Black Swallowtail - RBG, Hamilton

[Bird Brain]

Hi everyone.  Just found out from my mom that she sighted a Black Swallowtail butterfly yesterday at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton.  She also sighted lots of Baltimore Orioles and baby Groundhogs!!!    

[TammyLee]

That's great, Jo-Anne!! We usually have several Tiger Swallowtails that visit our lilacs each year in Eastern Ontario, but I don't think I've seen one Black! It's amazing to see Orioles as they are so high in the tree canopy usually. Love that flash of orange! And their song, too. We have a cottage on the edge of the woods & I am unceasingly amazed at how excited I get over nature sightings. A few years ago, I was walking my bichon, Shiloh & we came upon a young groundhog nibbling some grass at the end of the driveway (to a dirt road). The groundhog actually ran & climbed a tree!!  :shock:  I have a picture, but it's on our other computer in Toronto.

Tammy

[Bird Brain]

That's great, Jo-Anne!! We usually have several Tiger Swallowtails that visit our lilacs each year in Eastern Ontario, but I don't think I've seen one Black! It's amazing to see Orioles as they are so high in the tree canopy usually. Love that flash of orange! And their song, too. We have a cottage on the edge of the woods & I am unceasingly amazed at how excited I get over nature sightings. A few years ago, I was walking my bichon, Shiloh & we came upon a young groundhog nibbling some grass at the end of the driveway (to a dirt road). The groundhog actually ran & climbed a tree!!  :shock:  I have a picture, but it's on our other computer in Toronto.

Tammy

Hi Tammy.  Welcome to the forum!  

I haven't seen any Tiger Swallowtails yet this year - meanwhile, it was my last year's first sighting early in May!  So far this year, Cabbage White and Mourning Cloak.  Hopefully will be seeing some Monarch soon.  Can't remember the last time I sighted a Black Swallowtail or Red Admiral - will have to pull out some old nature binders/notes.  

Lilacs are so pretty and smell so great!  

The male Baltimore Oriole here at Lake Aquitaine (Mississauga) has been singing up a storm and is high up in the tree.  Something about the fact he's above an exercise machine makes me laugh!   Musical accompaniment to people working out?  :lol:

Awww re: groundhog ... they are so cute!  

Please give Shiloh a cuddle.  

[TammyLee]

Thanks for the welcome, Jo-Anne! Joined last year, but just came up again on a search & seems like to right time to participate.

Lilacs are great. If you get the right ones (probably more old-fashioned cultivars), I find they are incredible insect magnets, including many species of butterflies & skippers. It's amazing to watch them right there, almost oblivious! I had no idea how utilized they were. Unfortunately, this year I've missed most of them - had to go home from the cottage just as they were coming into bloom & back when dying off. Our cottage is about a half an hour north of Napanee & we live in TO part of the time.

I've only seen one Tiger Swallowtail yesterday on the dirt road. So far, I've seen a Question-mark, Comma, duskywings, Mourning Cloak, a few more and a Viceroy which I saw today. We have Red Admirals once in awhile - if I see one this year, I'll post it. There also seems to be an immense number of dragonflies this year!

Oh, love the B. Oriole over the exercise machine. Yep, music is supposed to help!  :lol:  

Thanks for your cuddle for Shiloh! I'll do that!

Tammy

[Bird Brain]

There also seems to be an immense number of dragonflies this year!

Yes, I know exactly what you mean!  Today, sighted at least 60 or more dragonflies at Maplewood Park but no idea what type they are.  They were zipping around so fast, all I could really see was medium-large size, brown colour, clear wings - couldn't focus on any one of them with binoculars.  

Yep, music is supposed to help!  :lol:  

It helps my "exercise" routine - lifting Chocolate to mouth and eating.  :lol:  Thank Goodness for nature walks.  

[TammyLee]

Amen to that about chocolate & nature walks, Jo-Anne! I'm also so grateful I have a dog. I'm sure it'll add years to my life.

By the way, I've seen two more Tiger Swallowtails since yesterday - or maybe the same one three times! (I'd put a smiley face here, but is it just me, or does it look slightly menacing? )

Tammy

[Bird Brain]

Amen to that about chocolate & nature walks, Jo-Anne!

I wouldn't survive PMS without major Chocolate!  :lol:

I'm also so grateful I have a dog. I'm sure it'll add years to my life.

Nice.  Definitely gets you out for daily walks.  

By the way, I've seen two more Tiger Swallowtails since yesterday - or maybe the same one three times!

Cool.    Sighted my first Monarch of the year earlier this evening on way home from Niagara Falls!  

(I'd put a smiley face here, but is it just me, or does it look slightly menacing? )

Tammy

Ha Ha!  :lol:  Yeah, I've noticed the smiley face looks a bit warped or constipated.  (hee hee)