Some Slow Days and Spiny Things

 I have found birding quite unremarkable this summer.  The last few days certainly have been very slow for me.  Sunday I checked out Blenheim Lagoons and the Erieau marsh trail with nothing of note.  The lagoons are no good for shorebirds with the water levels much higher, and the sprinkler cells dry.  I will not be going there again anytime soon, unless something is reported!

Lots of Spot-winged Gliders (and some Wandering Gliders) are around everywhere right now.

Spot-winged Glider at McGeachy Pond

In the afternoon, for lack of anything else to do, I took a long walk at Reid CA.  The Zabulon Skippers were still present!  I am fairly certain there were three.  Showing a little wear now.

Along the back field edge, I found this mason wasp.  There are many different kinds, and I photographed it just for the heck of it.  I found out later it is considered rare by the NHIC!  Called a Smiling Mason Wasp, it is quite similar to others.

I did not take time to get a clear photo of this flower fly, but it turned out to be one I have not photographed before.

Eastern Flower Fly

There was still a Dukes' Skipper flying.  One of the latest there I have seen.

Lots of Lance-tipped Darners were flying (as well as Royal River Cruisers).

After the walk, while driving home, I realized I had a passenger.  A Buffalo Tree Hopper had clung to me and escaped into the car.

Yesterday, I ended up at Rondeau and walked out south beach.  It was extremely slow for birds, and quite disappointing.  I only had one warbler!  A Northern Waterthrush was out south beach.

Practically no shorebirds, and no notable gulls. Nothing to photograph, so no photo to share here!

I did get this Fatmucket mussel for lack of anything else.

Walking back, I checked out the Cylindrical Blazing Star.  I did not realize the population was quite extensive!

Once in a while, one will see the white form.

I stopped by Keith McLean C. L. on the way home.  Extremely show there for birds as well.

Common Buckeye

Today, I had to do something different because there was no place else to go.  I went to Strathroy and checked out the lagoons and the conservation area.  Still extremely slow for birds!  High water levels from the excessive rain this summer did not help matters.

The conservation area is a neat place and has an extensive network of trails.   I was there earlier in the summer but could not access the place because it was flooded!  Too much rain.....

The Sydenham winds through here.

It is good for insects (sometimes).  I saw a couple of Blue-tipped Dancers, among other things.

On the way home I stopped by Shetland boat launch.  I met the Nethercott's from Sarnia there and I found them a Blue-ringed Dancer.

It appeared to be having lunch.

There was very little flying (again!), but this Royal River Cruiser hung around.

As well, at least three Flag-tailed Spinylegs were patrolling the river's edge.

We also saw Black-shouldered Spinyleg, but I did not bother to photograph it.

A cute little Spiny Softshell turtle was along the edge.

It eventually crawled up onto the mud, where it was well-camouflaged.

I had to be home by 13:00h, so my day was cut short at this point.

Shetland Stuff

 Today I stopped by the Shetland Conservation Area boat launch before it got too warm.  It is a small spot, but a wonderful place to see lots of stuff, including odonates.  Quite a few things in the "rare" category can be found here, including fish, turtles, plants and insects.

As soon as I got to the river's edge, I noticed a Longnose Gar swimming around.  It stayed during my entire visit, just patrolling the edge.  These long and slim creatures are pretty neat!

tail section

Other things in the fish department, including this alien called a Rudd.  I suspected it was non-native, but did not know what it was until I looked it up at home.

I always find Blackstripe Topminnows here as well.  Considered a threatened species.

There were not a heck of a lot of odes flying here today, but the usuals were found including Blue-fronted Dancer, Powdered Dancer, Violet Dancer, Blue-tipped Dancer, and Stream Bluet.  I did not see a Rainbow Bluet this visit.

Violet Dancer

Blue-tipped Dancer

Powdered Dancer

Stream Bluets

It is a tad early for the rarities including Blue-ringed Dancer and Dusky Dancer.

However, an very early Flag-tailed Spinyleg dropped in just before I left!

This one was seen yesterday, apparently a record-early for Ontario.  I usually start seeing them later in June, and needless to say this was my earliest.  A critically imperiled species.

The only other 'big' dragonflies were a couple of Midland Clubtails. (plus a Common Green Darner and a couple of Common Whitetails).

This horsefly dropped in at one point.  I am not sure which species though, but it comes up as a western species which is not supposed to be here.

Off to the side, some Michigan Lily is about to bloom.

Yesterday I stopped by the pond at Brander Park, Port Lambton.  Last year I discovered the uncommon Westfall's Slender Bluet here.  I may have seen some on this visit, but they were not close and the sun was at the wrong angle for photos

An Orange Bluet was here as well, but this one was blue!

