Some End of July Findings

It was nice to see a Greater Yellowlegs and some Killdeers at the river along with the Mallards and Canada Geese.   

Greater Yellowlegs

The turtles were out sunning on the rocks.

Spiny Softshell Turtles

Federally - Endangered,

Provincially - Threatened

Northern Map Turtles

At Uplands North Wetland the water was low with a little bit of mudflat.  There were many Killdeers around, 6 Great Blue Herons and 3 Green Herons.  I noticed 6 Turkey Vultures flying overhead, and lots of Barn Swallows going to the water for bugs. The Song Sparrows were feeding their young and the Common Grackles were carrying food for their young. A number of turtles were around too.

Green Heron

Great Blue Heron

Barn Swallow

Eastern Painted Turtles

I went to the Coves to look for the Black-crown Night Heron, I could not find it.  Hiding in the trees across the Cove pond somewhere.  I scanned the trees with no luck.  At the other Cove pond, there were 3 Great Blue Herons and a Great Egret.  Also Turkey Vultures were flying overhead (6) and Chimney Swifts (5) catching bugs.  The birds are quiet so one has to watch for any movement in the trees and bushes.  Lots of juvenile Robins, Cardinals, and Catbirds.  I saw House Wrens, Song Sparrows, Northern Flickers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Belted Kingfisher, American Goldfinches, and Yellow Warblers. There were Eastern Painted Turtles on the logs too.

Great Blue Herons

Great Egret

A Scorching Week

 July 18-22, 2022

A very hot week as we are in a heat wave for a couple of days with temperatures feeling like 38c and 40c.  It's very dry and we really need rain.

I was watching two juvenile Red-tailed Hawks in the trees calling for their parents.  A little while later, one of the adults flew right over me with a rodent in its claws flying towards the young.

There were some killdeers around this pond with their chicks. 

 

Killdeer

The wonderful Great Blue Heron.

One day, I went to Komoka Park to see what was around.  I did see some butterflies but not a whole lot...Cabbage Whites, Clouded Sulphurs, and a few Monarchs. 

Tawny Emperor

Dun Skippers

Northern Broken-Dash

Here are a couple of photos of the trail I took going through the fields.

It was nice to see this Great Egret in the trees at the Coves.

Mid-July Birding

July 11, 2022 - Hyde Park

Barn Swallows - juveniles waiting for food.  There were quite a few swallows flying around catching insects for their young.  

An Osprey flying overhead.

July 12, 2022 - Kilally Meadows ESA

There are a pair of Ospreys nesting at Kilally Meadows ESA.  They nested here last year, too.  The birds I saw - Yellow Warblers, Catbirds, Red-eyed Vireos, Cedar Waxwings, American Goldfinches, Song Sparrows, Field Sparrows, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, American Robins, Northern Cardinals, Spotted Sandpipers, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Mallards and Turkey Vultures.  

Osprey

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Turkey Vulture

July 14, 2022 - Uplands North Wetland

I have not been here for awhile so I thought I would check it out.  The water is very low.  Lots of female Mallards and juveniles (36).  I saw one female Wood Duck and some Killdeers and Spotted Sandpipers.  All the usual birds were there, Barn Swallows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Great Blue Heron, Canada Geese, American Goldfinch, Song Sparrows, Mourning Doves, Common Grackles, Catbird, Starlings and Turkey Vultures flying overhead. 

Mallards

Mallards

It was nice to see some turtles on the logs.  Midland Painted Turtles and a Snapping Turtle. 

July 16, 2022 - London Airport

The Northern Mockingbirds are still here.  Some people are seeing juveniles so it's nice the Mockingbirds had a successful nesting season.  

Northern Mockingbird

The Ospreys are here again this year having another successful nesting season as well.

Grasshopper Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Kestrel

In the last few years, I go to places where I see lots of butterflies.  I'm not seeing them this year.  I saw some Cabbage Whites, a few Monarchs, Clouded Sulphurs, Orange Sulphurs, and a couple of Mourning Cloaks just recently.  I look for milkweeds...not one butterfly. There are a lot of butterflies I have not seen yet.  Dragonflies...having the same problem.  

Wandering Areas in London

Week of July 3, 2022

I thought this was a funny picture....I've never seen a Great Blue Heron on top of a large pine tree.

I'm noticing a lot of swallows around with recent fledged young.  Here are some Northern Rough-winged Swallows waiting for food.  

I was far away when I took this fuzzy photo. There was something medium size at the top of a large dead tree.  Being far away, I could not identify it until I enlarged it on my computer at home.  A Belted Kingfisher.

I don't see Red Fox often.  This one was at the other side of a pasture.  I found it when I was scanning with my bins.  Very nice looking fox and it looks healthy.

At Medway Valley Heritage Forest, London ESA

Belted Kingfisher

Osprey