Outdoor Ontario

Wildlife Reports => Toronto Wildlife => Topic started by: Bluffs Birder on April 02, 2010, 11:22:22 PM

Title: Butterflies
Post by: Bluffs Birder on April 02, 2010, 11:22:22 PM: Rosetta McClain Gardens, Scarborough
Spring Azure - 1
Cabbage White - 1
Mourning Cloak - 1

Second Marsh, Oshawa
Mourning Cloak - 1

Walter
Title:
Post by: Bluffs Birder on April 05, 2010, 08:56:48 PM: Scarborough Bluffs Park, Scarborough
Mourning Cloak - 2

Bellamy Ravine, Scarborough
Eastern Comma - 1
Mourning Cloak - 1
Cabbage White - 3

Walter
Title:
Post by: BIGFRANK on April 05, 2010, 09:16:23 PM: Had at least 2 of your little blue ones. Spring Azures,at Rosetta.
Title: early butterflies
Post by: Howieh on April 05, 2010, 11:05:11 PM: Bestview Park first sightings Mar 17 & 18 - 6 mourning cloaks, 3 eastern commas, 1 compton tortoiseshell; been back a few times and many butterflies still present (no blues tho!). Yesterday I watched 5 eastern commas in a tight group heading for the treetops, returned today and despite the wind there were still several mourning cloaks and EC's. Also today saw my first wildflowers and one downy woodpecker but no other birds anywhere to be seen (or heard).
Title:
Post by: JW Mills on April 06, 2010, 04:04:51 PM: I've always been fascinated by butterflies.
Any chance of posting some pics or perhaps a link?
Title:
Post by: Moira on April 06, 2010, 05:53:28 PM: I thought it was early for butterflies - great to hear - I need to get out looking!
Title:
Post by: Cody on April 06, 2010, 08:33:09 PM: While I was birding on the weekend I saw:

11 Morning Cloaks
3 Eastern Commas

They were on a tree stump eating flies :lol:

Great for pictures too, the sunlight on them was perfect if I had of had my camera :roll:
Title:
Post by: Bluffs Birder on April 07, 2010, 01:40:40 AM: Hey Zed,

You asked for photos, so I posted!

As spring is now upon us and the Butterflies are starting to show, I thought that I would post these relatively small-sized photos in order to inspire others, especially those with children, to get out and look for these incredibly beautiful little creatures. They are great fun to try and photograph as they flutter about. Just remember that they, and their world, are extremely delicate. Step lightly, take photos and move on.

The website Ontario Butterflies (http://groups.google.ca/group/onbutterflies/topics?hl=en) is an excellent place to report your findings.

Here's what I've been fortunate enough to have seen in and around the GTA over the past 3 years. All photos were taken with a 3 MP camera and enhanced using Picasa.

Enjoy,
Walter

As they appear from left to right:
Silver-spotted Skipper, Northern Cloudywing, Juvenal's Duskywing, Wild Indigo Duskywing, Least Skipper, European Skipper, Fiery Skipper, Tawny-edged Skipper, Long Dash Skipper, Northern Broken-Dash, Little Glassywing, Delaware Skipper, Hobomok Skipper, Dun Skipper, Black Swallowtail, Giant Swallowtail, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, Cabbage White, Clouded Sulphur, Orange Sulphur, Acadian Hairstreak, Hickory Hairstreak, Eastern Tailed Blue, Spring Azure, Summer Azure, Silvery Blue, American Snout, Variegated Fritillary, Great Spangled Fritillary, Pearl Crescent, Northern Crescent, Question Mark, Eastern Comma, Compton Tortoiseshell, Mourning Cloak, Milbert's Tortoiseshell, American Lady, Painted Lady, Red Admiral, Common Buckeye, White Admiral, Red-spotted Purple, Viceroy, Northern Pearly-Eye, Little Wood-Satyr, Common Ringlet, Common Wood-Nymph, Monarch

