Friday was a scorcher, but today was a little better temperature for being out in the field. By noon Friday, I was cooked! Leps and odes must have been too as they retreated by then.
Just to start things off on Friday, I took a walk at Perch Creek Habitat east of Sarnia. I noticed lots of hairstreaks (all Banded) which was an indication it was going to be a good day for that family.
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| Skipper from Deleware |
From there, I headed back south and first stopped at Moore WMA. I spent quite a bit of time there and actually walked way back like I used to in years past. Things sure have grown in.
Starting off, hairstreaks were all over the place with dozens perched on various plants. A good percentage were Hickory, but some Banded and some Striped.
This is a good spot for Silvery Checkerspot, and some were out.
At the river crossing, I noticed my FOY Royal River Cruiser. Many dead mussels collect here and I saw various species.
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| Maple Leaf |
Even hockey pucks sometimes show up.
Back a little further, I looked for Mocha Emerald, but did not see one. Another Royal River Cruiser never perched for a photo!
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| Stream Bluet |
Going further back, I was hoping to find Coral Hairstreak, but never did. Not even Edwards'. There are trails going way back, and perhaps they are on private property, but I used to go back there many years ago. There always used to be tons of hairstreaks.
It was getting hotter as time went by, and when I left Moore, hairstreaks were difficult to find.
My next stop was McKeough where I wanted to look for Flag-tailed Spinyleg. I was about to give up when something caught my eye. I chased it down and sure enough it was a freshly-emerged Flag-tailed.
The heat was getting to me by this time, but I still stopped at Reid CA for a quick look. No Dukes' yet, but I got a new species for my list there.
This Baltimore Checkerspot was nice to see! I have had them at McKeough, but I do not think I have seen one at Reid.
There were lots of hairstreaks out at Reid as well, and I spotted one Northern Oak.
The Northern Oak will soon be done for another year.
It was noon by this time, and I was done for the day!
Today, I went as far as Ipperwash. I like the Dunes and Swales area, so checked it out.
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| Common Roadside Skipper |
The Cedar Trail is nice this time of year as it skirts the wetland. I was looking for odes, but not too many out today. One area looked good for Spatterdock Darner, and perhaps I may have seen one in the distance.
Birds were not too noteworthy, but a resident Black-and-White Warbler was nice to hear. Veery is common here and one was singing atop a dead tree!
I stopped by Forest Lagoons on the way back. Hardly a bird in sight, but water levels are dropping in time for shorebird migration.
I walked around the one cell, and some dragonflies caught my eye. Two or three Variegated Meadowhawks were noted.
It has been a few years since I have seen this species, as it is sometime not too common.
I stopped by Moore WMA once again, but not many hairstreaks were visible.
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| Bronze Copper |
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| Banded Hairstreak |
"Moore" mussels....
Tomorrow is the first butterfly count. Hopefully we will not be "skunked".
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