Outdoor Ontario

Wildlife Reports => Southern Ontario Wildlife => Topic started by: Bird Brain on June 02, 2011, 08:42:07 PM

Title: Monarch - Oakville
Post by: Bird Brain on June 02, 2011, 08:42:07 PM

Hi everyone.  Sighted my first Monarch of the year today at 4:50pm.
East side of 403, just North of QEW and Ford company.  Close to
whatever all the purple flowers are growing wild on the grassy hills.  

 :D

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Post by: TammyLee on June 02, 2011, 09:21:56 PM

Ah, that's just great, Jo-Anne. I am a little biased about loving Monarch sitings. They're just magical.

I wonder if the purple flowers are wild blue phlox? It's in bloom right now one - I've been seeing it on the sides of our dirt road (too many mosquitoes in the woods!).

Tammy

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Post by: Howieh on June 02, 2011, 09:24:56 PM

Hi Jo-Anne and Tammy,

Those purple flowers (also come in pink and white) are probably dames rocket(s) and most butterflies love them. I went to German Mills park late this afternoon looking for tiger swallowtails and, sure enough, I found a beauty in a patch of D R's that I knew would be in full sun but protected from the wind. Also lots of silvery blues but still no monarchs. I actually have four milkweed plants growing in the middle of my front lawn that I am carefully cutting around; I hope to find monarch eggs on them before too long.

Btw, are the baby blackbirds fledged or are you still looking over your shoulder for ma and pa! :)

Title: Re: Monarch - Oakville
Post by: Halton Hills on June 02, 2011, 09:43:06 PM

Quote from: "Bird Brain"

Hi everyone.  Sighted my first Monarch of the year today

What is the butterfly that looks exactly like a Monarch except it's yellow with black......had one on my lilac tree today.


.

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Post by: TammyLee on June 02, 2011, 10:28:38 PM

Oh, right Howiah, I saw a small purple patch of Dame's Rocket outside today! I didn't know that butterflies love them; that's great. It's funny, as I passed by them, the word Hesperis came to mind - now, I wonder if that's their true botanical name & I've unconsciously retained it...sure enough, Hesperis matronalis. Funny things, our brains, eh?! (smile)

Halton Hills, I wonder if you might have seen a Swallowtail butterfly, perhaps a Black, Tiger, or Giant, or maybe a Great Spangled Fritillary? I know Tiger Swallowtails sure love our lilacs.

Tammy

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Post by: Halton Hills on June 03, 2011, 05:33:52 AM

Quote from: "TammyLee"

Halton Hills, I wonder if you might have seen a Swallowtail butterfly, perhaps a Black, Tiger, or Giant, or maybe a Great Spangled Fritillary? I know Tiger Swallowtails sure love our lilacs.

Tammy

Of course I could be wrong......but I don't think it was a Swallowtail or Fritillary.

It had a Monarch look and pattern......but the orange was replaced with yellow.

I was scrambling to get my camera......by then it flew away......I should have grabbed my binoculars instead..... :roll:


.

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Post by: Bird Brain on June 03, 2011, 05:13:36 PM

H.H. ... take a look through Walter's photos!  Does it look like any of these butterflies?  :)

http://outdoorontario.net/birds/phpBB/v ... 15&start=0 (http://outdoorontario.net/birds/phpBB/viewtopic.php?t=5015&start=0)

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Post by: Bird Brain on June 03, 2011, 05:16:15 PM

Quote from: "Howieh"

Btw, are the baby blackbirds fledged or are you still looking over your shoulder for ma and pa! :)

Finally sighted a baby RWBB today for the first time this year along with baby Robins, baby Starlings and 3 goslings.  More about these later!  

Adult male RWBB are totally nuts lately - flying in my face and attacking from the rear, trying to peck my head!   :shock:   Even the female RWBB's have been acting rather "ballsy" lately!  :lol:

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Post by: Bird Brain on June 03, 2011, 08:52:01 PM

Quote from: "TammyLee"

I am a little biased about loving Monarch sitings. They're just magical.

They're truly beautiful.  :D  When I was a kid, there were dozens flying around at local parks.

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Post by: TammyLee on June 03, 2011, 09:49:05 PM

Wow, those were the days, eh? Two years ago, I didn't see a one and then last year, there were a number of them. I pray we'll always have this incredible species. They need it.

Tammy