(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5WleSyuWnI/AAAAAAAAFC4/dTgN92PXQOc/s400/Silver-spotted%20Skipper%20%2812%29.JPG) (http://lh6.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TBv8TpkAxtI/AAAAAAAAJg4/w65nCHebZRE/s400/Northern%20Cloudywing%20%2881%29.JPG) (http://lh3.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TBHISWJcN-I/AAAAAAAAJSM/8VbmTBC4czg/s400/Juvenal%27s%20Duskywing%20%2848%29.JPG) (http://lh6.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TD_yiZcZnII/AAAAAAAAKKA/hN9VOtvlftU/s400/Wild%20Indigo%20Duskywing%20%28289%29.JPG) (http://lh5.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TGNLD5uilbI/AAAAAAAAKks/zZyxIJ9S1bM/s400/Least%20Skipper%20%2817%29.JPG) (http://lh5.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TBg_Zi0-sWI/AAAAAAAAJbk/ECXMl2YjkyA/s400/European%20Skipper%20%28115%29.JPG) (http://lh6.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TGHo4DagsWI/AAAAAAAAKd4/ZGxUbCFcNrk/s400/Fiery%20Skipper%20%2848%29.JPG) (http://lh4.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TAsCMAp4-LI/AAAAAAAAJE8/ezIVSTScz8o/s400/Tawny-edged%20Skipper%20%287%29.JPG) (http://lh3.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TC_p4itlbjI/AAAAAAAAJ5I/Fb_-VrBEVgk/s400/Long%20Dash%20Skipper%20%286%29.JPG) (http://lh3.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5xlNx9LXtI/AAAAAAAAGF8/NBbhD9_aiuY/s400/Northern%20Broken-Dash%20%2878%29.JPG) (http://lh5.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5WzVxa85II/AAAAAAAAFGM/Ru7GpMOYs2M/s400/Little%20Glassywing%20%2811%29.JPG) (http://lh6.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TCf8fgVs1GI/AAAAAAAAJoM/rN1U8a-iOSc/s400/Delaware%20Skipper%20%2815%29.JPG) (http://lh3.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5W3OzAiR4I/AAAAAAAAFHI/wa-WTOLkuH4/s400/Hobomok%20Skipper%20%2825%29.JPG) (http://lh5.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TCgCmTg3VlI/AAAAAAAAJqE/JJkaPF9p3cY/s400/Dun%20Skipper%20%282%29.JPG) (http://lh4.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5W7f_eLEFI/AAAAAAAAFIU/Dt5dx76i12A/s400/Black%20Swallowtail%20%2881%29.JPG) (http://lh5.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5W-11DQetI/AAAAAAAAFJc/LwlqlZ2jxDY/s400/Giant%20Swallowtail%20%2815%29.JPG) (http://lh4.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5XA-Mz2BEI/AAAAAAAAFKQ/zUTC9WNInzc/s400/Eastern%20Tiger%20Swallowtail%20%281%29.JPG) (http://lh4.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5XHQFuWhEI/AAAAAAAAFLE/UAuVstO_vRk/s400/Cabbage%20White%20%2821%29.JPG) (http://lh4.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5XINvDISeI/AAAAAAAAFLw/rRHtCelj7W4/s400/Clouded%20Sulphur%20%281%29.JPG) (http://lh6.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5XLXyktCdI/AAAAAAAAFMs/c8FaObo3_6U/s400/Orange%20Sulphur%20%2846%29.JPG) (http://lh3.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5XMnQtA1tI/AAAAAAAAFNI/1oFJMO0N14g/s400/Acadian%20Hairstreak%20%282%29.JPG) (http://lh5.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TEJdddjxTPI/AAAAAAAAKSk/1C110w4ANlM/s400/Hickory%20Hairstreak%20%2836%29.JPG) (http://lh3.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5XNpI4hbII/AAAAAAAAI74/zLM6ItMyVHA/s400/Eastern%20Tailed%20Blue%20%284%29.JPG) (http://lh5.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S9Mv1JhB45I/AAAAAAAAH_A/DzM1MWMPeXY/s400/Spring%20Azure%20%2839%29.JPG) (http://lh5.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5XRFQN-A9I/AAAAAAAAFOk/Occl27Nxaos/s400/Summer%20Azure%20%282%29.JPG) (http://lh6.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TALAHNoL9AI/AAAAAAAAI18/ckNYDEzn4Rg/s400/032%20%282%29.JPG) (http://lh6.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TEABpGAJcvI/AAAAAAAAKN0/3JnzSlzNFyE/s400/American%20Snout%20%2867%29.JPG) (http://lh5.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5XYps_5u9I/AAAAAAAAFQ8/XVC7X1CvVd0/s400/Variegated%20Fritillary%20%285%29.JPG) (http://lh4.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5Xc3ewxyCI/AAAAAAAAFSM/nnliWVLThiU/s400/Great%20Spangled%20Fritillary%20%287%29.JPG) (http://lh4.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TChmaQHWnXI/AAAAAAAAJzA/85O4p570mb4/s400/Pearl%20Crescent%20%282%29.jpg) (http://lh3.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TChom7EzuII/AAAAAAAAJzk/WtEYDCdO3Rc/s400/Northern%20Crescent%20%2861%29.JPG) (http://lh3.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5XfV0jyddI/AAAAAAAAFTQ/EmqOveZsGfE/s400/Question%20Mark%20%2810%29.JPG) (http://lh4.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5glMlGB0sI/AAAAAAAAFaY/fW88Zlvucgk/s400/Eastern%20Comma%20%2859%29.JPG) (http://lh5.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5h1yHx0OMI/AAAAAAAAFqo/znTo99BWr2M/s400/Compton%20Tortoiseshell%20%2882%29.JPG) (http://lh6.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5h61IUFnqI/AAAAAAAAFtM/9-VCHgLQn7o/s400/Mourning%20Cloak%20%2861%29.JPG) (http://lh6.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TA8Y4yRbe8I/AAAAAAAAJOE/H5alHMOriIQ/s400/Milbert%27s%20Tortoiseshell%20%2814%29.JPG) (http://lh6.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5wcp7syCdI/AAAAAAAAGAM/76N7wp22hUo/s400/American%20Lady%20%28171%29.JPG) (http://lh4.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5w3iNM7NHI/AAAAAAAAGDQ/sGv4s2NQDvE/s400/Painted%20Lady%20%28101%29.JPG) (http://lh3.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5nIcvxD8JI/AAAAAAAAF34/SD92jHatrRY/s400/Red%20Admiral%20%2886%29.JPG) (http://lh6.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5gh_S2EnhI/AAAAAAAAFZU/qNt6xZcwuGQ/s400/Common%20Buckeye%20%288%29.JPG) (http://lh3.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TCgONgPIGaI/AAAAAAAAJsA/6Yfy-HD6cgI/s400/White%20Admiral%20%2839%29.JPG) (http://lh4.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TCgQ3guFIiI/AAAAAAAAJtI/JIMriZ-xTH8/s400/Red-spotted%20Purple%20%2834%29.JPG) (http://lh3.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5mswH_NzxI/AAAAAAAAFzI/w4REKUCSfKo/s400/Viceroy%20%2856%29.JPG) (http://lh6.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TCgcIrA7kFI/AAAAAAAAJvA/aMXUqti1_Jo/s400/Northern%20Pearly-Eye%20%2880%29.JPG) (http://lh3.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TAsRZEP7WpI/AAAAAAAAJB4/YpZDQwzIzt4/s400/Little%20Wood-Satyr%20%2834%29.JPG) (http://lh6.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TAsSNUgp1TI/AAAAAAAAJCQ/zireEBJZYCM/s400/Common%20Ringlet%20%2836%29.JPG) (http://lh5.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/S5li2S2ynUI/AAAAAAAAFxw/JeZhw1eEe28/s400/Common%20Wood-Nymph%20%2823%29.JPG) (http://lh3.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TCgkpKzSRCI/AAAAAAAAJw8/IiRUWsHXNOY/s400/Monarch%20%2872%29.JPG)
Title:
Post by: Bird Brain on April 07, 2010, 06:38:12 AM: Walter ... Wow, fantastic list and photos! These will be extremely helpful in trying to identify butterflies sighted this year. Challenge #2: dragonflies.

