Long-eared Owl at Tommy Thompson Park

photograph of a long-eared owl at Tommy Thompson Park in Toronto, Ontario.

long-eared owl, tommy thompson park, toronto 1

Owing to family demands this winter, Bob and I have had no opportunity to do birdwatching, much less skiing or hiking.  One past Sunday was our first day of liberty, and we seized the moment by going to one of our favorite spots for birdwatching…   Tommy Thompson Park    in Toronto.  We were not disappointed and came up with a lifer, a gorgeous Long-Eared Owl. Read more

Viceroy Butterfly At Tommy Thompson Park

viceroy butterfly, tommy thompson park, toronto, ontario

Over the previous few weeks, Bob and I have made countless trips to Tommy Thompson Park, in Toronto, Ontario, in search of Monarch Butterflies, caterpillars and their elusive cocoons.  On one visit, another Monarch Butterfly landed on a bush right in front of me, or so I thought until I got a closer look at its wings.  The brightly-coloured orange butterfly turned out to be a Viceroy butterfly (Limenitus archippus). Read more

Osprey At Tommy Thompson Park In Toronto

Osprey At Tommy Thompson Park In Toronto

osprey at tommy thompson park - toronto - ontario 1

Over the summer, Bob and I made numerous trips to Tommy Thompson Park.  It all started when we went to look for Monarch Butterfly larvae.  On one subsequent trip to the Park, we ventured further out on the Spit than usual and were quite pleased to find an Osprey (Pandion haliaetus) perched on a tree stump in the middle of the first large pond. Read more

Monarch Butterfly Chrysalis At Tommy Thompson Park

monarch butterfly chrysalis at tommy thompson park - ontario 7

One summer, Bob and I made for Tommy Thompson Park in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.  We were certain, given the large number of Monarch Butterfly larvae that we had seen before, that we would be able to find a chrysalis on one of the many Milkweed plants.  Our memory served us well as to the locations of a good share of the well-advanced larvae, but it took us two days to actually locate a Monarch’s chrysalis amid the fields of stately Milkweed plants.  Our persistence had paid off! Read more

Black-Crowned Night Herons At Toronto’s Tommy Thompson Park

black crowned night heron - closeup two in nest - toronto - ontario - may 2013

Black-crowned Night Heron in its nest at Tommy Thompson Park, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

For my Mother’s Day outing one spring, our family decided to go for a hike at Tommy Thompson Park here in Toronto.  It is reputed as a birdwatchers’ paradise, and I would have to agree with whomever made that proclamation.  One of the most thrilling sightings we made that day was a nesting colony of Black-crowned Night Herons.  We saw at least 12 pairs of these magnificent birds, some on their nests, others perched in the trees. Read more

Common Terns At Toronto’s Tommy Thompson Park

Common Terns At Toronto’s Tommy Thompson Park

Common Tern, tommy thompson park, toronto

For a Mother’s Day outing one spring, my family suggested a visit to Tommy Thompson Park in Toronto.  Well known for fabulous birdwatching opportunities, it sounded like the perfect place to go for my special day.  Little did I know just how much success we would have at spotting birds.  A large number of Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) caught our eye in a bay on the west side of the Leslie Street Spit. Read more

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