Thames River Ongoing

Thames River - London, Ontario

A short blog today....continuing along the Thames....another very warm day (26c, feels like 35c and sunny).  The  Double-crested Cormorant was in the water and just climbed onto a rock for awhile.  

Double-crested Cormorant

Wing-spreading to dry its feathers

A Great Blue Heron resting and looking for lunch.

I noticed this little turtle.  I think it might be a Northern Map Turtle.

Not far from the little turtle was a Spiny Softshell Turtle basking in the sun.

Spiny Softshell Turtle

Walking along the Thames

Thames River, London, Ontario

I went out early this morning before it got too hot.  It's supposed to go to 28c, feeling like 35c.  I continued to walk along parts of the Thames River to see what were on the rocks.

Mallard  (female)

My terrible photos of these turtles.  I was having problems with the sun and adjusting my camera.  I tried to take photos at different angles.

I enlarged the picture to have a closer look at the turtle pattern.  I had put down Painted Turtles earlier but a closer look at this picture, I think they are Northern Map Turtles!

Canada Geese were resting on rocks.

There are lots of Goldenrod just starting to flower.

Goldenrod

Fascinating Walk Today

Thames River

I walked along Thames River at different spots this morning.  It was going to be another warm day.  (24c, feels like 30c, and sunny). 

I scanned some large rocks in the middle of the river.  I could hardly see this Spiny Softshell Turtle.  They are pretty flat. It was really nice to see this endangered species again.  I saw one in June for the first time.

Spiny Softshell Turtle

As I was looking around an Osprey flew by.

Osprey

I walked further and saw another Spiny! This time with a young one.  They were taking advantage of the nice warm sun. 

Spiny Softshell Turtle

Wildflowers

Ground hogs were eating away at the grass, I took photo of one but there were two of them.

Ground Hog

There were a lot of Cabbage Whites.

Cabbage White

Another ground hog!

Ground Hog

Further along, I couldn't see the large rocks as there was a lot of bushes and tree branches.  Looking through a little opening, I saw more Spinys.  This time it was a family!

As I was watching....another Spiny came up from the water.

Then another small one! So there were 6 of them on this rock.

Another rock...Northern Map Turtle (thanks, Josh).  The shell is all covered with dry mud.

Birds and Reptiles

Thames River
It was a sunny warm day, 26c feeling more humid in late morning.  I thought I would walk along the river to see what I can find.
This bird flew over the river and landed right in front of me.  It seems to be an Eastern Kingbird.

Killdeer

This is a different rock in the middle of the river from the one I saw in the May 26 post. I thought I was only seeing this one big turtle but there were little ones too!

Northern Map Turtle

The Northern Map Turtle is a species of "Special Concern".

Northern Map Turtles

This woodpecker was working around the tree.

Hairy Woodpecker

There were schools of fish in the warm shallow water.

The next turtle I saw is an endangered species that I've always wanted to see.  The Spiny Softshell Turtle.  It was far away so I was using my telephoto lens to try to get closer photos.  I finally saw my first Spiny Softshell Turtle...very, very exciting!  I'm not identifying the area I saw this because of the status.

The Spiny Softshell Turtle is a medium-large freshwater turtle that is easily recognized by the shell, which is round rather flat, and leathery.  It is also distinguished by its snorkel-like snout.  The shell is soft, olive or tan in colour with dark blotches and tiny spine projections along the front shell.

The Spiny Softshell Turtle lives in rivers and lakes.  In Canada, it is found in Quebec and Southwestern Ontario - Lake St.Clair and Lake Erie.  The majority in Ontario are found in the Thames and Sydenham Rivers and at two sites in Lake Erie.

Quiet day at Gibbons

Gibbons Park - London, Ontario

A very quiet day at Gibbons Park this morning, 5 degrees and cloudy.  It's cold and damp continuing from the very rainy and cloudy weekend.  I saw Mallards, Canada Geese, Downy Woodpecker and Crows. The groups of Robins I saw last week are gone.

Downy Woodpecker

Downy Woodpecker

Thames River

A Variety of Birds......

Gibbons Park, London, Ontario - 4 degrees, a few clouds, chilly

I thought I would go to Gibbons Park for a change this morning.  I walked on the dirt path along the river.  On the water, saw some Mallards and Canada Geese.  I also saw Cedar Waxwings, Blue Jays, Turkey Vultures, American Crows, Carolina Wren, House Sparrow, Starling and White-breasted Nuthatches plus the birds shown below....Northern Cardinal, American Robin, Song Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Downy Woodpecker, Black-capped Chickadee, and American Goldfinch. 

Mallards

Northern Cardinal

American Robin

Song Sparrow

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Downy Woodpecker

Black-capped Chickadee

American Goldfinch

Thames River