Oakbank Pond - Thornhill - Turtle City!!

[oniedz]

You can see three kinds of turtles all at once right now if you visit Oakbank Pond in Thornhill.  No doubt attracted by food people throw in, they congregate right in front of the boardwalk - many Painted Turtles, 2 Snapping Turtles including one really large monster, and one solitary Northern Map Turtle.

[JW Mills]

I was there this morning (June 21) and saw;
3 Snapping Turtles
3 Red Eared Sliders
24 Midland Painted Turtles

[mkybear]

Hi...I live near Oakbank & visit often. There are at least a dozen snappers there & that pond is connected to a golf coarse by a underwater stream....This year & last year has seen alot less activity in the way of wildlife.
Sorry I don't get the chance to post much these days while looking after parents.

Cheers.

[Howieh]

I visit Oakbank pond frequently and I've never seen a snapping turtle but every time I stop the family of ducklings is smaller. I wonder if the snappers are responsible for the lost siblings!?

Incidentally, I was looking at some old Oakbank images (Canon G3) and I found one with fourteen turtles on one log just off shore! This was back in the days when you could shoot close to shore over the reeds and the bullrushes. Still a very nice spot though I wish the visiting families wouldn't keep dumping bread, etc. into the pond.

[egret]

Hi

tks for the tip

I really like that pond
is that the one across from the church?

will go

Egret

[JW Mills]

I stopped by today (July19) looking for the Map Turtle as I did not see it the last time.
This time I found it swimming off the boardwalk along with about 10 Painted Turtles.
Another 5 Painteds were basking near the boardwalk.
 
Yes Egret, the pond is across the street from a church.

[BoboBird]

I go there regularly.

The "feeders" are absolutely obnoxious despite the huge signs tell them not to feed the birds.

This easy food has made the geese somewhat aggressive coming right up hoping for food. And they have pushed the nursing ducks to the side into that bit of brackish water around the "bridge".

Someone said there is a kingfisher there but have had no luck seeing him.

But the RWBBs, GBH, turtles, dragons and damsels, and that beautiful white duck make it all very worthwhile.

If you do not mind, I would like to share some of the pics that were taken at that location.

[JW Mills]

Nice pics Bobo!

[BoboBird]

Thanks zed, still learning...