{"id":4136,"date":"2015-10-29T09:08:09","date_gmt":"2015-10-29T13:08:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/?p=4136"},"modified":"2015-10-29T09:08:09","modified_gmt":"2015-10-29T13:08:09","slug":"ramble-ruthven-late-october-grand-river","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/naturalcrooks.com\/rambles\/ramble-ruthven-late-october-grand-river\/","title":{"rendered":"A Ramble Around the Ruthven Historic Property on a Lovely Late October Afternoon"},"content":{"rendered":"

I keep an eye on notes posted on the Hamilton Bird Study group\u2019s Google group<\/strong><\/a>. Often they tip me off to which types of birds have been seen recently during migration or suggest new places to visit and explore. One that has been mentioned a few times this fall is a bird banding station at Ruthven Park<\/strong><\/a> National Historic Site on the Grand River in southern Ontario.\u00a0 In late October, I finally had a chance to venture down #6 and visit. It turned out to be a beautiful sunny afternoon and in the sheltered dip along a small creek on the property, the air warmed to a gorgeous 20C or so, bringing out butterflies and dragonflies as well as a collection of migrating and resident birds to admire.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nWhite-throated Sparrow<\/em><\/p>\n

What Migrating Birds Were Passing through the Ruthven River Property in Late October?<\/h2>\n

The banding station is open to tag migrants moving along the Grand River during spring and fall migration. On my ramble around the grounds, I saw several familiar favourites but also a few birds which are less common in my own neighbourhood.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nYellow-rumped Warbler<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nWhite-throated Sparrow<\/em>
\n\"Photo<\/a>
\n Rusty Blackbird<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\n Ruby-crowned Kinglet<\/em> (Hey, Mom, note the ruby crown this time!)<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nFox Sparrow<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nGolden-crowned Kinglet looking up at the twigs and branches for a tasty gnat.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nEastern Bluebird<\/em><\/p>\n

What Resident Birds Brightened up the Grounds at Ruthven?<\/h2>\n

I also got a good look at a variety of the year-round residents including Downy, Hairy and Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Black-capped Chickadees and American Goldfinches. One very white fronted bird caught my attention as it landed briefly in a shrub near the stream: It was my first good look at a Tufted Titmouse! (Note, I did say good *look* not good photo!)<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\n American Goldfinch losing all its lovely colours<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\n\"Photo<\/a>
\n Tufted Titmouse!<\/em><\/p>\n

Butterflies in Ontario in October?!<\/h2>\n

I visited Ruthven on October 22 and frankly I didn\u2019t expect to see any butterflies or moths. The weather till that day had been quite cold and wet. So I was quite pleased that as the afternoon warmed, out came some late butterflies! I saw several Sulphurs, some Cabbage Whites, a Mourning Cloak and a bright Comma or Question Mark. Pretty good for a week from November!<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nSulphur Butterfly<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\n Comma or Question Mark<\/em><\/p>\n

There were also some large Darner dragonflies, possibly Green Darners on migration, and quite a few red Meadowhawks which likely were Autumn Meadowhawks.<\/p>\n

Reptiles Still Not Asleep In Their Hibernaculum at Ruthven<\/h2>\n

I saw several reptiles, including at least 2 Garter Snakes (I saw 5 but some may have been the same Snavely several times.) and 1 DeKay\u2019s Brown Snake. There is a man-made hibernaculum on the grounds but these guys were all sun-bathing along the sun-warmed path, not anywhere near the sleepover site.<\/p>\n

\"Photo<\/a>
\nClick to see a larger image of this Garter Snake if you are a fan.<\/p>\n

Related Reading<\/strong><\/p>\n