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

Searching for Dragonflies and Butterflies

July 14, 2020 - The Coves

I was birding but also looking for butterflies and dragonflies this week.  Here are some of my photos.

Ebony Jewelwing

Eastern Forktail

Silver-spotted Skipper

Wild Indigo Duskywing

Northern Broken-Dash

Question Mark

July 14, 2020 - Westminster Ponds

Blue Dasher

Blue Dasher

Meadowhawk

Eastern Pondhawk

Eastern Amberwing

Meadowhawk

Common Wood Nymph

Wild Indigo Duskywing

Black Swallowtail

July 18, 2020 - Hyde Park

I was out early as we are in another heat advisory.

Forktail

Viceroy

Red Admiral

Willow Flycatcher

Osprey

Green Frog

Bog Walk

Sifton Bog - Thursday, June 27, 2019

I went for a walk this morning to see what was around in the bog.  The birds I saw were Song Sparrows singing, Red-winged Blackbirds, Blue Jays, American Goldfinches, American Robins, a Mallard, a Turkey Vulture flew over, a Baltimore Oriole, Downy Woodpecker, Mourning Doves, Common Grackles, Northern Cardinals, and some House Sparrows.

I was concentrating more on looking for dragonflies and butterflies.  I saw a few Dot-tailed Whitefaces around.  I didn't see any butterflies. 

Dot-tailed Whiteface

Lots of the Pond Lilies are up and some are blooming. 

I found a little group of Painted turtles. 

Painted Turtles

Leatherleaf

The Green Frogs were croaking away. 

Green Frog

I found some lovely orchids.

Rose Pogonia

Tuberous Grass-Pink

Yellow Pond Lily

On my way back, I went down a little trail to the swamp area. I was looking at a Mallard when I saw movement behind the tree trunks.  I didn't have my camera ready and I couldn't believe it....a Red Fox came out in the open...my lovely blurry photo below.

Then he sauntered away into the low shrubbery.  I managed a couple more photos.