End of May Findings

I went to Komoka Park (May 29, 2024) to see what was around.  I did see a couple of butterflies and my first of year Common Whitetail.  I found Baltimore Orioles, Eastern Bluebirds, Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, Eastern Phoebe,  Red-eyed Vireo, Barn Swallows, and a Great Blue Heron to name a few.  

Red-spotted Purple

Little Wood Satyr

Common Whitetail

Song Sparrow

Beautiful White-tailed Deer

Eastern Bluebird (Female)

I also went to Kains Woods ESA.  I have not been there for awhile.  There are trails and a valley which was very wet and muddy from the recent rain.  There are large trees so not much sun in the valley, 

At the pond, Belted Kingfishers (male and female) were busy hunting fish, a Great Blue Heron and a few Canada Geese and Mallards.  As you can see by the Great Blue Heron photo, the pond is full of lily pads.  

Great Blue Heron

Belted Kingfisher

Searching Butterflies and Dragonflies - June 2022

This week, I've been concentrating on butterflies and dragonflies.  I found a few but are hard to find.  There is not an abundance of butterflies.  By far, the Cabbage Whites are the most common.  I've seen some Monarchs but not a lot.  On June 27, 2022, I went to Komoka to see what was around.

Common Ringlet

Silver-spotted Skipper

Little Wood Satyr

Powered Dancer

There are nesting Eastern Bluebirds in the nest boxes there.  

Westminster - June 28, 2022

Yellow Warbler

Here are some scenes of Westminster Ponds.

Gray Catbird

The Coves - June 30, 2022

Blue-fronted Dancer

Little Wood Satyr

Eastern Comma

Common Wood-Nymph

Black-necked Stilt - Lifer

 June 6, 2022 - Komoka

I went for a walk on a few trails to try to find an Indigo Bunting.  I have not seen one yet this year.  I did find two and I also saw the Eastern Bluebirds which was a real treat.  I don't see them too often.

Eastern Bluebird

Indigo Bunting

I also saw an Eastern Towhee, Catbirds, and Field Sparrows.  A few butterflies were around...Monarchs, Cabbage Whites and Little Wood Satyrs.

Little Wood Satyr

I went to Strathroy Lagoons today (June 8) to find the Black-necked Stilt.  I finally found it at the opposite side of one of the lagoons in the mudflats.  One was walking around in the tall grass and the other was up and down on the nest.  This is a Lifer.  I got a distant photo.  A scope is needed.

I also heard and saw the Common Gallinule.  It was difficult getting a photo.

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

Recent Outings

July 25, 2019 - The Coves

I have a couple of reports from my recent birding walks.  Still looking for butterflies, I saw a Cabbage White, Red Admiral, some Monarchs and a Banded Hairstreak at the Coves.  Not a lot of dragonflies....Common Whitetail and a Meadowhawk sp.  

I didn't have my bins with me but the birds I saw were a family of Wood Ducks, young Robins, 3 Great Blue Herons, Northern Flicker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Song Sparrows, a Belted Kingfisher and American Goldfinches to name a few.

Gray Catbird

Juvenile American Robin

Great Blue Heron

Wood Ducks

Wood Ducks

Meadowhawk sp

Banded Hairstreak

July 31, 2019 - Hyde Park Drainage Pond

At Hyde Park, there were a nice variety of birds....lots of Song Sparrows, Barn and Bank Swallows, a Belted Kingfisher, a Cedar Waxwing, a Carolina Wren, Osprey, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Mallards, Pied-billed Grebe, Blue Jays, Northern Cardinals, and Killdeers. 

This is the first time I've encountered Carolina Grasshoppers this year.   

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Pied-billed Grebe

Red-tailed Hawk

Osprey

...still not a lot of butterflies.  A Cabbage White, 2 Monarchs, Little Wood Satyr and my FOY Red-Spotted Purple.  Dragonfly - Common Whitetail.

Monarch

Little Wood Satyr

Red-Spotted Purple

Red-Spotted Purple

I can't believe we are into August now!