More Summer Stuff!

 I made my usual rounds not far from home the last few days.  The summer is waning quickly so I take advantage of any time I get to be outdoors looking for things of interest.

Dukes' Skippers have finally showed up in the "usual" spot at Reid.  I saw two in quick order late Thursday.

Friday I had the urge to go to Point Pelee.  I thought maybe I could look for Marine Blue or something of note.  (I have not heard of any sightings of Marine Blue after mine last Sunday.  I know some went to look though).

I did a watch at the Tip for a while before looking for insects.  The "Tip" goes way out right now!

There were hundreds of gulls, but nothing of note caught my eye.  Only one tern...a Caspian.

Some shorebirds included Sanderlings, Semisands, and an early Ruddy Turnstone.

I then slowly walked up west beach trail.  I stopped to read a nice sign recently erected.

There were more butterflies and dragonflies than I had been seeing in previous visits.  Wandering Glider was the most common.  Most were "wandering"!

Around the "serengeti" tree, a large darner caught my eye. It was a Comet Darner!  I was not able to get a photo though.  There have been a few previous records in the past at Pelee and surrounding area, but this was my first for there.

I stopped briefly at De Laurier parking lot, and found a Common Buckeye at the weather station.  A first-of-year!

My next stop was Hillman Marsh shorebird cell, where I thought it was the best chance of seeing some good butterfly.  It was paltry for leps!  I did see another Buckeye, and added a Common Sootywing.

I went home via Blenheim, and stopped by the lagoons.  A good number of shorebirds were in.  Solitary Sandpipers are in big numbers this summer everywhere it seems.

Another member of the glider family was present....a Spot-winged Glider....on the fly.

Saturday, it was up to north Lambton, as Forest Lagoons is a necessary stop at least once a week this time of year. It is the best place for shorebirds!  There were lots to sort through, including over 100 Lesser Yellowlegs. Again, lots of Solitary Sandpipers.  Nothing of note though.

I moved on to Ausable River Cut CA, but as I arrived, word got out that three American Avocets were at Kettle Point.  Since I had not seen any yet this year,and it was not far, back I went!  Jeff Skevington and James Holdsworth were still there when I arrived, and so were the Avocets.  My favourite shorebird!

A worse-for-the-wear Little Gull was also present.

I went back to Ausable River Cut and looked at mussels.  I added Fat Mucket to my list.

Three-ridged mussel seems to be the most common there.

Not much in the way of insects, but some Wild Indigo Duskywings were flying.

Along the way home, I stopped by Marthaville Habitat Management Area, for my once-a year visit.  Good wetland there.

Slaty Skimmer

Viceroy

One last stop was McKeough CA for an attempt at Marine Blue.  Virtually no butterflies!  Only Flag-tailed Spinylegs.

Today, it was a bit overcast after some much-needed rain overnight.  I stopped by Keith McLean C. L. where I spent some time there.  Shorebirds were quite fluid, as they often are.  There was not much at first, but things came in or flew over.

Quite a few dowitchers were eventually seen, including three rather early Long-billed.  Given the lighting, and distance, etc., my photos were no good for them.

I then went as far as Clear Creek and stopped by the old quarry.  One of my favourite spots!

I immediately saw a Comet Darner, but it seemed to take off.  Another eventually appeared, but as usual it was on the fly.

The sun was partially out when I arrived and there was some activity, but then it clouded over making things very quiet.  Very few damsels (bluets and dancers) now.

Azure Bluet

Violet Dancer

Last stop was Blenheim lagoons.  Lots of shorebirds again, but nothing spectacular.