St Thomas Field Naturalist Club

07/04/2026

St. Thomas Field Naturalist Club – Nature Walk at Sifton Bog

Join us for a mid-morning nature walk at Sifton Bog in London! All are welcome.

When: Wednesday, July 8th at 10:30 a.m.
Meeting Location: Sifton Bog parking lot. 1210 Oxford Street West London, entrance is off of Oxford Street.

We'll walk the boardwalk to the observation platform in search of the beautiful Bog Copper Butterfly, one of Ontario's most habitat-specialized butterflies and a species that can be seen here at Sifton Bog.

Along the way, we'll observe several fascinating bog plants, including the Northern Purple Pitcher Plant, Round-leaved Sundew, and Horned Bladderwort—three carnivorous plants found in this unique habitat. We will also look for the beautiful Rose Pogonia and Tuberous Grasspink, two native orchids of eastern North America that bloom in the bog.

On my most recent visit, I also observed several Dragonflies, which should still be actively flying, as well as a few Amber-winged Spreadwings. We'll keep an eye out for these species, along with turtles, frogs, and other wildlife around the pond.

Please note:

■ There are no washroom facilities on site.
■ The trail is a boardwalk and follows the forest edge, providing some shade.
■ Mosquitoes can be present, so bug spray is recommended.
■ Please bring water and binoculars, and come enjoy a relaxing morning exploring one of Ontario's most unique natural areas.

07/04/2026

Join Us for Our Annual Butterfly Count! 🦋

Have you ever wondered how something as simple as counting butterflies can make a difference? It truly does!

Our Annual Butterfly Count is an important citizen science project that helps track butterfly population trends, monitor the health of our local habitats, and identify changes in our environment. The information collected contributes to conservation efforts and helps protect these incredible pollinators for future generations.

Whether you're an experienced butterfly enthusiast or simply enjoy spending time outdoors, everyone is welcome to participate! It's a fun way to explore nature, learn about local butterfly species, and contribute to meaningful scientific research.

Come spend a summer day enjoying nature while making a real difference—one butterfly at a time! 🦋🌼

Event Details

Date: Saturday, July 11, 2026
Rain Date: Sunday, July 12, 2026

Meeting Time: 9:15 a.m.

Meeting Location: Woodlot Shelter Pavilion, Pinafore Park - 95 Elm Street, St.Thomas(along the road heading toward the back of the park), St. Thomas.

To help coordinate coverage throughout Elgin County, please email Trish at [email protected] if you plan to participate.

When you RSVP, please let us know:

● Whether you will be participating for the full day or half day.
● Whether you are experienced with butterfly counts or new to butterflying. New participants are warmly welcomed—we'll pair you with an experienced group.
● Whether you plan to join us for dinner afterward at Swiss Chalet.

Ann and Trish will organize groups to ensure all count areas are covered.

🦋 End of Day

At 5:00 p.m., everyone will meet back at Pinafore Park at the concrete walkway leading to Lake Margaret. Ann will collect the completed butterfly count checklists.

🎒 What to Bring
● Plenty of water (it's worth saying twice— WATER, WATER, WATER! 💧)
● Lunch to enjoy along your route
● Bug spray
● Hat
● Butterfly net (if you have one)
● Comfortable walking shoes and weather-appropriate clothing

🍽️ Optional Dinner

After handing in our completed checklists, anyone interested is welcome to join us for dinner at Swiss Chalet.

Thank You!

A heartfelt thank you to all of our volunteers—past and present—who have contributed to our Annual Butterfly Counts over the years.

These counts provide an invaluable snapshot of the health of both butterfly populations and the habitats they depend on. Year after year, the data helps scientists determine whether species are increasing, declining, or remaining stable. It also allows our club to compare local trends over time, giving us a better understanding of how butterflies are faring right here in our community.

We hope you'll join us for another exciting day of butterflies, learning, and conservation. Every butterfly counted makes a difference! 🦋

Thank you kindly

06/18/2026

06/13/2026

Discover the Hidden World of Moths at Hawk Cliff Woods! 🦋 Hawk Cliff Woods North Meadow
43277 Dexter Line Union, ON N0L 2L0

Most people do not realize that Southwestern Ontario is home to thousands of moth species, many of them every bit as beautiful and fascinating as butterflies. Join us for a unique opportunity to experience these incredible nighttime pollinators up close!

🌙 Night Mothing Event

Friday, June 19
8:30 PM – Midnight
Using a moth sheet and specialized lighting, we'll attract an amazing variety of moths from the surrounding habitat. Watch as spectacular species arrive throughout the evening and learn about their diversity, behavior, and ecological importance.

☀️ Morning Moth Discovery Event

Saturday, June 20
Join us in the North Meadow of Hawk Cliff Woods to see what our moth buckets have attracted overnight. Get an up-close look at an array of beautiful moth species, learn how to identify them, discover their fascinating life histories, and explore the vital role they play in our ecosystems. There will be plenty of opportunities to observe and photograph these remarkable insects.

Visit the Thames Talbot Land Trust website, registration is under events. Note: if you would like to attend both the night and daytime event, you must register for each separately.

