FInally Some Butterflies and Dragonflies

 Medway Valley and Hyde Park Areas

Medway Creek is a tributary of the Thames River.  I found a Smallmouth Bass...close to 1ft long and also lots of smaller fish probably minnows.

I finally have seen some dragonflies this last week of June.  I believe this one is a Powdered Dancer.

Powdered Dancer

Little Wood Satyr

Oxeye Daisy

European Skipper

I'm seeing more Cabbage Whites again.

Staghorn Sumac

Black-eyed Susan

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Butterfly Milkweed

I'm not sure what the next dragonfly is.  Maybe a female of some species. 

Twelve-spotted Skimmer

I saw a nice size Garter Snake but it was too quick to get a photo.

Back to the Bog

I went to the Sifton Bog this week.  I have not been there since the start of the Pandemic.  The boardwalk is narrow and it's hard to distance from other people.  There were some people that came in and I still don't feel comfortable especially when trying to pass each other.  I was in and out but it was nice to see the bog.

There is a small patch of Butterfly Milkweed near the Common Milkweed.  It's so pretty with its brilliant orange clustered flowers.  

Butterfly Milkweed

The small cranberry bushes already have cranberries showing.

I found a couple of Grass Pink Orchids.

Marsh Ferns

Sphagnum Moss

Red Admiral

There were lots of Midland Painted Turtles.  Across the pond, the turtles were coming out to bath in the sun.  I scanned the edges and counted 25 turtles and they were still coming out of the water.

Lots of turtles

And I found this little turtle just in front of me.

I only saw two different dragonflies.  The Common Whitetail and the Blue Dasher.  

Blue Dasher

At other parks this week, I enjoyed watching Eastern Kingbirds feeding their young.

Young Eastern Kingbird

Dun Skipper

Variable Dancer

Elony Jewelwing

Staghorn Sumac

I decided to go to London Airport to see the Northern Mockingbirds. 

 

Northern Mockingbird

There were lots of Cabbage Whites, some Clouded Sulphurs and a Mourning Cloak.

Mourning Cloak

Savannah Sparrow

Mid-July Birds and Butterflies

July 9, 2020 - Hyde Park Area, London, Ontario

I have not been out birding since Thursday last week until today (July 13) as it was just too hot and humid.  Here are a few photos from last Thursday.  

Little Wood Satyr

Familiar Bluet

Cabbage White

Monarch

The Butterfly Milkweed is a beautiful plant.

Butterfly Milkweed

July 13, 2020 - Hyde Park Area

A very nice day today, 23c, partly cloudy. There was a little breeze...I didn't see many butterflies and no dragonflies.The birds I saw were Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vultures, Barn Swallows, Bank Swallows, Field Sparrow, Song Sparrows, Willow Flycatcher, Yellow Warbler, American Robins, Grackles, and flocks of Starlings.  

Warbling Vireo

American Goldfinch

Field Sparrow

Little Wood Satyr

Cabbage White

Little Wood Satyr

Chicory

Staghorn Sumac