Exploring for Insects

June 29, 2020 - The Coves - London, Ontario

I went to the Coves this morning looking for insects.  It was warm and sunny.  I saw a few dragonflies and damselflies...all common species.

Dot-tailed Whiteface

Common Whitetail

Eastern Pondhawk

Eastern Forktail

Skimming Bluet

I was at an area with a lot of sweet peas and other flowers.  There was a good number of European Skippers flitting around.  There were also a lot of Cabbage Whites.  I saw one Monarch but it would not land for a photo.

European Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

Cabbage White

As I was looking for dragonflies along the pond, this face popped up right in front of me!  If it didn't come up to the surface, I would not have known it was there.  I think it's a muskrat.  It was up for about 30 sec and disappeared back in the water. Really cute!

Recent Outings

June 25, 2020 - Springbank Park

Birds are very quiet right now.  Today, I saw three groundhogs feeding on grass.  Two at the Civic Gardens area and the other one on the golf course nearby.

Groundhog #1

Groundhog #2

Groundhog #3

I was mainly looking at the rocks for turtles.  There were a few Northern Map Turtles and a couple of Spiny Softshell Turtles. 

Northern Map Turtles

Spiny Softshell Turtle

June 27, 2020 - Westminster Ponds

I did not see any dragonflies and only saw one Cabbage White.  The birds are busy feeding their families.

The Barn Swallows are feeding their young on the fly.  The babies are on branches in different places around the pond.

White Water Lilies

Gray Catbird

Tree Swallow

Virginia Ctenucha Moth

Black-eyed Susan

Foxglove Beardtongue

Canada Thistle

Cabbage White

Exploring more wildlife - June 16-20, 2020

I checked out some places near home this past week.  I'm birding but also looking for butterflies and dragonflies. 

Red-Spotted Purple

June 17, 2020 - Hyde Park

Not too many butterfly and dragonfly photos...they were not landing.  Blurry photo of a Forktail.

Eastern Forktail

Eastern Forktail (female)

Cedar Waxwing

I watched the Osprey above me and then it suddenly plunged into the water.  I watched it come out of the water...it sure has to use a lot of energy to get out of the water.  It caught a nice size fish.

Red-winged Blackbirds harassing the Turkey Vulture.

June 18, 2020 - The Coves

Again, not much luck with butterflies and dragonflies.

Cedar Waxwing

Song Sparrow

Red-bellied Woodpecker

I was walking along the path and came across a White-tailed deer walking toward me on the path.  I moved to the side and the deer continued going around a bit on the grass and went back on the path again and continued on. 

June 20, 2020 - Hyde Park

A very hot day today..didn't stay out too long.

Common Ringlet

Osprey

Can you find the Great Blue Heron in the tree?