but never minks or weasels.  But, I think it could be a mink because of the long brown body and size. I don't know if mink has been sighted here or not.

Chilly Morning

Springbank Park - Dam

When I started out this morning it was 2c, sunny.  I walked at the dam area in Springbank.  It was quiet.  I heard the kingfisher first and found him fishing. There were Mallards, Black-capped Chickadees, robins, and cardinals.

Belted Kingfisher (male)

Red-winged Blackbird

Black-capped Chickadee

The Hyde Park Drainage Pond

There were roughly 150 Canada Geese in the pond today.

Great Blue Heron

House Finch

Cardinal

American Goldfinch

Brief Walk in Hyde Park

Hyde Park Drainage Pond, London, Ontario

I stopped in Hyde Park to see what I can find briefly.  There were some Ruddy Ducks resting, Canada Geese, Mallards, Ring-billed Gull, Great Blue Heron, and heard a Cardinal.  It was 11c, sunny and cool but pleasant.

Mallards

 Still the odd butterfly around.

Sulphur

A Little Birding at Greenway

Greenway Park / The Coves, London, Ontario

I went for a walk at Greenway Park this afternoon. It was a nice 14c, but the clouds moved in and the winds picked up (SW winds, gusting 33km).  I noticed a Hairy Woodpecker working on the tree stump.  Along the Thames River, a few Mallards and Canada Geese, most of them resting.  There were American Goldfinches in the tall weeds along the edge. 

Hairy Woodpecker

Northern Cardinal

American Goldfinch

American Goldfinch

Turkey Vulture

Since I was close to The Coves, I decided to check it out.  It was quiet there...saw a Great Blue Heron.

Great Blue Heron

Great Blue Heron

Falling Leaves

The Coves, London, Ontario - October 10, 2018

I went to The Coves this morning.  It was quiet but it was nice to see the  tree colours.  The leaves are starting to fall now.  Another warm day 25c, feels like 32c, sunny.

I saw a few Wood Ducks and heard a Carolina Wren.  There were some Robins and Cardinals.

Wood Duck

Wood Ducks - Eclipse Plumage

I popped into Woodland Cemetery to see how the deer are.  Beautiful animals.  A lot of trees are turning nice colours.

White-tailed Deer

October 11, 2018

Today, I thought I would visit Mount Pleasant Cemetery to see the trees.  They were gorgeous. A lot of Sugar Maples.