Some Recent Wanderings

 Quite a bit of driving around lately, especially today since we had more typical weekend weather....rain!  Way too much rain lately making things miserable.  Just too wet to walk trails and mosquitoes are horrendous.

Friday morning, I went as far as Clear Creek in east Chatham-Kent and walked around the old quarry.  I was there a bit too early to see many insects.  Comet Darners should be out soon there!  I will be there in two weeks for the butterfly count.

I did find a family of Belted Kingfishers.  Here are some of them.

Delaware Skipper at Clear Creek

After some driving around, I went to Blenheim Lagoons.  With fall migration upon us, some shorebirds are showing up.  Not much variety, but an early Short-billed Dowitcher was in.

Lots of southbound Least Sandpipers.

It was cloudy all morning, but by afternoon the sun finally came out and I went up to Reid CA in hopes of finding Dukes' Skippers.  An extensive search revealed none!  They should have been out by this date, so I planned to check the next day.

A few Banded Hairstreaks were around, some very worn, but others look fairly fresh.

Twelve-spotted Skimmer (f)

Saturday I headed down to Essex County where I wanted to walk around Hillman Marsh.  I had never walked out to the viewing platform before, so that is what I did!  There was nothing noteworthy along the way, but you never know until you look.

On the way there, I had to take a detour and ended up on some country roads.  I came across a good number of Dickcissels along Vanedie Road.

On the way back, I headed over to Blenheim Lagoons.  Fewer shorebirds this day, but a rather early Pectoral Sandpiper was in.

In the afternoon, I went up to Reid feeling confident Dukes' Skippers were out.  I found one right away!  It was the only one though.

Orchard Orioles are common along the McKeough floodway, but not so much at Reid.  This male flew in just in front of me.

A few hairstreaks were out, some of the last I will see this year.

A stop at McKeough to look for Flag-tailed Spinylegs was in order next.  I thought I had one in the grasses, but it turned out to be a Pronghorn Clubtail.😕

A Rainbow Bluet is always nice to see.

Just up Duthil Road, I stopped by to see the Sedge Wrens.  I actually saw the two, but they were very distant.

Note:  Correct spelling is Duthil with one 'L'.  On the map and signs you see a double L which is not really correct!  Maps are not always accurate!  I have made the mistake in the past as well.

I would be at McKeough today if it had been a nice day.  But then the Rondeau butterfly count was scheduled for today.  It was cancelled due to the crappy weather.  Hopefully next Sunday will be better, but then it is the weekend.....