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Sunday, August 30, 2015

HERRING GULL, TOMMY THOMPSON PARK, LESLIE ST. SPIT, TORONTO, ON

      This can be identified as an adult Herring Gull by the large yellow bill with a red spot on the lower mandible and pinkish legs.  It is in nonbreeding plumage: it does not have the orange-yellow orbital ring of the breeding gull.


PIED-BILL GREBE, TOMMY THOMPSON PARK, LESLIE ST. SPIT, TORONTO, ON

   This Pied-bill Grebe is still in breeding plumage; it has a black ring around a pale bill.  The Pied-bill Grebe also has a bill different from other grebes: it is thick and somewhat similar to a chicken's bill.


SONG SPARROW, TOMMY THOMPSON PARK, LESLIE ST. SPIT, TORONTO, ON


MONARCH BUTTERFLY IN CATERPILLAR STAGE, TOMMY THOMPSON PARK, LESLIE ST. SPIT, TORONTO, ON

   These Monarch caterpillars are on the leaves of  Milkweed plants.   Monarchs cannot survive without Milkweed; their caterpillars only eat Milkweed.  Thus, the Monarchs need to lay their eggs on Milkweed.  Monarchs are threatened due to the decline in Milkweed.  So if you have a garden, plant some Milkweed.



TAGGED TRUMPETER SWAN, TOMMY THOMPSON PARK, LESLIE ST. SPIT, TORONTO, ON

   Will report this tagged Trumpeter Swan to the USGS Bird Banding Laboratory.



SWARM OF MIDGES, TOMMY THOMPSON PARK, LESLIE ST. SPIT, TORONTO, ON

   Midges, is the common name for several species of small flies.  They do not bite.  Flying insect eating birds, such as swallows, love them.



SPIDER IN WEB WITH CATCH, TOMMY THOMPSON PARK, LESLIE ST. SPIT, TORONTO, ON