Jo-Anne :D
Title:
Post by: angelicque on April 07, 2010, 07:32:07 AM: add a Compton Tortoiseshell seen at Lambton Woods this last week-end! very sluggish and loving all the tree sap.

met a rather friendly Mourning Cloak at Terra Cotta Conservation Area. kept landing on my hand and camera for a good 5 minutes before fluttering off :)
Title:
Post by: JW Mills on April 07, 2010, 06:29:18 PM: Wow! Excellent photos!
Thanks Walter!

So far the only photos I have are of a Compton Tortoiseshell taken at James Gardens (pics posted).
Hopefully this year I will snap more!

As an aside I have butterfly drawings, stickers, etc all over the house!
Title:
Post by: Brian Bailey on April 07, 2010, 08:47:30 PM: Great collection Walter!

Quote from: "Bird Brain"
Challenge #2: dragonflies.

Jo-Anne :D

For learning dragonflies, Stokes Beginners Guide to Dragonflies (http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Stokes-Beginners-Guide-To-Dragonflies-Blair-Nikula-Donald-Stokes/9780316816793-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+%2527beginners+guide+to+dragonflies%2527) is an excellent start. Don't be fooled by the title: it's not a kiddie guide. It covers most of the common dragonflies and damselflies in this area and has a very good identification key that helps you zero in on the correct family. 10 years ago, there were few guides short of a textbook, but there are several good ones now.

BB
Title:
Post by: Bird Brain on April 07, 2010, 09:05:48 PM: Quote from: "Brian Bailey"
For learning dragonflies, Stokes Beginners Guide to Dragonflies (http://www.chapters.indigo.ca/books/Stokes-Beginners-Guide-To-Dragonflies-Blair-Nikula-Donald-Stokes/9780316816793-item.html?ref=Search+Books%3a+%2527beginners+guide+to+dragonflies%2527) is an excellent start. Don't be fooled by the title: it's not a kiddie guide. It covers most of the common dragonflies and damselflies in this area and has a very good identification key that helps you zero in on the correct family. 10 years ago, there were few guides short of a textbook, but there are several good ones now.

BB
Hi Brian. Thank You Very Much for this link/information.

Jo-Anne :)
Title:
Post by: Brian Bailey on April 07, 2010, 09:24:55 PM: After getting past the "wow" factor of so many great butterfly images, I'd have to say the stand-out image for me is the Eastern Comma. The vibrant colour of the butterfly against the almost colourless wood chips is quite compelling.

