Early August Happenings

Hyde Park Drainage Pond, London, Ontario

I first went for a quick walk at Sifton Bog...haven't been there for awhile.  I heard Green Frogs, Song Sparrows, Cardinal, American Robins and Red-winged Blackbirds.  There were a few dragonflies, too.

Bog

Here I'm looking down at the water on an angle. The tadpoles (probably Green Frog) are resting in the shallow edge of the pond.  

Tadpole

Butterfly Weed

Then I went to the Hyde Park Drainage Pond.  It was 25c, sunny, feels like 33c.  Not too many dragonflies...saw some Widow Skimmers. 

Cabbage White

There were 2 Pied-billed Grebes in the pond.
I also saw Barn Swallows, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-winged Blackbirds, Field Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Mourning Doves, and American Goldfinches.

Pied-billed Grebe

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

There were a lot of American Goldfinches flying about.

American Goldfinches

Northern Crescent

Violet Dancer

Short Visit to Hyde Park

July 30, 2018 - Hyde Park Drainage Pond and Trail, London, Ontario

I decided to go back to the Hyde Park pond again.  It was later in the morning about 10:30am and getting warm 25c.  I didn't stay long.

Sulphur sp.

Common Whitetail

Halloween Pennant

(Below) I would not have seen this as I was looking for butterflies but there was a fuss of birds and a larger bird.  I watched the larger bird fly onto a distant large tree.  I was far away so I tried to take a closer picture. 

It's not a clear photo of this Green Heron.

Green Heron

Other birds I saw were Song Sparrows, Barn Swallows, Bank Swallows, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Robins, Cardinal, Mallards, Field Sparrows, Ring-billed Gull, and Red-winged Blackbirds.

Monarch

Another visit to Hyde Park

Hyde Park Drainage Pond, London, Ontario

A nice morning about 20c, a few clouds and a light breeze.  I saw a Monarch right away in the Bergamot flowers. 

A little further down a Great Blue Heron was resting.

I walked half way around the pond.  I heard, then saw 2 Belted Kingfishers circle around the pond a few times and flew off. 

Cabbage White

I saw more Monarchs....about 5-6 like yesterday!

Not a lot of dragonflies around.

Widow Skimmer  (male)

Monarch

Red Admiral

The Great Blue Heron flew over into the water to look for lunch.

Birds I saw were Barn Swallows, American Goldfinches, Mallards, Great Blue Heron, Song Sparrows, Robins, Cardinals, Belted Kingfishers, White-breasted Nuthatch, Red-winged Blackbirds, Grackles and Field Sparrows.

Milkweed Pods

Viceroy