Late July Jaunts

 I have been outdoors roaming around as much as possible.  Not much new lately, but one has to try and find something of interest!

Friday I went up to Forest Lagoons for my weekly visit.  Nothing new, and fewer birds than last week.  Solitary Sandpipers continue to be numerous like in most places this summer.

That is far north as I went, so headed back and stopped at Moore WMA first.  Water level was higher this week (strangely with little rain!), so no new mussels. Mapleleaf is one of the more regular ones I find, even though it is species of concern and considered rare by NHIC.

Blue-tipped Dancers are getting scarce now.  Another one considered rare by NHIC.

Got a nice photo of a Hummingbird Clearwing moth there.

Common Wood-Nymph

Next stop was Nicholl's Memorial Forest at Wilkesport.  Prairie plantings there are coming along.

Spiked Blazing-Star

Twelve-spotted Skimmer

A stop at McKeough CA revealed several Flag-tailed Spinylegs.  I found one not too active, so perhaps it was at the end of its life!

I picked it up, but it got loose and landed on my camera!

No more signs of Marine Blue.  One can only hope there is another generation in the works there.  One was found at Point Pelee today by Steve Pike!  So, there are more out there.

A final stop at Reid CA, revealed several Duke's Skippers, but getting worn as one would expect.

Royal River Cruisers are not as plentiful this year it seems.

Halloween Pennant

Today, I got the notion to walk around Hillman Marsh.  I walked the entire dike, something that I had never done before.  It is a very interesting walk!  Various birds and insects were encountered, not to mention plants.  It certainly has potential for something of interest.

I did not realize there was so much American Lotus there.

A nice surprise was a Red-headed Woodpecker. 

Red-headed Woodpecker

Trumpeter Swans with youngter!

Broad-winged Skipper

Swamp Rose-Mallow

Red-spotted Purple

After that, I headed over to Blenheim Lagoons.  Lots of shorebirds, but nothing new.  I did finally get a photo of a Fiery Skipper for this year.

A Buff-breasted Sandpiper was reported at Keith McLean C. L. earlier, so I headed there in hopes of seeing it, even though I had not intended to visit the place today.  There were lots of shorebirds, but no sign of Buffy.  It is early, so more to come...I hope!

Tomorrow we will try the Clear Creek butterfly count.

I have to dash(er)!

Blue Dasher