Worn Out

I stopped at various places today, but the weather was too nice I guess. I did not see much in the way of birds or butterflies. (The weather forecast was wrong again...).

I added a new species of butterfly to the Reid CA list. It was a Snout, and it was very worn. I have seen at least 46 species of butterflies there this year.

The only bird of note there was an Orange-crowned Warbler.

At Port Lambton, a couple of Peck's Skippers were still hanging on. One was very worn, as the top photo shows.

Peck's Skippers at Port Lambton

Earlier in the week, I had a Tawny-Edged Skipper there. I did not realize they could still be around this late, but they are. This one was fairly fresh.
The only other skipper I saw today was a Silver-spotted. It was worn too! Must be a sign of fall, as everything is getting worn out. Still lots of time for butterflies though, and some rarities to boot!

Painted Lady

Rondeau/Blenheim on a Drizzly Day

Not much to report this day, as the weather was crappy. I was hoping to go up to Point Edward to watch the lake for seabirds, but the wind did not materialize. All week a strong north wind was predicted, but as usual, the forecast was wrong. There is supposed to be a north wind tomorrow (Sunday), but not as strong a predicted, as usual.

I headed down to Rondeau first thing this morning. It was cloudy, but there were some breaks in the clouds. However, as I got south of Ridge Line, it was just like a dark veil was pulled over. Needless to say, it was drizzly most of the morning.

I did find a few warblers, including a large number of Black-throated Blue. Quite often with this species, if you find a male, a female will be nearby, or vice versa. This was the case this morning.

I also saw a number of Cape May Warblers.

A couple of Palm Warblers were around, but I saw some last weekend.

warbler silhouette (photo quiz: what species is this?)

The highlight was a Hooded Warbler, likely a first year male. The lighting was terrible so I did not get a photo. This is certainly the latest I have seen a Hooded Warbler. Actually I don't think I have ever seen one in fall migration--at least not recently.
I saw around 15 species of warbler this morning.
A number of Winter Wrens were creeping in the underbrush--a sure sign of fall.
I did see a juvenile Red-headed Woodpecker. Lots of acorns this fall, so maybe some will stick around.
At Blenheim Lagoons, the first bird I looked at was an American Bittern. Back in pond 5, there were lots of shorebirds including a Golden Plover, Semipalmated Plover, both Yellowlegs (many), several Stilt Sandpipers, a White-rumped Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpipers, a Least Sandpiper, 5 Long-billed Dowitchers, and two Snipe.
I checked along the back fence for butterflies. There were lots of sulphurs a few Painted Ladies, but nothing unusual. By this time there was partial sun, so the butterflies were out. Virtually none at Rondeau in the drizzle.
I saw one dragonfly that was likely a Variegated Meadowhawk. I did not get a long look at it, and it did not co-operate for a photo.

Evening Primrose, Rondeau (in the morning)

Another Variegated Fritillary at Rondeau

I managed to get nicer photos of a Variegated Fritillary (wish it was a flycatcher!) at Rondeau. It may possibly be the same one as yesterday. It was quite co-operative today, not moving much and posing on the ground or on flowers for photos.

I searched the dune area off south point trail. Gray Hairstreaks were different from yesterday. Actually I have never seen a Gray Hairstreak at Rondeau. I got photos of one, and the others (possibly two) took off as I flushed them.

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Some birds were different than yesterday. Yellow-rumped Warblers, both kinglets and Gray-cheeked Thrushes were new arrivals. About ten species of warblers were around today.

Prickly Pear Cactus (a few patches at Rondeau, likely imported in the past)

Cylindrical Blazing Star (plentiful off south point trail, Rondeau)

New Rondeau Butterfly

I spent considerable time at Rondeau today to make up for lost time. There were not a lot of passerines, but a few warblers and others were present early in the morning.
Later in the morning when it warmed up, I looked for butterflies. The open area on the east side of south point trail was the best area. I was certain that I would find at least one rarity--the potential was there.
One orange/brown butterfly flew past me fairly quickly and set down some distance ahead. I knew it was some type of fritillary, and since Great-spangled are virtually done, it was something I had to get a look at. I found it on the ground, and knew it was a Variegated Fritillary! I did not think it was on the park list at all. I got some good photos.

