Mucking Around

 It has been a busy week, as I roamed around looking for anything of interest, tramping along mucky river banks, looking for odonates, birds, etc.  

A Blue Grosbeak (young male) was found at Tilbury by Paul Pratt, so I had to go and see that on Wednesday!  Lighting was horrible in the evening, so the photo leaves a lot to be desired.  Too many wires as well!  I heard it singing long before I saw it come up and perch on the wire.

It was the same sort of deal as last summer when a young male was on territory near Walsingham in Norfolk County.  I went to see that one, as I had not seen a Blue Grosbeak for a long time.

Thursday, I went for an evening walk at Reid CA.  There does not appear to be any Dukes' Skippers in the usual spot this year (yet), so a bad sign indeed.  There are some in another location farther back in on the property, where I did see one.

The cold and wet spring, and the hot and dry summer has played havoc with butterflies.

Friday, I went to south-east Chatham-Kent and into Elgin County visiting various spots in search for something of interest.  My ultimate goal was to see a Comet Darner for this year, since I missed it last year.  I went as far as John E. Pearce P.P. where I had them a few years ago.  It is so dry there (like all places), and there were hardly any odes!  No Comet.

I headed back and stopped at Clear Creek nature reserve's old quarry.  I lucked out and saw a Comet Darner right away!  Only one though, patrolling the pond.

It is an excellent place for odes, and I saw a number of species.  Some here:

Violet Dancer

Skimming Bluet

Slender Spreadwing

Azure Bluet

Eastern Amberwing

And, a poor photo of a Double-striped Bluet

Beaver at Clear Creek!

After that, I back-tracked and stopped at Wardsville Woods, which was very quiet on all fronts.  I did find a Fawn Darner though.  As usual for the species, it was in a shaded area.

And, I spotted my FOY Common Checkered-Skipper.

Heading down highway 2, I stopped at Tecumseh Monument and checked out the riverbank.  Hardly any odes, but later this summer I will check for Smokey Rubyspots.  I did see a Midland Clubtail.

Of interest here, was the river mussels.  It is a good spot, and there were oodles of them washed up!  Too many to sort through.  I even found some live ones at the edge which I looked at, then placed back.  

Mucket (live)

There were too many to look at, of several species.

Pimpleback

Deertoe

Mucket

Today, I had the urge to head to north Lambton for whatever reason.  I stopped by Forest lagoons, which has perfect habitat for shorebirds.  There were lots!  At least 80 Lesser Yellowlegs, and lots of others including a FOY Stilt Sandpiper.

I then headed up to Ausable River Cut CA where I wanted to look at mussels.  I had never looked there before, but there were lots when one starts looking.  Of interest was Three-ridged, which I may have not seen before.  Lots of them.

It is important to take photos of the inside of the shell for ID purposes.

Some other species:

Giant Floater

Deertoe

Mapleleaf

I stopped by Karner Sanctuary for a walk.  Rather quiet, but I did see an Aphrodite Fritillary which did not co-operate for the camera.

I found a couple of Coral Hairstreaks to add to the year's list.

Before home, I stopped by McKeough CA where a Marine Blue was found yesterday and this morning.  I guess I was a bit late today, as I could not find it!  It is very rare in Ontario, and one I have never seen before. 

Some Flag-tailed Spinylegs were the consolation, although expected.