Some Happenings Around London

Byron Bog (Sifton Bog) - May 16, 2024

It was a beautiful day so I thought I would check out the Byron Bog.  I haven't been there for awhile.  The Swamp Laurel was in full bloom and the Yellow Water Lilies are just coming up in big buds.  There were a couple of geese in the water and some Painted Turtles along the edge.  The Green Frogs were croaking.  There were Northern Cardinals, Song Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, American Robins, Common Grackles, Catbirds, Blue Jays, and Baltimore Orioles.  On the way back a female Mallard with her ducklings.

Swamp Laurel

Painted Turtle

Green Frog

Scenes Byron Bog

Komoka North - May 22, 2024

It was nice to see a pair of Mute Swans...not much in the water today.  Along side the water, there were Common Yellowthroats singing, Yellow Warblers, Catbirds, Tree Swallows and Barn Swallows.  Farther away, I saw a Brown Thrasher, Willow Flycatchers, Great crested Flycatcher, Baltimore Orioles, and Orchard Orioles at the same area I saw them last year.  

Mute Swans

Orchard Oriole

Orchard Oriole

Common Yellowthroat

I have not seen too many butterflies or dragonflies, they are very hard to find.  Last year, started very slow too.  I've seen some Cabbage Whites and one Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.  Here is my first of year Viceroy.

Viceroy

My first of year dragonfly.

Dot-tailed Whiteface

Eastern Forktail

At the Hyde Park Pond, I saw a Solitary Sandpiper and some Spotted Sandpipers.

Solitary Sandpiper

Spotted Sandpiper

A small shallow pond was full of tadpoles

Lots of Birds to Find, May 13-15, 2024

I saw a lot of variety of birds May 13 at Kilally....Baltimore, Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Scarlet Tanager, Bay-breasted Warblers, Yellow Warblers, American Redstarts, Tennessee Warblers, Chestnut-sided Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, Black-throated Green Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Red-eyed Vireos, Warbling Vireos, House Wrens, Carolina Wrens, Field Sparrows, Chipping Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Least Flycatcher, Eastern Towhee to name a few.  

Scarlet Tanager

At the Coves, there were 7 Turkey Vultures resting on the light standards of a soccer field.  One light standard have 4 and the other 3.   Some birds I saw were American Redstarts, Yellow Warblers, Red-eyed Vireos, Warbling Vireos, Baltimore Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, House Wrens, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, and Catbirds,  There were Painted Turtles on the logs and I saw my first of year Eastern Tiger Swallowtail. 

Turkey Vultures

Gray Catbird

Painted Turtles

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Dame's Rocket

Dame's Rocket

I decided to go to Springbank Park one day.  There were lots of Baltimore Orioles around, Yellow Warblers, Tennessee Warbler, House Wren, Warbling Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, and American Robins.  There were some flowering trees but most have finished the blossoms, 

Canada Geese and goslings

Eastern Chipmunk

American Red Squirrel

Wisteria

Flowering Dogwood

Flowering Dogwood

Bird Outings this Week

The week of May 6, 2024 

Medway Valley - May 6, 2024 - I have not been to Medway Valley for awhile so I popped in to see what I can find.  I found some nice birds, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Baltimore Orioles, Hermit Thrush, White-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren, Song Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Catbirds, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Yellow Warbler,  

I 

Woods in Medway Valley

Greenway - May 7, 2024

I checked out Greenway Park one day.  Lots of nice birds...Baltimore Orioles, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Warbling Vireo, Barn Swallows, Northern Rough-winged Swallows, Carolina Wren and Red-bellied Woodpecker to name a few.  

I saw some turtles across the river sunning.  Northern Map Turtles and Spiny Softshells.

Spiny Softshell Turtle

Northern Map Turtle

Komoka Park - Found a variety of wildlife.

Blue-winged Teal

Spotted Sandpipers

Brown Thrasher

Great-crested Flycatcher

Juvenal's Duskywing

At the Hyde Park Ponds, there were some sandpiper species found.

Solitary Sandpiper

Spotted Sandpiper

Midland Painted Turtles

Lilac

May Birding

 May 1-5, 2024

Bird migration has begun and it's fun to sort through all the birds one sees in the trees, bushes and water.  Here are some of my first birds for the month of May.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Green Heron

Great Blue Heron

Green Heron

Yellow Warbler

Catbird

Song Sparrow

I saw this butterfly May 1, 2024 at Upland Trails in London, Ontario.  It's in the Holarctic Azures family.  First time seeing one.