Notes From This Week August 15-20

 The summer is waning and nights are getting cooler.  I am out as much as possible to see what is around.  Nothing too much of interest this week, but if one does not get out and about, one will not find anything!

The garden has been attracting butterflies.  Several Peck's Skippers have been dueling recently for nectaring sources.

Lots of Silver-spotted Skippers have been frequenting Peers Wetland, along with Least Skippers.

From time to time, different bluets visit the yard.  Not sure on this one, but may be a Familiar.

An evening walk at Reid CA this week revealed the usual suspects.

Royal River Cruiser

Eastern Amberwing (F)

Twelve-spotted Skimer

Friday, I went to Point Pelee to look for butterflies.  It turned out to be a less than ideal day for numbers, but Pelee tends to be feast one day, famine the next!  

Common Buckeye

I did finally see a Little Yellow, but unable to get a photo.  It was basically at my feet on the move, and it kept going higher and higher, over the trees and out of sight to the east.  It was on a mission!

There were not too many dragonflies either, but this Spot-winged Glider posed for a minute.

A couple of Swamp Darners were being a menace.  This photo is from the past:

Birding was good first thing, with many species of warblers on De Laurier trail.   We have had an excellent start to fall migration already.  Cape May and Blackburnian Warblers have been very plentiful.

Later, I stopped by Hillman Marsh and walked around the shorebird cell.  Common Checkered-Skippers are increasing in numbers.

Nothing of note though in the way of butterflies.

E. T. Blue

Today, I went to Strathroy Lagoons.  It seems to be the best place right now close to home.  Forest lagoon complex has almost dried up, and Blenheim only has edge habitat.

There were lots of shorebirds to sort through, including at least 88 Least Sandpipers and lots of Lesser Yellowlegs.

Along the berm, some early Yellow-rumped Warblers were working the trees.

Several bluets were along the edges, including Northern.  It is very similar to the Familiar Bluet, but this one may be a Northern.  I just could not get a decent photo!

After the lagoons, I slid over to Clark Wright CA. It started out quiet, but then I came across a good pocket of warblers, plus an early Philadelphia Vireo.  I was not able to take any decent photos though, as they were constantly on the move through the trees.

Closer to home, I stopped by Moore WMA to look for mussels.  A bit of a change, and I found a Three-ridged Mussel, which was a first for that location.

The usual other mussels included Deertoe, Mapleleaf and Paper Pondshell among others.

Mapleleaf

A lingering Blue-tipped Dancer was there during my visit.  The only one!  Likely the last one for this year.

I stopped by McKeough and Reid, but those locations were very quiet.  I have to check McKeough just in case Marine Blue colonized there.  No luck though.