Today was fairly cool and clear compared to the previous days. Smoke from the wildfires in the north and elsewhere was quite evident late Tuesday here.
A few butterflies and skippers are out in the dry weather.
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| Tawny-edged Skipper |
The last couple of days I have nothing of note to report. Yesterday (Thursday) I decided to go into Essex County. Firstly, I walked around Hillman Marsh. No Limpkin or any heron of note! It was an enjoyable walk none-the-less.
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| Cedar Waxwing |
Looks like the local Trumpeter Swans spend too much time with their heads in the water. They are getting quite rusty!
Afterwards, I went into Point Pelee for a walk. Once again, nothing of note showed while I was there. I give up!
Today was a different day. I was going to stay close to home after going for a walk at Reid CA early this morning. I was done before 9 a.m., so I thought I might as well check out Wardsville Woods.
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| Scene along the shaded stream |
The dry weather is certainly having an effect on leps and odes this year. Not too many seen in my travels.
Upon arrival at Wardsville, there was not much flying. I did come across an Arrowhead Spiketail early on. Same area I had one the other day.
After much walking around, I was not even seeing Midland Clubtails, unlike the previous day where I saw many. Eventually, I did see two, and only two.
I walked to the back at one point and came across another Arrowhead Spiketail!
I spent quite a bit of time around the pond, but did not see much.
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| Eastern Forktail |
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| Eastern Pondhawk |
I decided to head out. Along the same trail, I saw the same or another Arrowhead Spiketail.
Near the end of the trail, I spotted another spiketail, but this one seemed different. It took at while before it settled, and sure enough it was a Twin-spotted! It made my day, at least at this point.
It was just last year I found both species of spiketails at Wardsville Woods, which constituted a new record for Middlesex.
Hopefully, Cobra Clubtail and Riverine Clubtail will soon show up!
Down the road, I stopped by the Tecumseh Monument park and went down to the riverbank. It was a last minute decision to see if any mussels were exposed. There were lots!
Of note, I found a Three-horn Wartyback, a new one for me. Another threatened species, and critically-imperiled depending on where it is listed.
Others:
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| Pimpleback |
Several Mapleleaf were there. This one was very fresh, as it still had some "meat" in it.
I started heading home after this since I was hungry and the car was almost out of gas. At the top end of Kent Bridge Road, I got a call from Rick Mayos that a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron was at Keith McLean C. L. Well, I had to go for it and go hungry since I did not expect to be away from home this long!
Upon arrival, a number of local birders were already present along with the heron.
Although we have had a few of them in the Rondeau area in the past, it has been 24 years since the last one was seen by many in the park. (Although I had one on my own in the year 2000).
It was certainly an overdue bird!
Edit: This heron was photographed on June 8 here per a Facebook post.
There may be something with these southern herons since some Tricolored Herons have already been seen in the province. Maybe more to come?
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