BB
Title:
Post by: Bluffs Birder on April 07, 2010, 10:03:58 PM: Thanks everyone for the kind comments, I hope the photos will be of some use.

Brian, I was surprised that the Comma allowed me to stand right over it to get a few photos.

Walter
Title:
Post by: Moira on April 08, 2010, 01:30:39 PM: Fantastic Walter! Prior to getting my 400m lens I spent time looking for butterflies (several times at Rosetta McLain Gardens). They are truly beautiful creatures. Hope to add to my photo collection again this year. Thanks for sharing your pictures and ID's.
Title:
Post by: JW Mills on April 16, 2010, 07:49:15 PM: Any chance of making this a sticky?
Walter's photos and ID's are an excellent guide for us novice butterflyers!
Title:
Post by: Bluffs Birder on April 17, 2010, 02:59:59 PM: Hey Zed,

I'll just add the link to my photo page down below in the Signature area and you and others can check the pictures out there if you so desire.

Walter :D
Title:
Post by: Bird Brain on April 18, 2010, 05:05:49 PM: Today at Maplewood Park: Mourning Cloak - 1

My first butterfly sighting for this Spring.

Jo-Anne :)

Maplewood Park: East side of Glen Erin Dr., just North of Aquitaine Ave.
Title:
Post by: Moira on April 18, 2010, 07:18:35 PM: I also saw a Morning Cloak in Thickson Woods today. Would love to see some on Walter's list.
Title:
Post by: Bird Brain on April 21, 2010, 04:21:03 PM: This afternoon at Maplewood Park: Mourning Cloak - 2.

:)
Title:
Post by: Bluffs Birder on April 22, 2010, 12:22:37 AM: On Tuesday at Colonel Sam Smith Park, I saw 4 Cabbage Whites and 1 Black Swallowtail butterfly.

Walter
Title:
Post by: Bird Brain on May 02, 2010, 04:12:23 PM: Today at Lake Aquitaine:

Cabbage White - 1

Red Admiral - 1

Another butterfly sighted - not sure if it was a Question Mark or an Eastern Comma - 1

Jo-Anne
Title: butterfly or moth?
Post by: ravynne40 on May 02, 2010, 10:57:11 PM: hi this guy was seen at Marie Curtis Park today, i thought he was pretty so i snapped him up.
not sure if its a butterfly or moth, i would appreciate an ID thanks

(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3331/4572416938_94c1972c86_o.jpg)

Irene
Title:
Post by: Bluffs Birder on May 03, 2010, 03:17:49 AM: Hi Irene,

That's a Red Admiral you've got there, it's a type of butterfly. Great shot!

Walter
Title: first painted lady
Post by: Howieh on May 03, 2010, 10:52:27 AM: Just saw my first painted lady in my back yard. Several red admirals came thru this morning but never stopped.
Title:
Post by: Bird Brain on May 03, 2010, 05:32:33 PM: Hi everyone. This afternoon at Lake Aquitaine, sighted 2 Swallowtail butterflies. So beautiful! :D
Title:
Post by: ravynne40 on May 03, 2010, 06:23:55 PM: Thanks Walter! and here i was thinking it was a plain old moth LOL
Title:
Post by: ravynne40 on May 03, 2010, 06:29:19 PM: Quote from: "Bluffs Birder"
On Tuesday at Colonel Sam Smith Park, I saw 4 Cabbage Whites and 1 Black Swallowtail butterfly.

Walter

Walter, hope you don't mind I bookmarked your site, awesome shots you have there. I have tried to get into Sam Smith on a weekday but sometimes it is aweful finding parking. Sometimes one gets lucky and gets a spot.
Irene :)
Title:
Post by: Bird Brain on May 04, 2010, 11:21:45 PM: Today at YYZ, Red Admiral - 1.

Jo-Anne :)

From Dixie Rd., drive East along Courtneypark Dr. E. ... about 5 blocks along, you'll start heading South. On the right hand side is a grassy hill. Climb to the top of this hill ... excellent location for plane spotting (arrivals on Rwy 33L), sighting birds, butterflies and wildlife.
Title: first tiger swallowtail
Post by: Howieh on May 05, 2010, 04:58:09 PM: A gorgeous tiger swallowtail visited my backyard a couple of hours ago and despite the wind I think I managed to get a few good shots on my neighbours lilacs. Lots of red admirals and a few painted ladies still passing through heading north but they are not stopping long enough to shoot.
Title:
Post by: Bird Brain on May 06, 2010, 02:13:02 PM: Yesterday (Wed. May 5th), 2 Swallowtail butterflies at Maplewood Park - possibly the same 2 that were at Lake Aquitaine on Monday. It has been suggested to me that they are Tiger Swallowtails or Eastern Tiger Swallowtails. Large, yellow with black stripes and in constant motion!

