Susan's Birding and Nature Blog

Friday, 13 July 2018

A Few Butterflies and Dragonflies

London Area - July 2018

Here are a few butterflies and dragonflies, etc. that I have found.

Monarch

Monarch

Silver-spotted Skipper

Widow Skimmer (male)

Ebony Jewelwing

Blue Dasher

Monarch

Blue Dasher

Silver-spotted Skipper

Black Swallowtail
  
I never get tired of Monarchs.

Monarch

Monarch

Eastern Amberwing

Bluet sp.

Halloween Pennant

Bluet sp.

Monarch



Thursday, 5 July 2018

Gibbons Park and My Beloved Riley

Gibbons Park, London, Ontario      July 4, 2018

I got out this morning to Gibbons Park before it got too hot.  There is an extreme heat warning out with temperatures feeling like 42c.  I walked along the river to see what I can find.
Birds I saw were Mallards, Canada Geese, Double-crested Cormorant, Killdeers, Blue Jay, Downy Woodpecker, Yellow Warblers, Song Sparrow, Common Grackles, Cardinal, Red-winged Blackbirds and Robins.

Killdeer

I looked for the rock I usually see turtles on.  Instead, there was a Double-crested Cormorant!

Double-crested Cormorant

Double-crested Cormorant

The Flicker was digging in the dirt for bugs.

Northern Flicker

The Downy Woodpecker was looking for bugs, too.

Downy Woodpecker

The only butterfly I saw today was Cabbage Whites.


One last note...  

I had to say good bye to my beloved Riley.  He was 12 years old.  I looked after him through his health issues throughout his life.  I just about lost him when he was 5 years old.  I was able to add 7 more years.  I will miss you, Riley.  Forever in my heart.






Wednesday, 4 July 2018

Variety of Things in Hyde Park

Hyde Park Drainage Pond, London, Ontario - July 3, 2018         

It thought I would visit the Hyde Park Pond this morning (29c, feels like 35c, sunny, hot) to see if I can find any butterflies. There is a milkweed patch but didn't see any butterflies there.  As I was looking for butterflies, I can see this thing on the end of a branch.  Putting my camera on it, it turned out to be a Ruby-throated Hummingbird. It was pretty content to stay there for a few minutes.



After the milkweeds, walking on the footpath, I saw a dark butterfly land.  I was able to take a nice variety of photos of the Mourning Cloak.

Mourning Cloak

Mourning Cloak

Damselfly sp.

Widow Skimmer

A Great Blue Heron flew in and stood on the marker. 



I saw some fish in the shallow area of the pond. I don't know my fish very well.  I couldn't believe the size of some of them....6-8 inches.




There were a few Turkey Vultures flying overhead.


Chicory