Clear Creek Count

Sunday was the Clear Creek butterfly count on a steamy day.  I teamed up with Don and Rayfield Pye and Jeff Larson and we covered the Clear Creek Provincial Nature Reserve.  It was the first time I did this area in the count.

This count was first run in 2000 when Mathis Natvik initiated the count, and I was one of those who participated.  Those were the good 'ole days where we would go all day and meet at the Natvik's for a BBQ at the end of the day.  Lately, I have only been going to early afternoon!

Olav Natvik's

Anyway, we started around 09:00 at the old quarry along Cochrane Line.  This was by far our best spot and we spent a good two hours there.

We tallied a good number of species, including a Common Buckeye.  It was actually a first-of-year.

I had an American Snout here last weekend, but we could not come up with one this day.

Giant Swallowtails were in good numbers which were nice to see.

Viceroy and Red-spotted Purple

Skippers were few and far between, with only Silver-spotted, Northern Broken-Dash, Dun and Broad-winged.  The Broad-winged were in the phragmites as expected, and we tallied five.  I discovered those here last year.

I kept an eye out for odes, especially Comet Darner, but I did not spot one.  They should still be flying though.

Violet Dancer

After finishing there, we went down the road to south of Talbot Trail to check out the trail to the Bury Cemetery.  I had never been on this trail, but will certainly do it again sometime.  It was a somewhat shaded walk to the old Bury cemetery dating from the early 1800's.

Here we added some more species, including Striped Hairstreak.  It was rather interesting, as we had walked to the end and mentioned that no hairstreaks were seen.  At that time, I said it was a good spot for Striped Hairstreak.....and not two minues later, we spotted one!

We tallied five Striped and one Banded along the trail.  No doubt we missed several, as they were difficult to spot.   The area is divided into squares, and oddly no hairstreaks had ever been recorded in that particular square.  Nobody really look I guess!

We also added Great Spangled Fritillary, Question Mark and Red Admiral to the list here.  The admiral was actually perched on the gravestone right in front of us.
Back near the road we added Tawny-edged Skippers, but I was never able to get a photo of one.  Included here is one from the past.

Jeff and I went back to the forest to check an edge then I went back into the quarry area around noon.  I added another Buckeye and our only Eastern Comma for the day.

Nearing 1 p.m., it was getting brutally hot so we departed ways and headed west along Cochrane Line.

We did not tally Common Checkered-Skipper, but I heard that someone else did.  Oddly, I had a couple go through the year later in the afternoon!

Final numbers have not been distributed yet, but I will mention those at a later date.

Summer Rambles

Been checking things out not far from home since I am not able to get too far away!  We are in the 'dog days' of summer and the days are getting shorter 😞
Recently I have been going to Reid CA quite a bit since it is close and convenient.  Last Monday when I had an extra day off, I walked around the back field.

I found it an interesting walk, so I have now done it three times, including today!  There are lots of insects and plants.  I see several of my favourite dragonfly, the Royal River Cruiser.

Wild Bergamot

Swamp Milkweed

Question Mark

False(?) Sunflower

Gray-headed coneflower

Today was quite nice and just before lunch, I stopped by Reid.  I saw several Dukes' Skippers right away, and pointed them out to Chris Cheatle and Bonnie who happened to arrive at the same time.

Earlier today, I was at a loss where to go, but ended up at McLean's outside Rondeau.  There were not too many shorebirds, as I cannot seem to get the right day!  A pair of Sandhill Cranes flew by just before I left.

There was not much at Blenheim lagoons either.  The habitat for shorebirds is very minimal unfortunately.

Friday, I went to north Lambton starting at Forest Lagoons.  Once again, it was not the right day!  There were a lot of Lesser Yellowlegs and one Solitary Sandpiper, but that was it for shorebirds.
A number of Great Blue Herons were in the lagoon, totalling about 15.