The only spreadwing was this Elegant.

On Monday I needed to go to Corunna, so went for a walk at Dow Wetlands early on.  The Sedge Wren(s) is still present, likely nesting at this point.

I have made a couple of quick checks at Reid CA, but have not seen much, especially with regards to hairstreaks.  It will be interesting to see what transpires this year after last year's dismal showing.  This heat wave is not helping matters!

On Monday I did see a "new" bee there called Wilke's Mining Bee.  However, it is another European import!

More Insects and a Few Birds

 This past week has not been too exciting.  With the excessive rain continuing, things have been quite wet!

Locally, the usual insects have been appearing.  I have walked the main laneway at Reid CA a couple of times.  The first Appalachian Browns have appeared.

Odonates have been scarce, but this Emerald Spreadwing posed nicely at one point.

And the never-ending Blue-fronted Dancers are out.  Most of what I saw were teneral or colourless.

Up at McKeough, I found the usual Pronghorn Clubtails along the riverbank.

Azure Bluet

Others included some Blue-tipped Dancers.  I do not recall seeing them here before, but maybe my memory is starting to fail!

This all-orange bluet is none other than an Orange Bluet!

Thursday, a number of us participated in the annual bird survey at Sydenham River Nature Reserve.  The weather left a lot to be desired!  Just as we were finishing up, the skies cleared for a nice sunny day.....go figure.

It had rained overnight (yet again!), so things were soaked.  Even with rubber boots, we got wet.  A pair of hip waders would have worked nicely!

Birds were quite scarce and difficult to find at times.  Some of the usuals were either low in number or not seen at all.  Fifty-nine species were tallied, in any case.

I had hoped to look for odonates along the way, but that was a lost cause except at the very end.  Specialties here include Arrowhead Spiketail and Rusty Snaketail.  Not to be seen this day!

Midland Clubtail

Slender Spreadwing

A nice lunch was held at the restaurant in Alvinston afterwards.

Here are some scenes along the way.

A little side channel beside the river

Looking into the gully

Since the sun was finally out on the way home, I was not going to let the day go to waste.  I stopped by Shetland CA boat launch to look for odes.

It is too early for Blue-ringed and Dusky Dancer among others, but some things were flying.

Blue-tipped Dancer

Violet Dancers

Stream Bluet

I suppose the highlight was a Rainbow Bluet.  I do not see these colourful creatures every year.

Here is a new insect for me that I found at the launch.

Wild Onion Mirid

Friday I went down to Erieau on a chance something would show.  Of course nothing did!  The Laughing Gull of the last two days had departed....no surprise.  But, I could not get down that way before this.

Here are some things from Saturday afternoon at Reid.

Grey Comma

Appalachian Brown

This flower fly has not been fully identified yet.  It is on iNaturalist, but nobody has positively identified it yet.

Peers Wetland has been rather dead for birds this spring, but I went for a walk anyway.  I wanted to look at a new bench that has been erected in memory of Zach Junkin.  Zach and his wife moved to Port Lambton in recent years.  But tragically, he died suddenly last summer.  

As a side note, Zach was a friend of Adam Shoalts, the famous adventurer and modern-day explorer that I mentioned this past winter.  Read about one of their canoeing adventures in the book The Whisper on the Night Wind.

Today, Sunday, I went as far as Komoka.  A male Blue Grosbeak has been singing at the provincial park for more than a week, and I wanted to see it.  A number of Blue Grosbeaks have popped up in various locations this spring.  More than usual it seems!

As soon as I opened my car door upon arrival, I heard it singing.  It has been right beside the parking lot (main entrance off Gideon Drive).

It was a bit cloudy most of the way there, aftermath of yet another overnight rain. (Is this rain ever going to end?).  However, the sun came out on the way back, so I decided to check out Skunk's Misery.

Nothing unusual and still no cuckoos.  I cannot find any, anywhere this spring!  What is up with them?

While in the area, a stop at Wardsville Woods is always necessary.  It was still quite wet upon arrival (no surprise), but the sun helped to dry things out.

Early on, I came across another Cobra Clubtail.

Seems that Cobras are not a problem this year!

But, it was sort of downhill from there.  Hardly any odes, yet again. 

A Violet Dancer was near the pond.

Flies included Narrow-headed Marsh Fly and Hornworm Tachnid Fly.

Butterflies included this first-of-year Silvery Checkerspot.

A very fresh Great-spangled Fritillary was right beside it.

I was home by early afternoon when the clouds rolled in for the rest of the day!  I hope it does not rain....for a couple of weeks!