In summer, birds are much more difficult to find. While out for a walk in the Black Oak Savanna field at High Park, I had lots of fun photographing butterflies instead.

Northern Cloudywing

The Northern Cloudywing is the most common and broadly distributed Thorybes skipper in North America.

In the north, they fly between May and July.

Little Wood Satyr

Despite its name, the Little Wood Satyr is larger than most other small satyrs.

It is highly adaptable to moderate environmental change, requiring only that some woods, brush, grass and moisture remain to provide shelter and food.

European Skipper

It is not just plants such as Dandelions or birds such as Starlings which have arrived in North America from elsewhere. The European Skipper was introduced in London, Ontario in 1910.

The population of European Skippers fluctuates markedly. There were dozens in High Park on this day. They fly from June to August.

I also found this insect busily laying eggs.

Syrphid Fly

Thank-you to Ken Sproule for his assistance in butterfly and insect identification!

Some botany:

Also seen:

NATURE POETRY

Now, from the thick grass, the fireflies begin to rise:
up, then down, then up again:
lit on the ascending flight,
drifting simultaneously to the same height,
exactly like the bubbles in champagne.          – Elizabeth Bishop (1911–79)

Miles Hearn