Milkweed is paying off
Outdoor Ontario

Milkweed is paying off

Shortsighted

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 The backyard is full of milkweed and finally I’ve seen a couple of Monarch butterflies. Even a Tiger swallowtail showed up.



Ally

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Somehow all my Eastern Tiger Swallow sightings this year were high up in trees.


Dr. John

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We have had a monarch laying eggs on our milkweed and have now two little caterpillars and several more eggs that we are keeping watch on.


We have seen swallowtails flying past our second story window, but none lower down.


Shortsighted

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I would think that your second story cell has a better view than mine. I've been engaged in some mental math counting the number of bricks visible between the bars of my cell presented by the opposing wall some ten feet away as viewed from an increasing distance from the window. An exercise in perspective and parallax. I scan the milkweed during yard time. I saw a White Admiral today.


Ally

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Found a Mourning Cloak on a milkweek at Milne Dam today. Where are all the fun birds like Ospreys?


Shortsighted

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 As you know, the osprey is a fish finder. Actually, that would be a good product name for a miniature sonar fish-finder device. Hardly anyone had one of those things back in the day when I used to go fishing. Now everyone has one, even by those that hardly ever go fishing. Nuff said. It is possible to see an osprey at any marsh but such sightings are usually made with binoculars, or a spotting scope. There are a few ponds that are small enough to feature an osprey at somewhat closer encounters. Oak Bank pond is one and another is on the York/Durham boundary road, both near Finch and also way up north of Hwy #7. I don’t know the name of the pond but I do recall seeing an osprey there a couple of years ago while driving to Newmarket for a medical appointment that was cancelled upon my early morning arrival because their computer system crashed and patient records could not be accessed. Had they used paper records, like I did, there would be no computer related clinic paralysis and no chance of hacking related issues. But I digress once again. I’ve also seen an osprey fly-by at Rouge Beach Park. There have also been reported sightings at Cranberry marsh. That osprey had roundelles, so it was one of ours. It was flying low and may have been short on fuel.


Dinusaur

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Beautiful photo of the Swallowtail. It is wonderful to have Milkweed - I love their fragrance. Years ago I used to have a group of them in my front yard and I enjoyed them very much. Then in order to keep peace at home I had to get rid of them from the front and planted them at the backyard, but not much success due to shadows from two big cherry trees.


Shortsighted

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The pond on the west side of the York/Durham town line road is located just south of Aurora Rd. and it is called Island Lake. That's where I saw a osprey while passing by. I stopped to take a longer look and took a shot very far away on the other side of the pond/lake. There is an access road on the south side of the lake - off York/Durham line where you could pull over and stake out the location. There is also an osprey perch closer to the road (eastern shoreline) that the bird used when I first spotted it. Unfortunately it didn't stay on that perch long enough before relocating beyond my 200mm's range.

« Last Edit: June 26, 2021, 03:23:44 PM by Shortsighted »


Ally

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The pond on the west side of the York/Durham town line road is located just south of Aurora Rd. and it is called Island Lake. That's where I saw a osprey while passing by. I stopped to take a longer look and took a shot very far away on the other side of the pond/lake. There is an access road on the south side of the lake - off York/Durham line where you could pull over and stake out the location. There is also an osprey perch closer to the road (eastern shoreline) that the bird used when I first spotted it. Unfortunately it didn't stay on that perch long enough before relocating beyond my 200mm's range.




I can't imagine what I may get with my 200mm. Maybe the trees. I used to be able to see an osprey at Milne Dam. Last year, I also saw one at Orangeville. Maybe they are avoiding me this year.
« Last Edit: June 26, 2021, 06:50:45 PM by Ally »


Shortsighted

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You also have a 200mm lens? Yes, for purposes of bird photography a 200mm is very limiting. I may get a 1.4x TC at some point but without "IS" it might not help. I'd like to get the Canon 300mm f4 L, IS, USM and a 1.4x TC Mk 3, but now is is not the time for that since I can't actually go out in the field.


Ally

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You also have a 200mm lens? Yes, for purposes of bird photography a 200mm is very limiting. I may get a 1.4x TC at some point but without "IS" it might not help. I'd like to get the Canon 300mm f4 L, IS, USM and a 1.4x TC Mk 3, but now is is not the time for that since I can't actually go out in the field.



Sorry, meant the kit lens. Never got my terms right.