Walkabout Butterflies

[Anonymous]

Here's a couple from today's trek, enjoy.

[Howieh]

Hi Attila,

Where did you find the black swallowtail? I was in Edward Gardens and German Mills Park today looking for butterflies and all I saw in both places was a single monarch and lots of cabbage whites!! Gotta get to the lakeshore, either the spit or Rosetta McClean Gardens, I guess!?

[Anonymous]

Hey there Howieh!

I found the black swallowtail (along with tiger swallowtails) in Rotary Park which is located in southern Ajax down by Lake Ontario.  Just check out the regenerating area and you'll see them there in quite decent numbers!

Hope it helps!

[Howieh]

and probably a few other species as well? Thanks, I may check it out on Saturday.

[Anonymous]

Absolutely Howieh, just couldn't get close enough to photograph them.  :lol:

If you decide to go for a walk westward on the path you go through a little big of forest with scattered grasslands prevalent which contain other species that are orange in colour.  Couldn't id them because I'm not that great with butterflies.

Cheers, and have a great time!

[Howieh]

If they're not monarchs they are probably viceroys or painted ladies. In any case it looks like there is much more butterfly action near the lake shore. If I can't get out to Ajax (my lady love will have a say in this matter) I'll try to visit the spit this weekend. Btw, this trek you referred to in another thread (Frenchmans Bay to Rotary Park), how do you do it and how many spots do you cover from start to finish?

[Anonymous]

Hey there Howieh,

Nope on the viceroys and painted ladies - I think they were frtillaries?  Unsure of the spelling, forgive me.  

As for the trek - head to Frenchmans Bay (bottom of Liverpool Rd. in Pickering) and hop on the boardwalk.  That is part of the lakeshore path, which winds all the way to Oshawa, Whitby, and beyond.  It becomes a concrete path once you reach the wind turbine.  As for how many spots do I cover, the whole trail is nothing but a spot.  Literally, you come to a new area with every turn that you make.

If I remember correctly, there is something referred to as a "Winged Wonders" area where they have a placard describing different butterflies found in the area directly opposite from the power plant.

Hope all this info helps??

[Howieh]

Ok, I think I was confusing Ashbridges Bay with Frenchman's Bay so now it makes more sense! Wow, fritillaries would be really great 'cause there sure aren't many of them in these parts!

Just checked out your neat green heron pix on the other thread; how close can you get to these guys?

Btw, my wife loves Chinese food and friends have told us how great the Ajax Imperial Buffet is so getting her to visit Rotary Park should not be a problem...we might even have to return to the park AFTER eating to walk it off!

[Anonymous]

No worries Howieh - I like Ajax, it's a nice little town with a great waterfront.

I was hiding out in some tall grass when the heron came to me from the far side of the log.  Stealth is key with greens, and wearing pseudo camo clothing helps as well.  I was about 20ft away when I shot both him and the great blue in the same thread.

Enjoy the walk!

[Howieh]

Because of the heat we decided to delay our trip to Ajax until next week but I was able to leave my wife shopping in air conditioned comfort (new stores at Leslie and Lakeshore come in very handy!) and spend about an hour on the spit. The shuttle was just leaving so I rode to the first gate and walked back; very hot but good butterfly shooting (very few birds), monarch numbers are increasing, will try to pick up some milkweed caterpillars starting next week.

[Moira]

Very nice - these are hard to get - I've been trying!