Even More Hairstreaks!

There was an incredible number of hairstreaks out this afternoon. I only checked a couple of spots but there were hundreds. Every where there was milkweed, one could find hairstreak butterflies. I added Edwards to the year list today.

Other new butterflies for the year included Silvery Checkerspots and Northern Pearly Eyes. A single Dun Skipper was added as well.

Some photos....

More Hairstreaks!!

Today was the Butterfly count at Pinery. It was very disappointing as there were hardly any butterflies. There were not any highlights with my party. We saw more dragonflies I think. A Calico Pennant was the nicest one.

Along the river were Dot-tailed Whiteface dragonflies. The photo shows one in a typical location.

On the way home I stopped at my special butterfly place and had more fun there! I spotted a Coral Hairstreak right away. A very fresh one and the first of the year. It is my favourite hairstreak (or was!).

I also spotted the first Hickory Hairstreaks. No surprise as there are hickory trees there. Bet on Striped Hairstreak being next!

I photographed a Banded and a Southern Hairstreak on the same flower.

I Peck's Skipper was a nice find as well.

I will be back tomorrow!

Hairstreak Season

Banded Hairstreak

I started the hairstreak butterfly season off with a bang last Sunday. Yesterday while looking at the Southern (Northern ssp.) Hairstreaks, I saw lots of Banded Hairstreaks. It was the first day I saw that species and it was out in full force. It outnumbered the others by about two to one. I am sure the other species of hairstreak will be seen there such as Hickory, Striped, Coral and possibly Edwards.

I checked the site every day this week except Wednesday, and saw the Oak Hairstreaks in several different stages from worn to fresh. There were both males and females chasing each other around. Probably more females than males. This is all good evidence of a "colony" meaning they breed there. It makes one wonder how long they have been there. There has never been a known colony of this species in Canada before, so this represents a first for Canada.

Thursday I saw up to ten.

The proper name now is Southern Hairstreak, "northern" subspecies. It becomes confusing depending on what book you use. The Southern used to be a separate species from the Northern, and intergrades exist where their ranges overlap. Even the latin name varies. Most now call this one Satyrium favonius ontario.

An Unexpected Find!

Not wanting to go any distance today, I visited various conservation areas north of Wallaceburg in south Lambton Co. These areas have good spots for butterflies and I visit them frequently every year.

I stopped at one hotspot and did not find many butterflies other than hundreds of Euro Skippers. I did find a Blue-winged Warbler paired with a Brewster's. That nest was nearby as they were very agitated.

At McKeough CA I came across a Baltimore Checkerspot. I was excited about that as it is uncommon for the most part and I have never seen one in my local area before.

My last stop was at Reid CA and I found countless butterflies feeding on dogbane. Among them were two or three hairstreaks that I thought were Banded. After downloading the photos at home, they did not look right for Banded. After some research I almost decided they were Northern Oak Hairstreaks from the south. I was not sure until I got confirmation from Bob Yukich. These are quite rare in Ontario and when seen are usually along Lake Erie. Note the distinct "W" over the blue spot. One foodplant for the adult is dogbane, which is what this butterfly was on. One was seen on count week at Ojibway, Windsor in early July 2005.

I was totally caught off guard with this find, but it shows what one can find unexpectantly. Just like birds!

I went back on Monday and found two different individuals. I am told there have only been three other Ontario records which were all strays. This is actually a colony--probably the first such find! The next photo shows one of Monday's butterflies and it is very fresh showing more distinctive features.

Pelee-Hillman June 21

I was due for an outing to Pelee, so I went today to look for butterflies. I did not find any rare ones, but there was lots of variety. Last week some rare immigrants were found such as Cloudless Sulphur and Southern Dogface. Henrietta O'Neil found the dogface at the north end of the park. I am told it was the first record there since 1931! Horace's Duskywing was also observed and was first record of first brood for Pelee.

Anyway I saw Orange Sulphur and Clouded Sulphur, but not one without clouds!

There were a few Giant Swallowtails and Spicebush Swallowtails.

Giant Swallowtail

Other species included American Snout (2), Painted Lady, American Painted Lady, Azure, crescents, Little Wood Satyr, Question Mark, and a single skipper (probably Least).

American Snout

Over at Hillman Marsh I added a couple of Silver-spotted Skippers and a Viceroy.


Other things included a melanistic Garter Snake and a Yellow Warbler Nest at West Beach Parking lot.

The only notable bird was a Mockingbird along the south end of West beach trail.
I saw Orange Bluet damselflies among the many other damselflies and dragonflies.

Orange Bluet

A Black-bellied Plover was in Hillman Marsh shorebird cell.

Lazy Weekend

Least Skipper

This was probably the first weekend I was able to relax a bit. Saturday was the town-wide yard sale, so we participated. Turnout was very good. In the afternoon I went for a short walk at Reid CA north of here and looked at some butterflies and dragonflies. There were many species of butterflies, including my first Least Skippers of the season. Some photos below.