Events Calendar - Thames Talbot Land Trust https://share.google/FXN0lS9Cs3Q2kjXq7

Led by renowned moth expert, Ecological Restoration Practitioner, and Climate Hero Mary Gartshore, these events are presented in partnership with the St. Thomas Field Naturalist Club and the Thames Talbot Land Trust.

Whether you're a seasoned naturalist, photographer, birder, or simply curious about local wildlife, this is a wonderful chance to explore a side of nature that most people never see.

✨ All ages and experience levels are welcome. Children under 12 are free.

📸 Observe, learn, and photograph some of Southwestern Ontario's most spectacular moth species.

⚠️ Pre-registration is required for each event. Space is limited. Bring a fold up chair, NO butterfly nets please, headlamps for the night event are beneficial. Parking onsite.

Come discover why moths are among the most important—and most overlooked—creatures in our local ecosystems! 🦋🌙🌿

05/27/2026

Morning Moth Discovery - a fun and unique follow-up to the previous evening’s Creatures of the Night - Moth Exploration. As we open the traps set the night before, we'll uncover a fascinating array of moth species collected throughout the night.

Saturday June 20th 9:30am to noon.
This is the second event to the Friday Night.
Registration is required. Limited Space.

Moth Exploration Morning - Thames Talbot Land Trust

Thames Talbot Land Trust (TTLT) is a registered charity dedicated to the protection of lands and waters with significant natural, recreational, scenic, historical or agricultural value.

05/27/2026

Join us for a fascinating Creatures of the Night – Moth Exploration event on Friday June 19th at the newly restored meadow at Hawks Cliff North in Elgin County! As the sun sets and darkness falls, we’ll uncover the mysterious and captivating world of moths. Registration is required, limited spaces.

Guided by moth expert, Ecological Restoration Practitioner, and Climate Hero Mary Gartshore, we’ll use specialized equipment to observe these incredible nighttime insects up close while learning about their unique behaviours, fascinating adaptations, and stunning diversity. From intricate wing patterns to beautifully unexpected colours, you’ll leave with a whole new appreciation for these often-overlooked creatures.

Perfect for nature lovers of all skill levels, this unforgettable evening promises discovery, wonder, and a closer connection to the hidden life of the night.

Moth Exploration Night - Thames Talbot Land Trust

Thames Talbot Land Trust (TTLT) is a registered charity dedicated to the protection of lands and waters with significant natural, recreational, scenic, historical or agricultural value.

05/23/2026

A Canadian chemist just figured out how to make humans invisible to ticks

05/12/2026

Reminder: Spring walk this Wednesday May 13th at Hawks Cliff at 6:30pm. We will be meeting at the south end of Hawks Cliff. All are welcome.

There should be a good selection of birds. Lots of new plants coming up, spring flowers, insects, some butterflies.

Hawks Cliff is at Fairview Rd and Dexter Line in Union, ON.

05/04/2026

Reminder: Evening Spring Walk
When: Wednesday May 6, 2026 at 6:30pm.
Where: Yarmouth Natural Heritage Area, Sparta
47502 Sparta Line Sparta ON
**meet in the parking lot of the EAST side of
the creek**
Time: 6:30pm

Spring migration is underway, making this a perfect time to spot a variety of birds, wildlife, turtles, frogs—and even a pair of sandhill cranes!

Come out, enjoy the fresh air, and connect with nature. Everyone is welcome.

05/04/2026

Jenn Baici (Bay-Sea) is a researcher at the University of Toronto where she studies the biological control of invasive species; garlic mustard, in particular.
She is reaching out to nature groups and naturalist clubs across Ontario to request participation in our initiative to map the distribution of a newly arrived flea beetle in the province.

Phyllotreta ochripes (fill-uh-TREE-tuh OKE-rih-peez), first detected in North America in 2017, is a small black and orange flea beetle known to feed primarily on garlic mustard. It has been detected in several states and in Ontario, but the extent of its distribution in the province is unknown. We hope to utilize community science to map the distribution of the flea beetle in Ontario and learn more about its life cycle.

If your group is interested and has the capacity, there are two different ways that members can assist us in studying this species.

First, individuals can submit observations of the Phyllotreta ochripes to iNaturalist. So long as the observation is flagged as the correct species (Phyllotreta ochripes) and is in Ontario, it will automatically be incorporated into our project (“Finding Phyllotreta ochripes in Ontario”). We are particularly interested in photos of the Palaearctic flea beetle on garlic mustard, but any observations of this species are informative.

Link to the iNaturalist project: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/finding-phyllotreta-ochripes-in-ontario

Second, if your group is planning to conduct any garlic mustard removal this year, members can also participate by collecting first-year garlic mustard plants for our team to later dissect for evidence of Phyllotreta ochripes eggs and larvae.

I have attached two documents: one each with more information about:
1. how to submit observations to iNaturalist and
2. how to collect and temporarily store garlic mustard plants for this project. Please reach out to us before collecting garlic mustard plants for contribution to our project so that we can provide a bit more detail about collection, storage, and pick-up.