One Hot Week!

 Activity was limited last week due to the extreme heat.  Canada Day (July 1) was the hottest while I spent most of it outdoors at the Wallaceburg Museum.  Each year, the museum puts on a celebration with displays, games for the kids, live music, barbeque and an assembly of vendors selling their goods.

Attendance was down obviously due to the heat, but a number of people came out.

The next morning, I went out to Mitchell's Bay early before the heat of the day set in.  Mainly just for a walk!

Eastern Kingbird

Chestnut-marked Pondmoth

Tule Bluets are the most common there, with hundreds.

Friday was little better, but not by much.  I went farther afield and ended up at Strathroy lagoons.  Black-necked Stilts once again nested there, and the four young were out and about.  The ponds are quite large, so photos were taken from a distance.

Farther west, Dickcissels were frequenting a field along Winter Drive.  Up to six singing males have been seen.  I saw at least three, including one on a wire along the road.

Down Sexton Road, there are some pastures.  I finally found a Grasshopper Sparrow singing in one of them.  It was too distant for a photo, but at least there is one in the area!

On the way home, I stopped at the Shetland Conservation Area boat launch which is a traditional spot to look for good odonates.  There were not many!  A continuing theme this year.

Powdered Dancer

Blue-tipped Dancer

Blue-fronted Dancer

Stream Bluet duo

Some butterflies were around as well.

Tawny Emperor

American Painted-Lady

One last stop was at Reid C. L.  No hairstreaks yet again, but I did find a Bronze Copper which is good for there.  In fact, I think it is the first one I have ever seen there.

Brings my total of butterflies there to 56 species.

This young White-tailed Deer was walking down the laneway at one point.

Yesterday was a bit rainy in the morning, so I just drove along the St. Clair River.

The afternoon turned out sunny, so after attending the Sombra Museum blueberry social, back I went to Reid.

Some moths caught my attention.

Saw-wing

Grape Leaf Skeletonizer

Hummingbird Clearwing

I was hoping for Dukes' Skippers, as they should be out at this date.  I was informed the site near Brigden had one in the morning.

Just before I left, I finally caught sight of one!

A couple other butterflies:

Dun Skipper

Eastern tailed-Blue

Plus a Monarch.

Today was a write-off as it rained most of it.

June is Gone!

 Probably my favourite month of the year is now done! Time flies by quickly, so we have to make the best of it.

I have been checking out my local haunts, and insects continue to be rather scarce.  I have not found another Oak Hairstreak at Reid C. L. despite some effort.  Looks like this will be the third year in a row that I have been the only person to find a single one.

Some things, though, are fairly plentiful like Silver-spotted Skippers and Peck's Skippers.

On Saturday, a number of naturalists conducted a bioblitz at the newest conservation lands, namely Bradshaw.  Different habitats are within and some interesting finds were made.  Booth Creek skirts the property and this was where the first Mocha Emerald was found in Canada.  It was a bit early for mochas, so none were tallied.

The creek was running a bit high.

We were left to wander the property on our own to see what we could find.  Some individuals concentrated on certain things.  We were pleased to have Pat Deacon (an expert on plants) inventory those.  So that portion was covered well.

I concentrated on insects.  Here are some of my finds.

Eastern Forktail

Twelve-spotted Skimmer

Common Whitetail

Ebony Jewelwing

Spring Dead-leaf Roller Moth

Short-lined Chocolate

Peck's Skipper

probable Blue-tipped Dancer

I netted a butterfly at one point, and inadvertantly caught this tiny katydid at the same time.

There were some unknowns.

complex Laphris canis

a member of feather-legged flies

And others.

Yesterday I stayed quite local and at one point visited Reid C. L.  I did see three hairstreaks, but all were Banded.  Sure is a far cry from what used to be there.  It was a hairstreak haven of several species!

Even Common Wood Nymphs are not so common anymore.

Blue-fronted Dancers, the most abundant dancer anywhere, were just starting to show up.

Spreadwings included Emerald.

In the afternoon, I checked out my garden, where things are just coming into bloom. Some of these insects are very tiny and difficult to photograph.

Red-banded Leaf Hopper

Margined Calligrapher

And some a little larger.

European Paper Wasp

Margined Leather-winged Beetle

One or two Stream Bluets have been hanging out.  (The Sydenham River is just across the road, so probably came from there).

Today I needed to go a bit farther afield.  Killing some time, I first went to Keith McLean C. L.  Nothing of note, but a Red-headed Woodpecker was nice to see.  Seems to be quite a few around this year.

Afterwards, I went to Clear Creek to check out the old quarry.  First time I had been there this year.  I was pleased to find quite a few dragonflies.

From the get-go, I noticed quite a few Westfall's Slender Bluets. These are uncommon in Ontario, but can be locally common.  Clear Creek is one of those, and today it was the most common bluet there.

A diagnostic characteristic is the T-shaped notch in segment eight.

It is interesting on iNaturalist where these rarer odes are not immediately identified.  People seem hesitant or afraid to confirm these! (as was with the case of the Cobra Clubtail).

Some firsts for the year included Azure Bluet and Violet Dancer.

Lots of Calico Pennants were flying.

I thought it was a bit early for Comet Darner, but lo and behold I did see one!  Unfortunately, I could not obtain a photo despite a valiant effort.

My first Delaware Skipper of the year was seen at one point.

Later, I walked the Bury Cemetery trail across the highway.  This a neat little trail I like to check out this time of year.

Several Northern Pearly-eyes were flying.

At one point I noticed a Lecontes Haploa moth in the shadows.

And that was it for the day since it was getting to be a scorcher.

Tomorrow is supposed to be even a bit hotter, so I do not know how we will make out at the museum.  The Wallaceburg Museum always puts on a big deal each Canada Day with vendors, music, barbeque, and games for the kids.