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.

Wandering around the Pond

Hyde Park Drainage Pond and Trail, London, Ontario

I went to Hyde Park around 12:30 today.  I stayed for an hour and that's all I can handle with the hot sun (29c, sunny, hot).  There is no shade around the pond.  When I arrived, a Turkey Vulture was circling around.  I didn't see many birds.  Some Song Sparrows, Cardinals, Mourning Doves and one Pied-billed Grebe.  

There were a few species of dragonflies flying around.  Some didn't land.

Widow Skimmer (male)

Northern Crescent

Viceroy

American Goldfinch eating thistle seed

Cabbage White

Pied-billed Grebe

There were plenty of Northern Crescents around.

Northern Crescent

This was a pretty butterfly.  The upper wings are blue...which is seen when the butterfly was flying. I'm thinking this is an Eastern Tailed Blue.

Eastern Tailed Blue

Eastern Tailed Blue

Northern Leopard Frog

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