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

Some Pleasant Days Birding

This past week I was birding in the Hyde Park area, Springbank Park and Kilally Meadows.  There were a nice variety of birds.  In Hyde Park, I saw my FOY Eastern Kingbird.  Also Great Blue Heron, Green Heron, Canada Geese with their goslings, Turkey Vultures, Killdeers, Field Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Yellow Warblers, Red-winged Blackbirds, Tree Swallows, Barn Swallows, Common Yellowthroat, Catbirds, and Baltimore Orioles. 

I'm looking for butterflies and dragonflies too.  I've only seen Cabbage Whites and no dragonflies so far.

Green Heron

Eastern Kingbird

I was watching the Great Blue Heron for awhile.  The Red-winged Blackbirds were not happy with the heron around so the heron was being harassed.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Common Yellowthroat

There were some nice birds at Springbank Park.  Here is a Wood Duck having a sleep on a rock.  

Carolina Wren

Solitary Sandpiper

At Kilally Meadows there are a lot of Yellow Warblers, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, and Baltimore Orioles.  The Eastern Towhee was nice to see.  I heard it singing and found it in an open bush.  

Two Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.

Saw my first Bullfrog of the season.

American Bullfrog

Early June Findings

June 2, 2020  - Hyde Park, London, Ontario

I went out birding early this morning before it got too hot.  Looked like the grass and flowering weeds had been cut down around the pond.  Very disappointing.  This is where I see most of my butterflies and dragonflies through the summer.  I will have to see.  

Canada Geese and goslings

Goslings

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

June 3 & 5, 2020 - North London Wetland

This is a very nice wetland area.  I missed the Wilson's Phalarope that had been seen recently.  A good variety of wildlife around.   I went here twice this week to walk around.  There is construction nearby so I wonder in a few years this wetland will be gone for more development.  It's a shame!

Spotted Sandpiper

Belted Kingfisher

Northern Crescent

Cranberry Viburnum

Cedar Waxwing

Yellow Warbler

Viceroy

American Bullfrog

Red-tailed Hawk

June 6, 2020 - Hyde Park, London, Ontario

A nice variety of birds today.  Two Ospreys, Kingfisher, Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroat, Barn Swallows, Bank Swallows, Blue Jays, American Robins, Mourning Doves, American Goldfinches, Song Sparrows, Killdeers, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Northern Cardinals, Common Grackles, Mallards with ducklings and Canada Geese with goslings.

Common Ringlet

I saw 10 Turkey Vultures.  Seven were together at one time and saw two together and then one.  The one was being harassed by Red-winged Blackbirds.

Common Yellowthroat