Recent Notes and An Imperiled Tour

 We are back in the hot and humid weather.  Birding will be a bit slow this week, but there must be something of interest out there.

Saturday, I needed to go in another direction and ended up at Hillman Marsh and Point Pelee.  It was rather "slow" for everything!

I did the long walk at Hillman.  No Wood Storks.  At "least" I saw some skippers.

At one point, I came across a Great Horned Owl!

After this walk, I decided to check out the west side of Point Pelee.  Unfortunately, I did not find anything note.  I had to try anyway!

Carolina Grasshopper

Later in the afternoon, I checked out the garden at home.  A Common Checkered-Skipper was present.

Also saw another Hidalgo Mason Wasp.

Sunday it was down to Rondeau for lack of anything else to do.  I walked out marsh trail, but only went so far.  There were a few birds to look at along the way.  

However, a thunderstorm came out of nowhere and we got rained on for a little while.  This was not in the forecast....all week!

In the afternoon it was nice enough to do a long walk at Reid CA.  It too, was rather quiet for everything.  

Seems to be quite a few Common Buckeyes around, and I encountered at least ten there.

Today, I wanted to check the Sydenham River for odonates.  I arrived at Shetland CA boat launch and found two other ode enthusiasts!  One was Jon Pleizier, with whom I had recently corresponded.

There was not much flying, but we did see the usual suspects, several of which are imperiled in Ontario.  A couple of Flag-tailed Spinylegs were included.

A single Blue-ringed Dancer (imperiled) co-operated nicely.

A couple of Royal River Cruisers (imperiled) were flying, but did not stop.

Common things like Stream Bluet were plentiful, as well as Fragile Forktail and Familiar Bluet.

My goal was to see Dusky Dancer (imperiled) today, but that was not to be at Shetland.  It is getting tough to find it seems.

However, I wanted to visit the boat launch at Florence where I had seen them before.  Upon arrival, it did not take long to find a single Dusky Dancer!  A bit distant though.

Both Rubyspots are here, and at one point I saw one of each, Smoky and American on the same rock. I managed to photograph a Smoky (imperiled).

Jon arrived here as well, and I pointed out the Dusky.

A Powdered Dancer (not imperiled!) was on the same perch at one point.

There was not much at all flying here, but a couple larger odes were flying midriver.  One was a Swift River Cruiser.  May have been Royal here as well.

The other was a clubtail that looked interesting, but it never came close.  I pointed it out to Jon and he managed a photo.  (thanks Jon!).  We were not sure at first, but I suggested Arrow Clubtail, since they are found here.

The photo was good enough to confirm Arrow Clubtail!  Another imperiled species in Ontario.  It is found in a few other places in Ontario, but it is certainly not common.

**photo by Jon Pleizier

I am quite sure I saw this species here years ago, but never got any photos.  It was a highlight for the day's list.

With a bit of time to spare, I headed down to Thamesville.  I just went to the Victoria Road bridge again, as the Tecumseh park was a bit farther, and I did not think I would add anything different.

Smoky Rubyspots were numerous here again.

The only other possibility today was Elusive Clubtail, but that may be for another day.  They can be found at the locations I visited today.  But then, they can be elusive!

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In the history corner, the Norman B. Ream was launched in August 1906.  It later sailed as the Kinsman Enterprise and was retired in 1979.  It was sold for use as a grain storage barge at Port Huron, Michigan that year.  Sarniaites may recall seeing it across the river for many years.  

The Port Huron Museum of Arts and History has an excellent marine section, and was given the rights to salvage the interior of the pilot house.  In 1982, my father and I helped in this regard.  It was an interesting experience!

August Sightings, 'Lifer' CA, and Another Comet

 Autumn migration is well underway, and local resident birds have been getting quieter.  A recent walk at Reid CA seemed quiet, but this resident Scarlet Tanager made an appearance.

The Dukes' Skippers have done well this year, and there are still a few in good shape.  I did not even try to look for them in recent visits....they just popped up on the path!

And its cousin the Broad-winged Skipper was waiting for me as well.

At one point, I spotted this Clymene Moth, rather unique-looking.

At Peers Wetland I have seen fledged young of several species.  Eastern Kingbirds among them.

A couple of days ago, I wanted to check out Strathroy Conservation Area, a place I had never visited.  A "lifer" CA!

I was quite impressed, and it is a rather large area!  Certainly warrants another visit. Among other trails, one can walk around the Sydenham River there.  I was more interested in insects, but there were a few birds including Red-headed Woodpeckers.

Some of the less-common insects included Blue-tipped.

Violet Dancer is also present.

Bluets included Familiar, the most common species.

