Birds, Butterflies and Dragonflies

Hyde Park Drainage Pond

It was a beautiful day today...warm and sunny.  This afternoon I went to Hyde Park to look for butterflies.  The butterflies were fluttering around and there were some dragonflies too.  

Group of Mallards

I saw 2 Indigo Buntings. Beautiful birds!

Indigo Bunting

There is a farmers field beside the pond.  With a fence and bushes it's not always easy to look over the fields.  Way in the distance, I could see black things moving.  I got my camera on them and there were 5 wild turkeys running around.  Then I saw a Great Blue Heron fly over and landed in a tree way in the distance. 

Wild Turkey

Great Blue Heron

This is the other Indigo Bunting I saw this afternoon.

Indigo Bunting

There were a lot of Crescents flying around.  Some Cabbage Whites, Clouded Sulphurs, Monarchs, and a Red-spotted Purple.

Northern Crescent

Clouded Sulphur

This Azure species was pretty worn.

Azure sp

Clouded Sulphur

I was so excited to see my first Clearwing of the year......Hummingbird Clearwing.

Hummingbird Clearwing

My first ever Calico Pennant.

Calico Pennant

Eastern Pondhawk

Eastern Amberwing

Common Whitetail

Northern Leopard Frog

Casual Birding In London Area

This week (August 19-23) I have been out birding to the main areas I usually go.  Some of the days were humid and muggy.  I saw birds I usually see but nothing unusual.

Westminster Ponds, ESA - There are kettle ponds surrounded by lowland and upland habitats in this area.  I walked half way around Saunders Pond and back.  The trails were mostly damp.  I tried walking these trails before this and they were too mucky in some spots.  There is a boardwalk going out with a viewing platform at Saunders Pond.  I didn't go there because there was a class of kids on the platform and looked like they were going to be there for awhile.  
Usually one can get a few species of birds at the platform.  Some other time.

View of Saunders Pond

Wood Duck

There was 3 Great Blue Herons

A lot of American Goldfinches on the thistles

Saunders Pond

Hyde Park Drainage Pond

Blue Jay

Great Blue Heron

Double-crested Cormorant

A young Northern Flicker

Again, it was hard to find butterflies.  

Northern Crescent

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Common Ringlet

The Coves ESA - I saw Great Blue Herons and 2 Green Herons.  The Belted Kingfishers were busy flying around.  Other than that, it was quiet.

Great Blue Heron

Wood Ducks

Intriguing Raptor

Hyde Park Drainage Pond

There are a pair of Ospreys nesting in the Hyde Park area.  Usually one sees them flying around the water searching for fish.  I have been observing the Ospreys since Spring.  I find them a fascinating raptor.  The claws on this bird is something else!  They search for fish by flying on steady wing beats and bowed wings or circling high over the water.  They hover briefly before diving feet first to grab a fish.

This Osprey was eating a fish on top of a hydro pole when I arrived.  I parked at the other side to see the Osprey from front.  The fish was much bigger than I thought! 

The pair are in the tree, one up above and the other lower in the tree beside the pond.

This Week Sightings

Week of August 5-9, 2019

I went to Hyde Park, The Coves and Greenway Park this week.  I managed to see a nice variety of birds.  Some are Ospreys, Turkey Vultures, House Wren, Indigo Bunting, Great Blue Herons, Double-crested Cormorant, Belted Kingfishers, Spotted Sandpipers, Eastern Wood Pewee, Red-eyed Vireo and a Great Egret to name a few. 

Double-crested Cormorant

Belted Kingfisher

This Great Blue Heron just finished fishing and is soaked!

Great Egret

Osprey

Gray Catbird

House Wren

Other things I saw through the week.

Painted Turtle

Variable Dancer

Common Whitetail

Cabbage White

My first life Question Mark...a nice surprise!

Question Mark

Cardinal Flower

Grey-headed Coneflower