Also sighted my first dragonfly for the year - based on Google Images, looks most like a Blue Dasher. Sorry, I'm brand new at trying to identify butterflies and dragonflies! :oops:

Jo-Anne :)

Maplewood Park: East side of Glen Erin Dr., about 1 block North of Aquitaine Ave.
Title:
Post by: Leslie on May 12, 2010, 01:49:45 PM: American lady in my backyard, too busy to record the date but it would have been the last week in April.
It's really exciting to have Walter's pictures. I pay much more attention to the patterns on butterflies' wings if I can hope to identify them.
Title:
Post by: Bird Brain on May 14, 2010, 06:42:48 PM: Today at Lake Aquitaine:

Red Admiral - dozens! 40+

Tiger Swallowtail - 1
Title:
Post by: Bluffs Birder on May 14, 2010, 07:40:31 PM: Today at Rosetta McClain Gardens there were 50+ Red Admirals, at least 20 Painted Ladys, a few Cabbage Whites, and a lone Black Swallowtail.

Walter
Title:
Post by: Anonymous on May 16, 2010, 09:51:29 PM: Parents have a couple of lilacs in the front yard that the Red Admirals seem to like...

(http://i460.photobucket.com/albums/qq326/WingsofFuryPhotography/Butterflies%20and%20Moths/RedAdmiralonPurpleLilac1.jpg)
Title:
Post by: Cody on May 16, 2010, 10:02:43 PM: Yesterday at Shell Park in Oakville:

1 Tiger Swallowtail
20+ Red Admirals
Title:
Post by: Bluffs Birder on May 19, 2010, 07:55:47 PM: Scarborough Bluffs Park - May 18th:

Wild Indigo Duskywing - 4
Cabbage White - 10+
Clouded Sulphur - 10+
Silvery Blue - 1
Eastern Comma - 1
American Lady - 5+
Red Admiral - 100+
Monarch - 2

Walter
Title:
Post by: Bird Brain on May 20, 2010, 05:17:18 PM: This afternoon at Maplewood Park:

Black Swallowtail - 1
Tiger Swallowtail - 2
Red Admiral - 2

:D

Maplewood Park: East side of Glen Erin Dr., just North of Aquitaine Ave.
Title:
Post by: Bird Brain on May 27, 2010, 04:12:35 PM: This afternoon at Maplewood Park:

Tiger Swallowtail - 4

Dozens of dragonflies (various sizes and colours) - no idea what any of them were! :shock:
I really need to get to Chapters bookstore one of these days!
Title:
Post by: Bluffs Birder on June 05, 2010, 09:36:30 PM: Rouge Park (main road and pond area) - June 4th

Juvenal’s Duskywing - 1
Wild Indigo Duskywing - 7
Tawny-edged Skipper - x
Hobomok Skipper - x
Black Swallowtail - 1
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail - 4
Cabbage White - 3
Silvery Blue - x
Pearl Crescent - 1
Northern Crescent - 6
Question Mark – 5
Eastern Comma - 1
Mourning Cloak - 1
Milbert’s Tortoiseshell - 1
American Lady - 2
Red Admiral - 5
White Admiral - 1
Viceroy - 7
Little Wood-Satyr - x
Common Ringlet - x
Common Wood-Nymph - 3
Monarch - 4

Hummingbird Clearwing Moth – 1
Virginia Ctenucha Moth – 4
? - White-banded Black Moth - 1

Walter
Title:
Post by: Bird Brain on June 15, 2010, 03:56:49 PM: Today at Maplewood Park:

Mourning Cloak x 1 - landed on my shoulder, what a thrill! :D

Tiger Swallowtail x 2

:)
Title:
Post by: Bluffs Birder on June 18, 2010, 08:09:35 PM: High Park - June 17th

Northern Cloudywing
European Skipper
Hobomok Skipper
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Cabbage White
Silvery Blue
Question Mark
American Lady
Red Admiral
Red-spotted Purple
Northern Pearly-Eye
Little Wood-Satyr
Monarch

Walter
Title: More butterfly talk
Post by: Howieh on June 18, 2010, 11:40:08 PM: Hi Walter,

Where in High Park did you see most of the butterflies? and what's doing 'butterflywise' at Rosetta McClean? I'm planning to visit the Spit on Sunday and I might stop by Rosetta on my way down (slightly off topic - are the northern flickers back and if so, are they nesting again in the west end?). I was in Edward Gardens today; very few butterflies around but I expect things will pick up once the cone flowers are in full bloom - best sighting was a large fresh question mark. It also appears that the huge swarms of red admirals have laid eggs and died off (large numbers of offspring expected later this summer?) but my neighbours crabapple tree has started attracting lots of fresh eastern commas.