As I left south point trail and drove up the road, I came across park staff and Dale Wurker looking for Monarchs. Dale informed me that one of the staff had seen a worn Variegated Fritillary earlier in the week. No photo was obtained. It indeed had never been recorded for the Rondeau list before.
I searched the area thoroughly several times, but did not come across another or anything else of note. Several Common Buckeyes were around. I saw a couple of Carolina Saddlebags dragonflies.
Regarding birds, I saw only about ten species of warblers. Several were Blackpoll. A few Ovenbirds were around as well.
I saw the first Ruby-crowned Kinglet of the fall and heard a White-throated Sparrow. Last evening I saw the first White-crowned Sparrow north of Wallaceburg.
Most of the gulls were far out on the lake this morning. No shorebirds at Blenheim Lagoons except a few Lesser Yellowlegs and Killdeer. Water is high again due to the rain last week.

Praying Mantid

DeKay's Brown Snake (very small!)

Great Plain's Ladies-tress (not yet in bloom)

Weekend Washout (partly!)

Common Buckeye

This weekend was forecast to be a total washout. Half right. Sunday turned out to be sunny for the most part. (In other words, the weather forecast was wrong, again!).

I saw that strong SW winds were forecast for Sunday, so I opted to go to Point Pelee and stand at the Tip. I arrived there in cpmpany with Alan Wormington and Mike Tate. Not much was moving really, but the highlight was an immature Pomarine Jaeger. It actually was fairly close allowing good scope views. It was heading due south and continued out of sight. The white on the underwings, pale head, heavy body and fairly slow wing flaps made the ID.

I have only seen two or three Pomarine Jaegers ever before, and ceratainly none at Point Pelee. That made the trip worthwhile I guess. A few Bonaparte's Gulls, Common Terns, Caspian Terns, and one immature Black Tern moved by. Two Osprey headed out over the lake to Pelee Island. Several hummingbirds were trying to fly off the Tip. Shorebirds included Sanderlings.

I gave my camera a rest this weekend. I could not use it Saturday as it rained all day, and Sunday did not look much better. I should have brought it to Point Pelee, but I was fooled by the inaccurate weather forecast. In the afternoon I checked West Beach trail for butterflies. Not much was flying, but I did come across a very obliging male Horace's Duskywing. I was able to kneel right beside it to look at its features. I also spotted another Gray Hairstreak. They are plentiful this year! At least half dozen Common Buckeye were seen today.

Gray Hairstreak at Point Pelee




Horace's Duskywing at Point Pelee

I went to Rondeau on Saturday and noted a few warblers (in the rain). The most interesting thing was watching the lake of south point trail. There were hundreds of birds flying by--mostly east to west. Most seemed to be terns, and there were a lot of Caspian for a change. There were many "bonies" as well.

Some birds were moving east. One appeared to be an immature Little Gull. Nothing unusual for the hour I stood there.

Still lots of of shorebirds at Blenheim, but I did not stay long there as heavy rain came in. Needless to say, I got soaked to the bone!

Photos with this post are from previous outings.

A Few More Photos

Here are a few more photos from this past weekend in Bruce County. If the weather had co-operated, there would have been more photos!

Wingfield Basin

BPBO Banding Lab (from 2002)

Chantry Island (stormy day above, sunny day below!)

boulder embedded in upturned cedar root

White Admiral at Cabot Head

Interestingly, I have see both the White Admiral form at MacGregor Point as well as Red-spotted Purple. The intergrades start around Pinery P. P.

Bruce Peninsula Weekend

middle bluff, Cabot Head

This past weekend was a planned trip to Bruce County. The highlight was to visit the Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory (BPBO) at Cabot Head. They had an Open House on Saturday. The weather was fabulous for Saturday (but Friday and Sunday the weather was terrible!). So much for looking at butterflies on those two days!

