Continuing With Insects!

 This past Sunday afternoon, a few of us checked out Reid C.L. for insects.  It was a perfect weather day--sunny and not too hot.

The theme was Dragonflies and Other Insects as I led a Lambton Wildlife outing.  Turnout was low with only three other people, so I guess other priorities were in order that day.

We had a wonderful time finding lots of things!

There were very few dragonflies, but we did see at least one Mocha Emerald on the wing.

We spent most of the time at the low spot where there was once a river channel.

Among the sedge skippers were Broad-winged, Dukes' and that single Dion.

Broad-winged

Dion

Dukes'

There were several baby tree frogs seen.

Some other insects:

Acanthocephala terminalis

Smeared Dagger

Short-lined Chocolate moth

Slender Spreadwing

Winthemia

Chokecherry Leafroller Moth

Carolina Grasshopper

A couple of Banded Hairstreaks were seen near the gate.

Next day, I wanted to go farther afield and ended up at Hillman Marsh and Point Pelee.  Things were scarce at Hillman, but several Broad-winged Skippers were around the shorebird cell.

An Eyed Brown was in a usual locale.

Dragonflies were extremely low in numbers.

Widow Skimmer

I went into Point Pelee for a brief walk down west beach trail.  The previous evening, a Striped Hairstreak was seen there.  I had no expectations of finding one, but I got lucky! Like finding a needle in a haystack, I just happened to spot a Striped Hairstreak.

Not all that common there, but I have seen a few many years ago.

No Common Checkered-Skippers were detected at Hillman which was very unusual.  However, that afternoon I found one in my yard.

Tuesday, I went up to Sarnia.  I needed to get a new cell phone (been putting that off too long!), but before that, I walked a portion of the Howard Watson trail between Modeland Road and Blackwell Sideroad.  I have found it good for insects in the past, but once again they were scarce (the trend this year).

One of my targets was to find Double-striped Bluet.  I managed to find one!

I also found only one Banded Hairstreak.

On the way home, I stopped at Moore WMA for a quick look.  Some Blue-tipped Dancers were along the river along with Stream Bluets.

Today, went just north of town first thing in the morning before the heat of the day arrived.  First walked Nicholl's Memorial Forest and Wetland.

Double-banded Grass Veneer moth

Then went to Reid C. L. and spent quite a bit of time there.  

I walked around the back field, and finally got a photo of a Royal River Cruiser for this year.

Along the main trail, I found quite a few hairstreaks.  More than last year and this year combined!  Most were Banded, but a few were Hickory.

Hickory

Banded

I spent most of the time at the "low spot".  

Lots of Broad-winged Skippers were flying.

A few Dukes' as well.

I did see a Mulberry Wing, but it never settled for a photo.  Second time I have seen one, but unable to photograph!

Few odonates.

Eastern Forktail

Slender Spreadwing

It was clear this morning, but as I write this, wildfire smoke is extremely thick here in Wallaceburg.  As bad as it was three years ago.  Hopefully it is better tomorrow.

Insect Hunting This Past Week

 As usual, this time of year I am looking more at insects, but of course birds are mixed in.

Last Monday, I headed to south Chatham-Kent just ot look around, starting at Keith McLean C. L.  Highlight there was a singing Dickcissel.

Next walk was at the Erieau marsh trail, but along the way, especially along Bisnett Line, I noticed many trees down. Obviously the storm hit hard there.  Nothing of interest along that trail.

I then went to Blenheim lagoons, now that shorebird migration is well underway.  There were quite a few shorebirds, including an early Stilt Sandpiper.

It was a cloudy morning, but afternoon was sunny.  I checked out insects in the garden, finding most of the usuals, but some other less than usual.

Hidalgo Mason Wasp

Bicolored Striped Sweat Bee

Two-spotted Longhorn Bee

Louis's Club-horned Cuckoo Wasp

Two-spotted Bumble Bee

This green creature was on the back porch, a member of the lacewings.

Chrysopa oculata

Tuesday I spent time north of town.  This Green Heron posed nicely at McKeough.

I walked through the floodway a bit, which was a mistake.  Ticks were horrendous! Generally they have not been that bad this year, but that location was bad.

Some Wild Indigo Duskywings were interesting though.

Next stop was Reid C. L.  I did find a Dukes'.

Some Delaware Skippers were here too.

Broad-winged Skippers were flying, but they never settled down.  At one point I thought I photographed a Broad-winged, however I never saw the underwing.  Later after a discussion on iNaturalist, it seems that it is a Dion Skipper.  Very similar to the Dukes', this is rare in our area.  Unless it an abherrant creature, it is new for Reid. Upper wing pattern indicative of female Dion.

Other things:

Banded Hairstreak

Question Mark

Next day I decided to visit Skunk's Misery, mainly along Centreville Drive.  I found or heard the usual birds.

Very few butterflies.

I was hoping to see Dukes' Skipper in a known spot, but they never materialized.  I spent quite a bit of time there.  Northern Broken-Dash were quite plentiful.

An Emerald Spreadwing was there as well.

I next visited Wardsville Woods since it is nearby.  Still very few odes!  I mainly concentrate along the creek back to the pond.

View along the creek

Basically one of this and one of that.

Azure Bluet

Violet Dancer

Some moths were in the shaded areas.

LeContes Haploa

Clymene Moth

Friday I did the same route to south Chatham-Kent as earlier in the week.  It was basically a waste of time!  It was cloudy. The Dickcissel was not at McLean's.  Nothing of interest at McGeachy Pond, and workers were at the lagoons so there was no sense in walking to the back pond.

I did however hear a singing Dickcissel across the road from the lagoons.

The afternoon turned out sunny as it usually does, so I went up to Reid C. L.  I spent quite a bit of time there, but things were not co-operating for photos.  I wanted to try and get a photo of a Broad-winged Skipper, but they kept fluttering around.

However, a Dukes' Skipper did pose nicely.

Found one more in a different location.

I checked yet another spot, but no Dukes' there.  

Lots of Blue Ash in this area.

The one larger tree I have been keeping an eye on is now barely alive.

Today I had no idea where to go!   I opted not to participate in the Skunk's Misery butterfly count this year.  Just not the same as it used to be, as interest has waned in these things.  I travelled up along the St. Clair River First thing. Stopped at Willow Park.

Dickcissels are once again behind the berm at the old Lambton Generating Station nearby.

I decided to check out the boat launch at Shetland C. A. this morning.  It was somewhat productive, but still very few odonates (I guess that is the way it is this year!).  I spent the better part of two hours there.

I did find a single Blue-ringed Dancer.  They will just be coming out, so it is early.

I was hoping to see Flag-tailed Spinyleg as well.  Seems they come out later in the morning!  I did finally see a couple.

Its cousin with a black shoulder was also in the vicinity.

Black-shouldered Spinyleg

A couple of Swift River Cruisers were patrolling the river the whole time, but they difficult to photograph in flight, lol.  Too swift.

I saw a somewhat interesting dancer in the distance, so I just photographed it.  At home, I determined it to be a Dusky Dancer, which is an endangered species.  Glad I took the photograph!

I have seen them here before, but they are scarce.

A couple of Powdered Dancers were around.

I often see Blackstripe Topminnows here, and today was no exception.

As well, turtles are often here.  I have not seen a Spiny Softshell yet this year, strangely.  Perhaps not a good sign. They always used to be here on my visits.

A couple of small Map Turtles were here.

Tomorrow is yet another day!