A Day in Southern C-K

Gray Tree Frog!  (for some reason I have seen this in past years in the same gate!)

Having avoided southern Chatham-Kent for the last month, I decided to head down to Blenheim and Rondeau today.  It is peak time for shorebird watching and Blenheim Lagoons are perfect right now.  Late day is best there, but that did not fit my schedule, so I stopped there first thing. 

There were hundreds of shorebirds, mostly Least Sandpipers, and Lesser and Greater Yellowlegs.  Some Short-billed Dowitchers and Solitary Sandpipers were present as well as dozens of Killdeer.  I also spotted one Stilt Sandpiper.

Least Sandpipers

After Rondeau, I did go back to look for butterflies and dragonflies.  Many Holloween Pennants were out as well as Black Saddlebags, and I am pretty sure Red-mantled Saddlebags.  These had a bright red face and eyes.  There was a recent report of Red Saddlebags in Port Perry, so some are around.  I am familiar with Carolina Saddlebags, but these seemed different.  I tried to photograph them, but it was virtually impossible!

Halloween Pennant

Down at Rondeau, butterflies were scarce on South Point Trail, so I hope something changes by tomorrow for the butterfly count.  I did have a Snout which is good for there.  We have not had a Snout in that section on a count, although one was at the Visitor Centre a couple of years ago.  I was hoping for Little Yellow and/or Pipevine Swallowtail like we had in 2001.
Monarchs were plentiful though checking out Common Milkweed as well as Butterfly Milkweed.
Out Marsh Trail, things were much better for butterflies with lots of Red Admiral and Azures.  One area had several Eyed Brown. 

Eyed Brown

I finally did see some swallowtails-- a couple of Tiger Swallowtails and one very worn Black swallowtail.  Skippers included Silver-spotted, Northern Broken Dash and possibly a Crossline.

Up at Reid CA, the Broad-winged Skippers are flying on schedule, but the Dion Skippers have not appeared. 

Broad-winged Skipper

Edwards' Hairstreak (fading!)

Other butterflies were looking quite worn and ragged!  Hairstreaks are coming to an end, already, sad to say.