Recent Mid-November Birding 2004

Today (Nov 18), I saw my first Hooded Mergansers of the season at the Coves.  There were 3 of them together. I heard a Carolina Wren singing, saw some Black-capped Chickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos, White-breasted Nuthatches, Downy Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpecker, and American Tree Sparrows.

This Hooded Merganser was really motoring along....cute little ducks.

Downy Woodpecker

At Greenway Park, there were 3 Greater Yellowlegs.  This is the latest date (November 18) I have ever seen Greater Yellowlegs.  Actually, I've never seen one for the month of November.  I counted 6 Great Blue Herons...some were in the trees and others at the other end too far away for photos.

November 19 at Springbank Park, the Thames River is low right now so lots of rocks for the birds to stand on.  Ring-billed Gulls below.  

I counted over 200 Mallards. 

A  Cooper's Hawk across the river

Wild Flowers and Birds - End of April 2024

With the warmer weather and some rain the plants are appearing.  It's nice to see these plants cover the ground in wooded areas.    

Mayapple

White Trillium

Yellow Trout Lily

White Trout Lily

Yellow Trout Lily

Here are some birds that I saw last week.  

Greater Yellowlegs

Eastern Bluebird (female)

Eastern Bluebird (male)

Tree Swallows

Barn Swallows

Spotted Sandpiper

The birds are starting to arrive migrating through Southern Ontario.  Lots of birding!

Findings Last Week of July 2023

I went to a few places in London, Ontario to see what I can find.  A nice variety of things.

Turkey Vulture

It's getting a little crowded.

Northern Map Turtles and Spiny Softshells

I was at the Coves the other morning.  The mosquitoes are still bad.  I saw this beautiful Great Blue Heron...quickly got some pictures as the mosquitoes were buzzing around my head and face.

At Greenway, I didn't see to many butterflies but it was nice to see this Garter Snake.  This is the 3rd Garter Snake I've seen this summer. The snakes were at least 2ft long or more.  I did see another endangered/threatened snake species earlier this summer.  I did not see one snake last year.

This is the time of year to look for shorebirds.

Greater Yellowlegs

Today at Kains Woods ESA, I saw a few Monarchs, Cabbage Whites, Common Wood Nymphs and one Eastern Tiger Swallowtail.

Belted Kingfisher

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Monarch

Bald Eagle

I can't believe we are into August tomorrow,

Fall - Beautiful Time of Year

Bird migration has been in full force since September.  Weather wise, the Fall season has been really nice and very pleasant and comfortable for birding.   A lot of hawks have gone through with Turkey Vultures going through in large numbers right now.  

Eastern Phoebe

White-throated Sparrows

Cedar Waxwing

American Robin

Greater Yellowlegs

Cooper's Hawk

Cooper's Hawk

Tree colours.....

These photos were taken at Springbank Park along Thames River....it was cloudy with a little fog.  The colours are gorgeous.

Recent Outings - Beginning of August 2022

At one of the parks in London, August 1, 2022, I saw my FOY Viceroy.  The butterflies are not easy to find this summer.

Viceroy

American Goldfinch

I went to the London Airport, August 2 to find the Northern Mockingbird.  It flew to a fence right in front of me a minute I got there...very nice.  There were no Eastern Meadowlarks around or sparrows.  I enjoyed watching three Kestrels flying around together and four Ospreys at the nest.  

A family of Eastern Kingbirds were looking for food to feed their young.  One of the parents was battling with a Praying Mantis.  All the photos I took at the airport were taken in the car through the windshield.  I did not want to get out and disturb the birds.  

A large groundhog

At the Uplands North Wetland, a pair of Double-crested Cormorants were at the edge of the water.

Lots of turtles - Midland Painted Turtles

At Medway Valley Forest there were lots of turtles there too!

Midland Painted Turtles

I find the Spotted Joe-Pye plants very attractive seen along the edge of the river.

Spotted Joe-Pye Weed

It was a hot, humid day August 4, 2022, feeling like 36c.  I looked for turtles again and saw some shorebirds. 

Spiny Softshell Turtle

Killdeer

Spotted Sandpiper

Lesser Yellowlegs

Lesser Yellowlegs