Recent May Findings

Here are some photos I took of birds in London Parks last week.  

Yellow Warbler

Catbird

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Mallards

American Goldfinch

One day, I saw a bunch of turtles sunning on the river bank.  The turtles are Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtles.  I've never seen so many at one time.  I counted over 16.  All different sizes.  What a beautiful sight!

Other turtles I saw were Northern Map Turtles.

Midland Painted Turtles

Rondeau Park - 2022

May 10, 2022

It was a lovely day at Rondeau Park, 22c and sunny.  I saw a nice variety of birds.  In the warbler category - Prothonotary Warbler, Yellow Warblers, Chestnut-sided Warblers, American Redstarts, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, and a Magnolia Warbler.

Mute Swans

I walked the Tulip Trail and was lucky the Prothonotary Warbler was around.  This was the first warbler of the day.  A beautiful warbler.  It was busy hopping branch to branch above the water.  They are an endangered species.

Out at the beach, the Purple Martin houses were busy with Purple Martins coming and going.  I saw no activity at the water.   

Downy Woodpecker

White-breasted Nuthatch

At the Marsh Trail, I noticed a couple of Buffleheads and some Red-breasted Mergansers.

Red-breasted Mergansers

The flowers were blooming nicely.

A very nice day at Rondeau Park!

Two New Lifers

On May 14, 2022, I went birding at Killaly Meadows ESA, London, Ontario and saw 2 new lifers.  Very exciting!

Warblers - Mourning Warbler and Blackpoll Warbler

Mourning Warbler

Blackpoll Warbler

Brown Thrasher

 May 8, 2022 - Brown Thrasher

I was out birding the other day when I came across a Brown Thrasher.  I heard it singing at first.  What a beautiful bird!  It's a very long slim bird.  Rufous above and heavily streaked below.  They have a curved bill.  Thrashers can be found in thickets and brush.

Bird books say they are common.  They are uncommon to me as I can go years without seeing one.  I really enjoyed watching this bird!

Mega Rarity - Thedford Ontario

I was able to get to the Thedford Sewage Lagoon in Lambton County, May 4, 2022 to view the Mega Rarity Marsh Sandpiper.  It was found by birder James Holdsworth. It was at the far north end of the lagoon feeding with the Lesser Yellowlegs.  The Marsh Sandpiper is paler than the Yellowlegs with a long thin bill.  I didn't see it in flight.  It was feeding like crazy.  I had a good view through my scope but too far away for a photo.  The Marsh Sandpiper has never been seen in Ontario or even Canada.  It's common in Europe and Asia and migrates to Africa, India and Australia. 

Later during the time I was there, a fog developed over the lagoon and it was impossible to see it plus all the other birds.  There were some Green-winged Teals, Lesser Yellowlegs and Greater Yellowlegs, and Trumpeter Swans which is all I can identify as the fog got worse.   

Trumpeter Swans

Lesser Yellowlegs

Greater Yellowlegs

The fog (Green-winged Teals)

May 5, 2022 - Kains Woods

Skunk Cabbage

Yellow Trout Lily

This is my first butterfly of the season (May 5)

Cabbage White