Findings Around London Area

 Komoka Park - June 24, /24

A very nice day, 24c, sunny

Eastern Bluebird

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

The hummingbird is up at the top branch of this tree.

Today I saw lots of Red Admirals

Red Admiral

Lots of Common Wood Nymphs.  These ones are very dark compared to the ones I've seen earlier in the season.

Common Wood Nymph

Coves, June 26, 2024, 25c, warm

I was looking for the Black-crowned Night Heron today.  I did see the immature fly from a tree to the end of the pond.  No photo.

Catbird

At Greenway, a few Spiny Softshells.

Springbank Park - June 28, 2024

Northern Flicker

Northern Map Turtle

Spiny Softshell

Turtles

 Here are some turtles I have found in my outings in June 2022.  

Midland Painted Turtles

Midland Painted Turtle

Midland Painted Turtles

Northern Map Turtles

Spiny Softshell Turtle

Recent May Findings

Here are some photos I took of birds in London Parks last week.  

Yellow Warbler

Catbird

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Mallards

American Goldfinch

One day, I saw a bunch of turtles sunning on the river bank.  The turtles are Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtles.  I've never seen so many at one time.  I counted over 16.  All different sizes.  What a beautiful sight!

Other turtles I saw were Northern Map Turtles.

Midland Painted Turtles

Searching for Butterflies

I was able to get some 'first of the year' butterflies this week.  I'm not finding many butterflies around right now but hopefully it will pick up soon.  This week the Common Ringlets were the most common.  I also saw a Viceroy and Eastern Tailed-Blues.  

Common Ringlet

I looked for turtles, too.  I saw many Midland Painted Turtles and some Northern Map Turtles.  The Map Turtle below was huge.

Northern Map Turtle

This was the only Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle I saw.  It was very small.  I'm hoping later, I can find some bigger ones.  This turtle is Species at Risk in Ontario - threatened.

Eastern Spiny Softshell Turtle

There were lots of small fish in the Thames River in the shallow parts along the banks.  I think these are a species of minnows.

European Skipper

It was interesting watching the Eastern Kingbird eating a dragonfly.

Recent Findings

I have been out birding but I usually see the same birds so nothing much new.  Photos below are from Hyde Park, Springbank Park and The Coves.

August 28, 2019 - Hyde Park

Twelve-Spotted Skimmer

Ruby Meadowhawk

Monarch

September 4, 2019 - Springbank Park

Double-crested Cormorant

Osprey

Northern Map Turtle

September 5, 2019 - The Coves

Blue Jay

I was taking a photo of the Blue Jay and on the same tree on the other side I noticed this thing.  I got my camera on it and noticed it was a Great Blue Heron high up.  It was facing the other way, so without my camera I noticed this shape.  If it wasn't for the Blue Jay I wouldn't know it was there. 

Double-crested Cormorant

I found another Great Blue Heron high in a dead tree.

Midland Painted Turtles

Starting to see a tinge of colour in the trees along Thames River.