Howie H.
Title:
Post by: Bluffs Birder on June 19, 2010, 03:03:55 PM: Hi Howie,

Because this was my first visit to High Park in search butterflies, I pretty much wandered the entire park. Most of my sightings were on the east side trails and that’s only because it was too early in the morning when I explored the west side trails, I’m sure. Also, because I’d never really travelled the trails before, I was comfortably lost from the word ‘go’. Sometimes that works out to be the best way – lol. The Northern Cloudywing butterflies were found everywhere along the edges of the woods.

As far as Rosetta McClain Gardens, it’s been very quiet lately from what I’ve been told (I’ve been everywhere but there over the past couple of weeks). Unfortunately, there are no Flickers nesting in the park this year that I know of, there was one pair that did try earlier in the spring but they moved on. I think the same will happen at Rosetta as at Edwards, that once the cone flowers start to bloom, the butterflies will start to show.

Hope this helps you,
Walter
Title:
Post by: Howieh on June 19, 2010, 11:11:56 PM: Once the gardens are in bloom I usually just head for the building (cottage?) on the east side of the path that runs towards the south from the Grenadier Restaurant. There's a good stand of buddlea that is always active with many species and the garden just south of the building is also pretty good. I like Edward Gardens because it's close to where I live; besides Rosetta are there any particular spots you favor - I'd really like to find white admirals and red spotted purples while they are still fresh!
Title:
Post by: Bluffs Birder on June 20, 2010, 12:57:30 AM: Hey Howie,

Thanks for the tip on High Park, I'll check there on my next visit. Rosetta is the same for me, it's only 10 minutes walk from the house. I was there for a quick walk after dinner tonight and there were a lot of newly emerged Red Admirals flying about but that was it, nuttin' else yet. I'm still in the learning stage when it comes to butterflies so most parks that I'm visiting, I'm visiting for the first time. So far Rouge Park has been amazing with all of it's different habitats but it's a big place as I'm sure you're aware of, lot's of walking. On June 4th I saw my very first ever Milbert's Tortoiseshell there and then on June 8th I saw 2 more together in a completely different spot, not bad for a 'rare' Toronto butterfly. Any of the parks along the Scarborough Bluffs can produce some terrific finds at any given time, as with the birds, it seems to be a natural migration route for butterflies as well. As far as White Admirals and Red-spotted Purples, they usually just like to taunt the heck outta me, they fly by close to say 'hello' and then up towards the trees they go outta sight. I was extremely fortunate at Rouge Park to stumble on a pair (one of each) that were flying around close together and both landed briefly for photos. I haven't been to Lambton Woods/Eglinton Flats in the west end as of yet but have read many great reports from there, also, East Point Park here in Scarborough looks like another really good spot to check. Good luck at the Spit, let us know what you find.

Walter
Title: quiet spit
Post by: Howieh on June 21, 2010, 12:09:03 AM: We finally got to the spit just after 4pm and immediately took the shuttle out to the bridge; saw one red admiral and a few cabbage whites but nothing else. Interesting to note that the blanket flowers are in full bloom on both sides of the hill leading down to the foot bridge and I was surprised no butterflies were around. After a short walk across the bridge we returned to the main gate and walked the road leading to the lakeshore (on the left side of main road). We saw:

about 10 monarchs (hard to count because I think the same butterflies were circling the area but I did see more than one at a time several times!)
1 sulphur
1 black swallowtail
a few cabbage whites, but...
Not a single skipper of any kind, go figger!!

The milkweed is still a few days away from full bloom so I expect to see many more monarchs on my next visit which should be in early July. Btw, Bob Bowles (see Simcoe Nature Board) tells me that the monarchs had a very tough past winter in Mexico so it's not too surprising that their numbers here are down.

Lots of geese flying in formation and a few redwinged BB's in the fields between the roads but no other birds to speak of.

I've never explored the rouge valley but your milbert sightings are beckoning me! Have you checked out the Guild Inn lately? Usually very good from early July on.
Title:
Post by: Bluffs Birder on June 22, 2010, 01:19:21 PM: No, I've haven't been over to the Guild Inn since early last July, I'll probably check it out within the next 2 weeks though.

Walter
Title:
Post by: Bluffs Birder on June 26, 2010, 10:36:20 PM: Rouge Park (Park Road, pond area, and Cedar Trail) – Friday, June 25th

Silver-spotted Skipper
European Skipper
Long Dash Skipper
Northern Broken-Dash
Little Glassywing
Delaware Skipper
Hobomok Skipper
Dun Skipper
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Cabbage White
Clouded Sulphur
Eastern Tailed Blue
Northern Crescent
Question Mark
Eastern Comma
Mourning Cloak
American Lady
Red Admiral
White Admiral
Red-spotted Purple
Viceroy
Northern Pearly-Eye
Little Wood-Satyr
Common Wood-Nymph
Monarch

Walter
Title:
Post by: Bird Brain on June 29, 2010, 03:21:25 PM: Today at Maplewood Park:

