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.

Stroll in Bog

May 29, 2017

I went to Sifton Bog (ESA) London, Ontario.  Birds I saw and heard - White-throated Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Robin, Cardinal, Mallard, Canada Geese, Common Crow, Common Grackle and Red-winged Blackbird.

Leatherleaf

Yellow Pond Lily

I can hear the Green Frogs single croak around the bog.  Not much change since the last time I was there, May 18. 

The Bog

Canada Geese

Boardwalk in the Bog

Splendid Day

Sifton Bog (ESA) - very warm, sunny, 25

Saw Baltimore Oriole, Song Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Grackle, Robin, Mallard, Canada Geese, Cardinal, and Red-winged Blackbird.  Lots of tadpoles of American Toad and Green Frog.

Floating Acid Peat Bog

Leatherleaf

Black Spruce

Yellow Pond Lily

Yellow Pond Lily

Yellow Pond Lily

Peat Bog

Bog Laurel

Common Purple Violet

Tadpole of Green Frog

Admiring the Bog

This morning I decided to go to Sifton Bog (ESA), London, Ontario.  The Sifton Bog a floating acid peat bog associated with boreal plant life.  Deciduous swamp and upland forest surround the bog. The bog is a product of glaciation.  As the last ice sheet melted 13,000 years ago, a large block of ice broke off and settled in the glacial sand.  When the block melted it left a kettle lake, cut off from any watercourses.  Sedges, mosses and other plants gradually grow around the water.  The water is cool, oxygen-poor...when dead plants sink to the bottom, they do not break down and they became compressed peat.

Swamp

Swamp with White Birch

Small Cranberry

Peat Bog

Leatherleaf

Sphagnum Moss

Boardwalk in Sifton Bog