Anyway, I had previously spent a "working weekend" at Cabot Head in August 2002 getting things ready for the bird banding crew. Hard to believe that was six years ago already. One of the projects was to build a wood shelter which I oversaw the construction. We used cedar posts and driftwood. The only thing new was the roof! Good thing I knew how to lay shingles.

August 2002 (above), September 2008 (below)

This place has beautiful scenery and is located on the Cabot Head peninsula on Georgian Bay in an Ontario Parks Nature Reserve. Wingfield Basin is right out the front door and is a natural deep water, sheltered harbour that is rather well known.

The BPBO can boast that they have a shipwreck. It is of the wooden tug Gargantua originally built in 1919 in Marine City, Michigan. On December 6, 1952 while under tow, she took shelter from a storm in Wingfield Basin, but eventually sank.

Gargantua shipwreck

The BPBP has two stone cottages there. One being the Grebe Lodge which they rent out. On my first visit, it was in a state of disrepair. It is now restored.

We toured around the grounds during this open house. Ted Cheskey, President of BPBO gave an informative talk about the place. (Ted is shown under the wood shelter, back row, second from left in 2002).

After I left Cabot Head, I headed up to Dorcas Bay and Singing Sands beach. This has always been one of my favourite spots and I have been there many times to look at birds and butterflies. I remember back in July 1996, Steve Charbonneau and I saw a Great Gray Owl here. Massasauga Rattlesnakes are here, and I have seen them a couple of times.

Dorcas Bay

It is a good place for butterflies at times, and I have seen Dorcas Copper here (appropriately!). This time I found a few Atlantis Fritillaries and a Leonardus Skipper around the fen.

I camped the two nights at MacGregor Point Provincial Park, another one of my favourite places. Since the weather was poor, I did not see many butterflies. I did see some decent flocks of warblers though. I tallied a total of 18 species, and most of these were in a single flock at one point.

I also looked at some wildflowers (what else to do on a cool, damp, windy day?).

Fringed Gentian

Cardinal-flower

Grass-of-Parnassus

Hairy Goldenrod

sunset at MacGregor Point

Goal Achieved!

female Horace's Duskywing

Today I spent about five hours at Point Pelee to search for butterflies. The goal was to find at least one Horace's Duskywing. I missed them on the last two tries, but obviously did not spend enough time then. I managed to find two (for sure) today!

I was only able to photograph one, but that was good enough. It was south of West Beach parking lot along the edge of the beach. The other one was just a little farther south.

I made two round trips on West Beach trail, and it was a hot day. No wind. There were lots of butterflies, including many Painted Ladies, Silver-spotted Skippers, and crescents.

The butterflies are always attracted to knapweed, so I recommend you check those plants wherever present. Although the knapweed is well past its prime, there were still a few flowers out. The Horace's I photographed was on knapweed.

They have been here the last month, so they are obviously breeding here this year. Needless to say, it was first for me.

I also saw three more Gray Hairstreaks. They must be having a good year, or else I am just getting lucky with them. They were on knapweed as well. The Gray Hairstreak species will frequently open its wings, unlike the Satyrium hairstreaks.

Gray Hairstreak (wings open)

Lots of Common Buckeyes were around. I spotted at least eight today.

The only other skipper besides Silver-spotted was a Peck's. I have seen quite a few of those near home recently. Alan Wormington tells me that this is the first record of Peck's Skipper within the park since 1996!

There were very few sulphurs, but I checked each one closely since a Southern Dogface-Sulphur was seen recently. Not luck with that southern species today.

Peck's Skipper (distant shot)

With this hot stagnant weather, not many birds have been moving. I did find one pocket of warblers early this morning along the trail. There were about 15 birds or more, but half of them were Wilson's Warblers. Other species included Blackpoll, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, Nashville, Blackburnian, Yellow and Common Yellowthroat.