Tiger Swallowtail - 1
Red Admiral - 1

:)
Title:
Post by: Bluffs Birder on July 04, 2010, 01:44:46 AM: Scarborough Bluffs Park - Saturday July 3rd

Silver-spotted Skipper
European Skipper
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Cabbage White
Clouded Sulphur
Orange Sulphur
Eastern Tailed Blue
Summer Azure
Question Mark
Red Admiral
Northern Pearly-Eye
Little Wood-Satyr
Monarch

Walter
Title:
Post by: Bluffs Birder on July 16, 2010, 03:06:09 AM: Scarborough Bluffs Park - July 15th

Silver-spotted Skipper
Wild Indigo Duskywing - 50+
European Skipper
Northern Broken-Dash
Black Swallowtail
Cabbage White
Clouded Sulphur
Orange Sulphur
Eastern Tailed Blue
Summer Azure
American Snout
Question Mark
Eastern Comma
Red Admiral - 150+
Monarch - 20+

Highlight of the day was an American Snout butterfly which was feeding on Thistle along the west side of the trail near the
north-east entrance to the park just off Brimley Road.

(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TD_-PFPAVDI/AAAAAAAAKNE/NspsZqRZz5s/s400/American%20Snout%20%2816%29.JPG)

Walter
Title:
Post by: GStuart on July 16, 2010, 08:22:32 AM: There was an American Snout seen this year at the Brickworks during the Annual Butterfly Count. (July 10) This marked the first sighting of a Snout on count day for Toronto.
Title:
Post by: Bluffs Birder on July 18, 2010, 01:07:11 AM: Rouge Park (Vista and Orchard Trails) - Friday July 16th

Silver-spotted Skipper
Wild Indigo Duskywing
Least Skipper
European Skipper
Black Swallowtail
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Cabbage White
Clouded Sulphur
Hickory Hairstreak
Summer Azure
Great Spangled Fritillary
Question Mark
Eastern Comma
Mourning Cloak
American Lady
Painted Lady
Red Admiral
Viceroy
Little Wood-Satyr
Common Wood-Nymph
Monarch

Highlight of the day was a very rare Hickory Hairstreak which was found feeding on various flowers along the Vista Trail.

(http://lh5.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TEJdddjxTPI/AAAAAAAAKSk/1C110w4ANlM/s400/Hickory%20Hairstreak%20%2836%29.JPG)

Walter
Title:
Post by: Bluffs Birder on August 10, 2010, 11:39:46 PM: Today at Rosetta McClain Gardens, Scarborough in 2 flower beds of mostly Spanish Flag (lantana camara), BIGFRANK and I had the following:

Silver-spotted Skipper
Fiery Skipper (male & female)
Eastern Tiger Swallowtail
Cabbage White
Clouded Sulphur
Orange Sulphur
Summer Azure
Question Mark
American Lady
Red Admiral
Monarch

Highlights were these 2 Fiery Skippers.

(http://lh3.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TGHoFymCeOI/AAAAAAAAKdo/n6YxpK-_QNc/s400/Fiery%20Skipper%20%2824%29.JPG) (http://lh4.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TGHpBmS4ugI/AAAAAAAAKd8/Wk22Srvcs90/s400/Fiery%20Skipper%20%2849%29.JPG)

Walter
Title:
Post by: Bluffs Birder on August 12, 2010, 07:11:43 PM: Today in the 'lantana' beds in Rosetta McClain Gardens, Scarborough, BIGFRANK discovered a wee orange butterfly. The gang gathered around in search of the little one and when refound, the ladies amoung us had a chuckle. Here were 3 grown men (2 of us the size of football players and then some!!!) looking desperately for a butterfly the size of a baby fingernail!!! Too funny.

Least Skipper
(http://lh4.ggpht.com/_k1pXepVI5SQ/TGR6EX0OZ5I/AAAAAAAAKmI/9WZ0Lskzd8Y/s400/Least%20Skipper%20%2825%29.JPG)

Walter
Title:
Post by: Bird Brain on August 12, 2010, 07:19:58 PM: I haven't seen a Monarch yet this year! :(

Having said that, my mom saw one in her backyard yesterday morning. (Mavis/Rathburn)

Jo-Anne
Title: Lotsa monarchs
Post by: Howieh on August 12, 2010, 11:04:10 PM: The spit is crawling (er, I mean fluttering) with monarchs and I'm sure the next few weeks will see their numbers increase substantially, especially when the new england asters start blooming! I was down there last weekend and I found a cluster(?) of viceroys feeding on tansy on the lakeside road about ten minutes walk from the parking lot. I also saw a buckeye, a first for me on the spit.
Title:
Post by: Bird Brain on August 15, 2010, 09:59:22 AM: Finally, sighted 4 Monarch butterflies! :D

Yesterday I was plane spotting at YYZ and saw 4 separate Monarch butterflies:

1. Courtney Park Dr., East of Dixie Rd. At top of small/medium size hill, one Monarch, two Mourning Cloak and six Cabbage White. Some sort of purple thistle and goldenrod all over the place! Sighted lots of Goldfinches (m & f) here as well. Some truly huge dragonflies also.