There were practically no dragonflies, except a few Common Whitetails.

After checking out this place, I headed over to the lagoons.  It was rather quiet for birds compared to my last visit, but a few shorebirds were working the mud.

Since Shetland was on the way home, I had to stop there once again!  I was bound and determined to find a Dusky Dancer or two.  I spent quite a bit of time there with no luck, but eventually I spotted a suspicious candidate.  It was in a very difficult spot, but it was indeed a Dusky Dancer!

So, at least I saw one!

All the other usual creatures were present.  It is such a good place for diversity.

Flag-tailed Spinyleg (3 of these!)

Black-shouldered Spinyleg

Blue-ringed Dancers

Powdered Dancer

Violet Dancer

Friday, I headed down into Essex County to visit John R. Park Homestead.  The previous day, a Little Blue Heron was found.  It has been a long time since I have seen one, so I thought I would try.  It had been seen at first light, but it flew off, not to be seen again.  Unfortunately I came away empty-handed.

I decided to go into Point Pelee on my way home.  It was terribly quiet for birds, but again my focus was insects.  They too were scarce.

Along west beach trail, I came across an obliging Wandering Glider.

Soon after, a large dragonfly with a red abdomen flew right in front of me.  I looked to my right to see a Comet Darner!  Luckily it perched just off the trail.  This was the first time I have seen one perched.

To see a Comet Darner always makes for a good day.  This was the second one I have seen at Point Pelee--the first one just last summer, but on the fly.

Butterflies were very scarce.  It is concerning, as that has been the trend everywhere this year.  There are many factors, but one thing that bothers me is that there is too much spraying on roadsides and agricultural fields.  Some seem oblivious to the damage that is being done.

Eastern Comma

Other insects included this Bee Fly.  Not sure which particular species yet though.

Today was a lazy day, I checked out Peers Wetland for birds (lots of fledged ones).  It was early in the day, so insects were limited.  Some newly emerged Least Skippers were evident.

Canada Day Weekend Wanderings

 Time is passing by quickly, but I am making best use of my time.  I stopped by Reid CA late Wednesday and found six Oak Hairstreaks in short order.  A seventh was an eyeopener!  

Sometimes we get aberrant butterflies, and this Oak Hairstreak took the cake.

Some others:

I am finding very few Banded Hairstreaks this year so far.

Friday I headed down to Keith McLean C. L. first thing to see what shorebirds were in the fall swing.

Some Least, a White-rumped, a couple of Lesser Yellowlegs and two Short-billed Dowitchers were in.

SBD's

I moved on east to Clear Creek where I checked out the old quarry.  The usual insects were found.

Calico Pennant

Variable Dancer

Hickory Hairstreak

Skimming Bluet

Delaware Skipper

Azure Bluet

Further east, I did go to John E. Pearce PP (Storey Wetland), but it was overcast at the time.  As well, the drought had things bone dry, which was not good for dragonflies.

I headed back west, and stopped in at Wardsville Woods.  I did a thorough search and found no clubtails!  The dry weather is not helping, but time is passing quickly and some insects are nearing the end of their life cycle.  Sometimes it is feast or famine, but earlier in the day seems better.

A Slaty Skimmer was nice to see at the pond.

I found a few Double-striped Bluets at the pond as well.

A couple were making more!

Today I went up to Joany's Woods in Middlesex.  I was going to go there yesterday, but it was cloudy to the north.  Turned out to be a nice day for my visit!

On my way up, I found a family of Common Ravens SW of Oil Springs.  This species is more regular in Lambton anymore, and not considered rare.  There were five birds altogether.

I walked the trail along the river, although you cannot get too close or see it well.  Several odes were found including a couple of Swift River Cruisers patrolling the Ausable, and a couple of Midland Clubtails.  Only saw one American Rubyspot.

I found this Black-shouldered Spinyleg along the trail.

Several species of bluets and dancers were along the trail.

Blue-fronted Dancer

Variable Dancer

Stream Bluet

Nothing special in birds at Joanys.

Not far south, I stopped by Fossil Road which is a good ode spot.  There were hundreds of dancers/bluets of various species, but I did find two rare species.  One was Dusky Dancer. A bit distant, so highly cropped.

There were several Blue-ringed Dancers here as well.

Very few big odes; just a couple of Midland Clubtails and Swift River Cruisers.

I stopped by Reid CA before getting home.  It was very quiet.  Dukes' Skippers are not showing yet, but should be any time.  I saw zero Oak Hairstreaks, and only four Banded.  The Oak hairstreaks are just about done for another year!

Tomorrow is the Skunk's Misery butterfly count, so we will see what transpires there.

Grey Comma