Next stop was the Lambton Heritage Forest where I spent quite a bit of time.  I walked the High Ridge Trail and Savannah Trail.  The High Ridge was interesting as it was only the second time I ever checked that one out.

Northern Pearly-eye was the most common lep.

Grey Comma

I came across a Striped Hairstreak at one point.

Acadian Flycatchers are numerous in the forest here; I came across eight.

There were virtually no warblers, but I think they left early  due to the devastation left by the Gypsy Moth caterpillars.  I did hear one Hooded Warbler though.  They are usually numerous here, but I think not many showed up this year.

I also checked out L-Lake trail, where it was rather quiet.  It is part of the Heritage Forest and trees are quite leafless here as well.  Even the Hemlocks and Pines were hard-hit by Gypsy Moth caterpillars.

At one point along L-Lake, I spotted a darner, which I think is a Green-striped.  It perched in an awkward location, so I did not get a good look nor a good photo.

Later on the walk, I spotted a Fawn Darner, which I do not see too often.

One has to check for Oscellated Darner, which are common farther north.  Never seen one!

I stopped by Moore WMA on the way home, as I cannot resist the place!  Nothing new though.  I always look for mussels, and this very small Mapleleaf caught my eye.

They are considered "imeperiled" in Canada, but are fairly common in the north Sydenham.

Odes included the usuals.  No sighting of a Mocha Emerald though.

Stream Bluet

Blue-fronted Dancers

Late in the afternoon at home, a Royal River Cruiser came into the yard.  It perched for a while, but by the time I got the camera out, it took off!  It is the second record for the yard.

With moth week upon us, I took photo of some common ones that I saw in my travels.

Inornate Olethreutes Moth

Goldenrod Gall Moth

Common Idia Moth

Clover Looper Moth

Snowberry Clearwing

In other news, Thursday night was the closest approach to Earth of Comet Neowise. I finally got to see it, and out my bedroom window!  It is quite visible by binoculars, and one can see a decent tail.  I looked at it last night as well.
I do not have the proper camera equipment, so I only got a "smudge" for a photo.

Tomorrow is the Clear Creek butterfly count, so I will be out in the Clear Creek area looking for things with wings!

This post is Dun.

Dun Skipper

Water Woes to Reid Ramble

As this wacky weather continues, I got an unexpected day off today.  The amount of rain Sunday afternoon was absolutely ridiculous!  We do not need any more rain the rest of the year!  Water levels rose at least six inches at Port Lambton since yesterday afternoon.  As a result, the shop was flooded and surrounded by water.  Needless to say we are fed up with this high water!

At least the day was nice so I went up to Reid CA and took a long walk.  I ended up walking around the edge of the back field, something I have not done before.  It was rather pleasant with lots of insects and plants along the way.
There is quite a bit of Gray-headed Coneflower and Wild Bergamot attracting insects.

Snowberry Clearwing on Burgamot

Several species of common dragonflies were seen.

Widow Skimmer

My goal was to get a photo of a Royal River Cruiser, so at one point an individual posed quite nicely.

Closer to the gate, I saw a couple more Royals, and also looked for Dukes' Skippers.

I managed to see one hairstreak in the two hours I was there.

Giant swallowtails are out with a fresh brood lately.

More Tiger Swallowtails too.

Back on July 5, we did the Skunk's Misery butterfly count.  Total species came in at 48.  Species totals were down needless to say, but some species were in record numbers.  The Emperors, especially Tawny, was at an all time high of 966.

Banded (402), Hickory (136) and Striped Hairstreaks (27) were in record numbers.  Coral, Acadian and Edwards' were absent.

Common Wood Nymph was at a high of 358.

There were lots of missed species including Common Buckeye and Milbert's Tortoiseshell, and several skippers.

The coming Sunday will be the Clear Creek count so hopefully the weather will co-operate.

Late Saturday afternoon, I spotted a tiny Common Checkered-Skipper pop into the yard.  It was a first-of-year.  It did not stay long!