2. Carlingview Dr., South of Dixon Rd - one Monarch.

3. Airport Rd., South of Derry Rd. in front of the Wendy's - one Monarch.

4. Derry Rd., just West of Airport Rd. - one Monarch.

Ironic that I mentioned the other day that I hadn't seen any Monarch yet this year and then end up seeing 4.
Title:
Post by: Bird Brain on August 19, 2010, 11:44:23 AM: This morning (11am) at Maplewood Park:

Monarch x 1

Maplewood Park: East side of Glen Erin Dr., just North of Aquitaine Ave.
Title: monarchs in space
Post by: Howieh on August 20, 2010, 11:38:03 AM: Found this while looking for 2010 Point Pelee fall monarch migration reports (if anyone knows how to get them please tell me!)

http://www.fs.fed.us/monarchbutterfly/n ... pace.shtml (http://www.fs.fed.us/monarchbutterfly/news/monarchsinspace.shtml)

Btw, according to a post on ONT Butterflies monarchs HAVE started gathering at PP.
Title: Butterflies in High Park and the spit.
Post by: Howieh on August 30, 2010, 08:58:02 PM: Spent about an hour in the gardens south of the Grenadier Restaurant on Sunday afternoon (Aug 29). Dozens of monarchs, painted ladies, american ladies and red admirals but not much else. Many people, myself included, are of the opinion that the numbers of monarchs are down from last year but now I'm not so sure. I'm now seeing several pass over my house every day and I had a report of several hundred(!) a few days ago in the Urquhart Butterfly Garden in Dundas.

I've been on the spit a few times lately and have seen several dozen monarchs each time; expect the numbers to increase when the New England Asters are in full bloom (in about two weeks?). Still quite a few fresh viceroys, black swallowtails and sulphurs and the monarchs are still NOT feeding on the goldenrod. I also saw several pairs of mating monarchs and I hope to pick up a few milkweed caterpillars in mid September.
Title:
Post by: JW Mills on September 01, 2010, 06:44:30 PM: About a dozen Monarchs spotted at James Gardens Tuesday afternoon.
Title:
Post by: JW Mills on September 03, 2010, 12:02:10 PM: At Col. Sam Smith on Thursday afternoon:
Roughly twenty Cabbage Whites, ten Monarchs and two Black Swallowtails.
Title: Re: monarchs in space
Post by: GStuart on September 04, 2010, 11:05:18 PM: Quote from: "Howieh"
Found this while looking for 2010 Point Pelee fall monarch migration reports (if anyone knows how to get them please tell me!)

Quote from: "Sarah Rupert (from Point Pelee)"
We will be
Tweeting Monarch numbers throughout September, starting on the evening of
the 7th. (www.twitter.com/PointPeleeNP (http://www.twitter.com/PointPeleeNP), or check out our web page -
www.parkscanada.gc.ca/pelee (http://www.parkscanada.gc.ca/pelee))

Hope that helps.
Title: pelee monarch reports
Post by: Howieh on September 05, 2010, 03:54:02 PM: I also got this from the butterfly site but thanks anyway. I'd really like to get there while the 'other' swallowtails (giant and spicebush) are still around but it probably won't work out.
Title:
Post by: ravynne40 on September 05, 2010, 05:50:01 PM: There were tons of monarchs today at Sam Smith Park and lots of dragonflies too!
Title: Monarchs at Presqu'ile
Post by: Howieh on September 09, 2010, 08:12:46 PM: Check this out, they should be headed this way in droves!

http://groups.google.ca/group/onbutterf ... 07e?hl=en# (http://groups.google.ca/group/onbutterflies/browse_thread/thread/4fb158ca9167407e?hl=en#)
Title:
Post by: ravynne40 on September 09, 2010, 09:07:27 PM: There were hundreds of monarchs in Marie Curtis Park on Wednesday afternoon, there also was a gentleman who was tagging them, he showed me how they tagged them and also showed me how to tell the difference between male and females
It was very cool and so where the monarchs ..they were everywhere, I loved it~

Irene
Title:
Post by: Bluffs Birder on September 09, 2010, 09:56:05 PM: It's been crazy steady with Monarch butterflies everywhere the last few days at the Rosetta McClain Gardens Hawk Watch, probably close to 100 passing by every hour!!! A good friend informed me that there were hundreds staging in the trees at Ashbridge's Bay just beyond the Yacht Club this morning. Would've loved to have gone down to see them if it wasn't such an incredible day for hawks.

Walter
Title:
Post by: JW Mills on September 10, 2010, 07:34:56 PM: About 100+ Monarchs at Humber Bay East and roughly half that at Sam Smith today (Sept 10).