Some Findings - Week of June 9, 2025

A flock of American White Pelicans have been seen at Fanshawe Lake this week.  When I went to see them, there were 14 of them in the middle of the lake.  I have seen American White Pelicans in Florida but this sighting was a lifer for Ontario and Middlesex County for me.  

American White Pelicans

young Savannah Sparrow

The Northern Mockingbird is continuing at the London Airport.  There has been a pair nesting there for the past few years.

Northern Mockingbird

Song Sparrow

Red-spotted Purple

American Bullfrog

Today at the Coves, I saw two DeKay's Brown Snakes.  They were too fast for photos.  

Butterflies and Dragonflies not Abundant

June 1, 2024 - Airport - I took a drive out to the airport to see the Northern Mockingbird.  I also saw Eastern Meadowlarks, Grasshopper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbirds, Osprey, Green Heron, Field Sparrows, Mourning Doves, Killdeers, and Barn Swallows.

Northern Mockingbird

Red-winged Blackbird

Eastern Meadowlark

Komoka Park - June 4, 2024

I was looking for butterflies and dragonflies.  Not many around.  

Common Whitetail (female)

Eastern Bluebird

Tree Swallow

One of the Komoka Park Trails

Komoka North - June 6, 2024

I was out looking for butterflies and dragonflies again.  There were lots of Widow Skimmers, a few Common Whitetails, a couple of Ebony Jewelwings.  Birds...Eastern Bluebird, Baltimore Orioles, Red-eyed Vireos, Common Yellowthroats, Yellow Warblers, Tree Swallows, Willow Flycatcher, Catbirds, Great Blue Heron plus other common birds.

Widow Skimmer

Ebony Jewelwing

Yesterday, I went to the Coves and was able to find some butterflies.

Red-spotted Purple

Silver-spotted Skipper

Red Admiral

Black Swallowtail

White-tailed Deer in Komoka

June Birding - Very Warm and Dry Conditions

Continuing from mid-May and into June, we've had no rain.  It is getting so dry that some small ponds I go to are dried up.  It's not good hearing about the wildfires across north Canada.

For the start of June, I have been out birding at a few spots.  Out in open fields, I love hearing the Eastern Meadowlark.  Also seeing Song Sparrows, Killdeers, Mourning Doves, Red-tailed Hawks, Ospreys, American Robins, American Goldfinches, Savannah Sparrows and Grasshopper Sparrow.

Grasshopper Sparrows are very tiny sparrows....one would see them out in fields. grasslands and prairies.  They have been in steep decline in some areas due to habitat loss.

Grasshopper Sparrow

Northern Mockingbird

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Song Sparrow

Mallard family

Female Wood Duck and ducklings

In the butterfly category, I saw my FOY Eastern Tiger Swallowtail and Eastern Giant Swallowtail.  The last few days while birding, I have not seen any butterflies (not even Cabbage Whites) anywhere.  Also, have not seen any dragonflies.  I'm getting concerned about this.  Maybe it's still too early, I don't know.   

It is very, very dry...we need rain!

Mid-July Birding

July 11, 2022 - Hyde Park

Barn Swallows - juveniles waiting for food.  There were quite a few swallows flying around catching insects for their young.  

An Osprey flying overhead.

July 12, 2022 - Kilally Meadows ESA

There are a pair of Ospreys nesting at Kilally Meadows ESA.  They nested here last year, too.  The birds I saw - Yellow Warblers, Catbirds, Red-eyed Vireos, Cedar Waxwings, American Goldfinches, Song Sparrows, Field Sparrows, Ruby-throated Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Red-winged Blackbirds, Common Grackles, American Robins, Northern Cardinals, Spotted Sandpipers, Brown-headed Cowbirds, Mallards and Turkey Vultures.  

Osprey

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Turkey Vulture

July 14, 2022 - Uplands North Wetland

I have not been here for awhile so I thought I would check it out.  The water is very low.  Lots of female Mallards and juveniles (36).  I saw one female Wood Duck and some Killdeers and Spotted Sandpipers.  All the usual birds were there, Barn Swallows, Red-winged Blackbirds, Great Blue Heron, Canada Geese, American Goldfinch, Song Sparrows, Mourning Doves, Common Grackles, Catbird, Starlings and Turkey Vultures flying overhead. 

Mallards

Mallards

It was nice to see some turtles on the logs.  Midland Painted Turtles and a Snapping Turtle. 

July 16, 2022 - London Airport

The Northern Mockingbirds are still here.  Some people are seeing juveniles so it's nice the Mockingbirds had a successful nesting season.  

Northern Mockingbird

The Ospreys are here again this year having another successful nesting season as well.

Grasshopper Sparrow

Savannah Sparrow

Kestrel

In the last few years, I go to places where I see lots of butterflies.  I'm not seeing them this year.  I saw some Cabbage Whites, a few Monarchs, Clouded Sulphurs, Orange Sulphurs, and a couple of Mourning Cloaks just recently.  I look for milkweeds...not one butterfly. There are a lot of butterflies I have not seen yet.  Dragonflies...having the same problem.