Sunday I got out in my boat for the first time. The weather was absolutely perfect for the first time this year I think. Of note was a male Redhead duck on the Snye north of the Walpole bridge. First time in many years I have seen one at that location in the breeding season.

American Lady

Dusky Clubtail

female Northern Crescent

female Widow Skimmer

Inornate Ringlet

Boat Cruise

Canadian Transfer

Today was not a birding day, but I did see some birds! I organized a boat cruise on the St. Clair River for the Sydenham Field Naturalists and friends. It was aboard the Hammond Bay owned by George and Dave Lee of Port Lambton. They offer tours on their boat of up to 40 people. Click here for more information on the boat and cruises.

We lucked out with the weather. With the way it has been this spring, it was a crapshoot. It was a very hot day, but on the water with the wind, made it pleasant. We had full sun as well!

interesting cloud formation

We headed down the St. Clair River and part way down the south channel. The St. Clair River delta is a complex system of channels and islands that are very interesting. The main channels are the North, Middle and South. All are deep until they open to Lake St. Clair.

The south channel is bordered by Seaway Island (Ontario side) and Harsen's Island (US side). That is where the ships used to go. Seaway Island was created from dredgings when the cutoff channel was dug in the early 1960's to straighten the shipping channel. That island is a haven for birds and small animals. Water snakes abound here! (Photo shows one on Seaway Island during 2005 atlas work)We spent a bit of time on this island during the breeding bird atlas survey.

Our cruise passed Walpole Island, Squirrel Island, and the tip of Bassett Island as part of the Walpole Island First Nation. At the tip of Bassett Island and entrance to the Bassett Channel, we saw 6 or 7 Redhead ducks. I find this is a usual spot for them to congregate during the spring and summer and I see them anytime I head down that way in the boat. They do breed in the area. We did not see much bird life, but did see the usual things like Herring and Ring-billed Gulls, Forster's Terns, Black Terns, Great Blue Herons, Cormorants and various swallows.

Even some butterflies were travelling the river such as Monarch, Question Mark, possibly Painted Lady and a dark one that I thought was a Spicebush Swallowtail.

The St. Clair Flats, as the delta area is sometimes called, has a rich history with boats, ships and hunting. Several hotels, dance halls, and drinking holes used to dot the US side. It now a paradise for the more wealthy with cottages and huge homes.

late 1930's Chris Craft

It was a nice day for a boat cruise, and all were pleased with the result.

Saturday June 7

Twelve-spotted Skimmer

Not knowing where else to go, I headed down to Rondeau once again. I was sure there would be some late migrants around, but there were almost none. With the late spring, one would think that some late warblers and flycatchers should still be trickling through. I have always had some warblers on this date.

Today, only two birds that I heard only I considered migrants. I heard a Bay-breasted Warbler on south point trail. I never did see it, even though I heard it in two different spots. At the north end of the park, I heard a Canada Warbler. Although it is an uncommon nester here, it was likely a migrant.

Surprisingly, there were no Blackpoll Warblers at least in the areas I visited. The latest date that I have ever seen one was June 22. Needless to say that was a record and rather exceptional.

Out marsh trail I heard a Sedge Wren and caught glimpse of a Northern Mockingbird.

The Acadian Flycatcher was in the usual area of the Gardiner deer exclosure. I heard it first thing as I drove in this morning.

Mourning Cloak

Many butterfly species were around today. More firsts for the year such as Hobomok Skipper, Little Wood Satyr, Eastern-tailed Blue and Tiger Swallowtail. I also saw a large number of Spring Azure, plus a couple of Silver-spotted Skippers, Northern Crescents, Spicebush Swallowtails, Monarch,s Mourning Cloaks, Painted Lady and Question Mark.

Painted Lady

Hobomok skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

Today's Adventures

I decided to sleep in a bit this morning. I doubted birding would have been as good at Rondeau this morning as it was yesterday. For a change, I checked out some different spots closer to home today. I went down to Lake St. Clair and started by looking for Yellow-headed Blackbirds. Just after nearly creaming a family of geese that came out of nowhere, I saw one male at the end of Angler Line. This is the area to find them nowadays, as they do not frequent St. Clair NWA anymore.

I did take a walk around SCNWA, but did not see much. I did see a Moorhen, but for whatever reason, that place is disappointing anymore. There were more turtles than birds! Black-bellied Plover were in the fields across the road.

This afternoon I walked a couple of CA's north of here. Butterflies were the topic of the day. I saw my first monarch and silver-spotted skipper at the Nicholl's Memorial Forest.

At Reid CA, I found lots of butterflies including a couple of Inornate Ringlets, numerous Northern Crescents, many Juvenal's Duskywings and a couple of Giant Swallowtails. These were all firsts for the year except the crescents. I guess I'll be checking this place out this summer!

I saw the first Black-billed Cuckoo there as well. I was just thinking this morning why we have not seen cuckoos yet. They have been very late and scarce. The only other cuckoo I have seen this year was a Yellow-billed on May 4 at Rondeau which was very early.

I also noted dragonflies and damselflies, including this Emerald Spreadwing.