Time marches on! I have been making my usual rounds of late, taking advantage of the nice weather.
Friday I headed down to Rondeau for one last walk there until perhaps August. Mosquitoes were bad! I walked down Harrison from maintenance to Bennett and back Lakeshore Road. I encountered quite a few birds, including Hooded Warbler, a couple of Acadian Flycatchers and others.
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| Little Wood Satyr |
It was then off to Wardsville to look for odonates. Unfortunately they were a bit thin there! I did get one of my targets, that being an Arrowhead Spiketail.
I did see at least one other spiketail which I thought was a Twin-spotted, but it was flying high and had some sort of prey. It seemed to be looking for a spot to stop and consume the meal.
There were a couple of Midland Clubtails, but no Cobras yet.
Butterflies included Peck's Skippers.
Next day was the annual bird survey at Sydenham River Nature Reserve. Counters were thin. Seems interest has waned in this event, as it is difficult to get volunteers anymore.
I found the usual residents on my route, and nothing special. Although a female Common Merganser on the river was a bit unusual.
Before leaving, I took a look for odonates and managed to find what I was looking for. An Arrowhead Spiketail!
In the past we have had Rusty Snaketail here, but it has been several years since I have seen one.
It was early in the day and quite windy, so odes were sparse.
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| Dot-tailed Whiteface |
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| Common Whitetail |
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| Midland Clubtail |
The ravines here are impressive.
Yesterday, I had the urge to head up to north Lambton. Last Thursday evening, James Holdsworth found a White-faced Ibis at the Thedford Lagoons. This species is good anywhere in Ontario, but it was a first record for Lambton. Probably way overdue.
I did not really have the chance or ambition to try for it until yesterday. I went quite early, and basically found it right away. It was too distant under heavy clouded skies to attempt a photo.
That was my second new bird for Lambton County in less than a week! One can go years without adding anything, but to get two in short order is satisfying.
I continued on and visited various places including a walk at Ausable River Cut CA. I looked at mussels there and found the usuals, plus the rarer Wabash Pigtoe.
Next stop was the Lambton Heritage Forest. Acadian Flycatchers seem to be having a good year there, as I encountered eleven singing birds.
On the other hand, Hooded Warblers are less plentiful this year. I noticed that at Skunk's Misery as well. I wonder what is going on with them?
I did get two Cerulean Warblers to add to the list.
Some Hobomok Skippers were flying in the sunny spots.
I also came across another Cherry Scallop Shell Moth. Very attractive!
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| (cell phone pic!) |
Next stop was nearby Karner Blue Sanctuary. Insects were very scarce there it seemed.
I did encounter a Blue-winged Warbler singing an almost perfect Northern Parula Song. The Merlin app was registering it as a parula. It took a long time to spot the bird, as I wanted to make sure! Yep, it was the Blue-winged!
I also walked the Sandrin Tract Woods trail nearby. The "bowl" is almost dried up showing the lack of rain we have had in the last year.
A couple of duskywings there were Juvenal's.
Not many odes, even though this has been a hotspot.
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| Midland Clubtail |
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| Four-spotted Skimmer |
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| Twelve-spotted Skimmer |
One last stop was Reid C. L. before getting home. Things not looking good there either for insects. Some Four-spotted Skimmers were flying.
Today, I knew that Dickcissels were around. They obviously just arrived. I went down to SW Chatham-Kent to a couple usual spots and had no problem finding some.
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| singing up a storm! |
I am sure some will be arriving elsewhere including Lambton County soon, if not already.
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