Strathroy Lagoons - Butterflies and stuff

Saturday, August 5, 2017 

It was a cool day, partly cloudy and very windy, high of 20.  I've been going to Strathroy Lagoons since 1980. Especially, going August & September for shorebirds and in the fall for ducks. In those days there was usually one pond with a low water level with good mud flats for shorebirds.  
Today the 2 large ponds...the water level was high so no shorebirds to be found.  Both ponds were quiet, too.  I walked around the one pond to the right. The shrubs and vegetation have grown quite high and dense in places. In the 80's it was easy looking around the shore of the ponds with a lot less vegetation.    

Queen Anne's Lace

Jewelweed

Strathroy Lagoons

Common Whitetail

Teasel

Wild Bergamot

Field Bindweed

Bullrush

The butterflies were really flying all over the place because of the wind. I was able to get some photos as a few were able to hang onto a leaf for a minute.  

Viceroy

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Cabbage White

Eastern Forktail

Monarch

Monarch

There were a few Turkey Vultures flying over.  I also saw Robins, Red-winged Blackbirds, American Goldfinch, Song Sparrows, Barn Swallows, Tree Swallows and Mourning Dove. In October 1981, with other birders, we saw a Ruff here.

Turkey Vulture

Cabbage White

Viceroy

Viceroy

Milkweed Pods

Red Milkweed Beetle laying eggs? 

Milkweed Pods

Common Whitetail

Bluet Sp

Goldenrod

Stroll through Civic Gardens

Springbank Park - Civic Gardens, London, Ontario

It was a warm, sunny morning getting hotter as the day went on,
28 degrees. feels like 34.
I was looking for butterflies but not too much luck.  

Cabbage White

There were lots of coneflowers in all colours!

Echinacea - Coneflowers

Echinacea - Coneflowers

Echinacea - Coneflowers

Echinacea - Coneflowers

Cabbage White

Thames River usually low this time of year

Queen Anne's Lace

Teasel

Butterfly Surprise!

July 15, 2017

It was a nice warm sunny day, high of 28.  I went out south of London to see if I can spot the Dickcissel.  Took more pictures of wild flowers.  There were lots of barn swallows flying around and also saw Killdeers, Song Sparrows, American Goldfinch, and a few Turkey Vultures.  I did finally see the Dickcissel on the wire but couldn't get any photos. 

Chicory

Honey Bee

Common Red Soldier Beetle

Birdsfoot Trefoil

I saw a couple of butterflies fluttering in the field.  They were far away from me but I tried snapping some photos anyway.  It was difficult as they were on the move.  This one landed for a few seconds, I took the photo but I think I got it starting to fly again so a little blurry.  I had no idea what kind they were because of the distance.  By narrowing it down by the pattern and colour, it looks to be a Black Swallowtail!

Black Swallowtail

The teasel is starting to show some purple.

Teasel