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

A Jaunt at Hyde Park

Hyde Park Drainage Pond, London, Ontario

I spent some time at the pond this morning.  It was quiet bird wise.  There were Mallards, some Barn Swallows flying around, a few Song Sparrows and Field Sparrows.  Dragonflies were scarce too - saw a bluet damselfly and a Common Whitetail dragonfly.

Cabbage White

Song Sparrow

I was pleased to see 5 Monarchs and a few Cabbage Whites.

Monarch

Monarch

The next photo is a Snowberry Clearwing.  It's a moth that flies like a hummingbird.  One can find these in broad daylight sipping on nectar of the Wild Bergamot.  This was exciting as this is a new species for me.

Snowberry Clearwing Moth

Snowberry Clearwing Moth

Snowberry Clearwing Moth

More Dragonflies and Butterflies

Hyde Park Drainage Pond, London, Ontario

I just went for a brief walk this morning as the sun was so hot  (30c, feels like 41).  I concentrated on dragonflies and also butterflies that I can find.

Willow Skimmer  (female)

Willow Skimmer  (male)

Common Whitetail

Willow Skimmer

Monarch

Eastern Amberwing

Clouded Sulphur

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

Beautiful Morning in Hyde Park

Hyde Park Drainage Pond - London, Ontario      

I went for a walk in Hyde Park this morning.  It was nice and sunny, high of 19c.  I didn't get out on the weekend because it was rainy.  Birds I saw are Red-winged Blackbirds, Canada Geese, Mallards, Song Sparrow, Field Sparrow, American Robin, Osprey (2), Barn Swallow, Common Grackle, and a Sandpiper sp.
Most of the time I was there, 2 Ospreys were circling around and hovering...didn't see them catching any fish though.

Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

Song Sparrow

Chicory

Crown Vetch

I didn't see any butterflies on the milkweed today...saw a few dragonflies and a White-tailed Deer. 

Milkweed

Cattails

First Day of Summer

Hyde Park Drainage Pond            20c, sunny, warm

I thought I would go to the Hyde Park Pond this morning.  I didn't walk too far as I saw another Great Blue Heron so I spent time watching it.
Other birds around were Red-winged blackbirds, Barn Swallows, Rough-winged Swallows, Mallards, Canada Geese, Robins, Song Sparrows and American Goldfinches.

There were a few dragonflies and damselflies flying about.

Bluet Species (damselfly)

Common Whitetail (female)

Many Cabbage Whites were around and this Azure.

Azure Species