| A beautiful day for a walk in the park. |
Monday August 04, 2014. Swan Lake Village area, Markham, Ontario |
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| As the summer progresses the Cygnets continue to grow at a fast rate along with the young of other bird species. Berries have been ripening in the park and these are attracting some of the more beautiful birds. Beautiful flowers are growing in the village and Monarch butterflies can be seen along the paths around the lake. |
| Swan Lake Park - July 30th, 2014 |
| Mute Swan |
| Romeo and Juliet continue to closely guard the Cygnets in the feeder. The Cygnets tail feathers and wing feathers (brown patches) are growing and soon feathers will be replacing the down that has covered them since birth. |
| Toronto Wildlife Centre rescue team |
| Toronto Wildlife Centre rescue team and the Canada Goose. This team came to rescue a Canada Goose that had been reported tangled in fishing line. Another photographer told me he had seen it a couple of times over the previous 5 days. The fishing line appeared to be so tightly tangled that the goose couldn't walk. Toronto Wildlife Centre is a registered charity. http://torontowildlifecentre.com |
| Double-crested Cormorant |
| This juvenile Cormorant has been fishing on the lake by the north island for the last few days. |
| Song Sparrow |
| This sparrow was perched on one of the fence posts along the path around the lake. |
| Swan Lake Park - July 31st, 2014 |
| Monarch Butterfly |
| While walking along the path near the Swan feeding station I saw a few Monarch Butterflies. The population of Monarch butterflies dropped over 80% last year partly due to the weather and partly due to the decline in Milkweed plants. "The main threat to monarchs is the eradication of milkweed plants throughout the monarch's migratory path, especially the U.S. Midwest. Milkweed is the host plant for monarchs (mothers lay their eggs on the underside of milkweed leaves) and the monarch caterpillar's main source of food is milkweed." [David Suzuki] |
| Cedar Waxwing |
| Cedar Waxwing with a very young juvenile. This beautiful bird is a rare pleasure to see in the park. They currently are much easier to see as they hunt for berries for themselves and their young. There are berries growing on trees/bushes along the north side of the lake near the path. |
| Quite startling when the young Cedar Waxwing opens it's mouth. The mother will insert the berries into the young one's mouth. |
| Mallard Duck |
| On the north side of the lake the mallards have taken over the grounded tree stump as their private sunbathing spot. |
| Swan Lake Village - July 31, 2014 |
| Flower |
| This beautiful blossom is one of many growing in Doug A's garden. Swan Lake Village has so many beautiful gardens that it is a real pleasure to walk it's many streets. |
| Swan Lake Park - July 31, 2014 |
| Mute Swan |
| Romeo, Juliet and their two cygnets swimming quickly from the north island towards the feeding station after I called them for dinner with Art's patent Swan call. RrrooommMeeeeooooo |
| Caspian Tern |
| One or two Caspian Tern's are fishing on our lake. This one flying high above the lake has spotted something below the surface and hovers for a minute while trying to determine if it is a fish. It is a lot of fun to watch these Tern's flying, diving down into the water to catch fish. At a distance they look like Seagulls until you see their bright orange beak and black cap. |
| Swan Lake Village - Aug 4th, 2014 |
| Black-capped Chickadee |
| In the light and shade of the setting sun this Chickadee landed on my birdfeeder. It was so hungry that it ignored the presence of my wife and myself on the deck. This bird is an omnivore eating insects and seeds. The beak allows it to drill into wood in the same way as woodpeckers do and also into the large sunflower seeds in the feeder. Note that the sunset altered the color of the light and shade on it's feathers. Normally the cap looks black and the back and tail are grey. |