Oblique Things and Sightings of Late

 Nothing too earth-shattering this week.  I have been looking at insects lately, and today especially, there was a multitude of butterflies.

With asters in bloom, many little insects have been attracted to the flowers.  Oblique Streaktails have been plentiful.

Oblique Streaktail at Peers

Oblique Streaktail at Rondeau

Yesterday, I came across another insect with oblique in its name.  An Oblique-banded Pond Fly was at Nicholl's Memorial Forest and Wetland at Wilkesport.

Some other insects:

Bramble Mason Wasp 

flower fly sp.

This past Monday afternoon was nice enough to go for a long walk at Reid CA.  I encountered three Royal River Cruisers, certainly the latest I have seen them.

getting worn!

Some butterflies included Silver-spotted Skippers and Common Buckeyes which are very abundant this year.

Common Painted-Lady

And the tiny things:

Tufted Globetail

Of course, a mussel shell cannot go un-noticed along the way.

Giant Floater

Tuesday I was interested in the long walk out Rondeau Park's marsh trail.  I went as far as Long Pond, a familiar 11 km round trip.

It was interesting, with lots of birds, but nothing unusual.  I had hopes of finding a Nelson's Sparrow, but despite a valiant effort, I came up empty on that front!

Several birds tripped the eBird filter, including Swamp Sparrow where I tallied 120.  

Wilson's Snipe kept popping up with at least 31 seen.

Quite a few Marsh Wrens are still around.  I saw/heard at least 20.

There were not too many warblers, but Palm seemed to be the most numerous.  Among various species, there was Orange-crowned and Ovenbird.

There were a few butterflies including Least Skipper.

And, just as I was leaving the trail, a Fiery Skipper caught my eye at a bad angle.

I checked Keith McLean C. L. before going home.  No Nelson's Sparrow seen!

Yesterday, I stayed fairly close to home, but did not find anything to write home about.  I went for a walk at Peers Wetland, and in the afternoon, a pleasant walk at Wilkesport.

Lots of flower flies, and the following one was very numerous. However, it is too difficult to ID as to species.

flower fly sp.

Tufted Globetail

Common Whitetail (F)

Today, seemed like a good day to go to Rondeau.  I had anticipations of a good lakewatch at dog beach, but not too much was seen.  Better days ahead no doubt!

I then walked south point trail (east), but found few birds.  However, there was  crazy number of sulphurs and Common Buckeyes, among other butterflies.  Probably saw close to 40 Buckeyes!

It as then off to Keith McLean C. L. to see what was around.  I met Steve there, and we looked for Nelson's Sparrows to no avail.  There is not as much good habitat this year it seems.

After Steve left, I ate my lunch, then decided to go for another walk.  It was successful!  Although not a close look in good light, I came up with my first Nelson's Sparrow of the year.

This area was also littered with Common Buckeye, sulphurs, and others.  This Bronze Copper caught my eye at one point.

There are probably some interesting days ahead with birding, as I like October!

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in the yard

Something Elusive and OFO Convention Weekend

 Warblers are still coming through in good numbers of late.

Peers Parula

And, sparrows are certainly increasing in numbers.

Lincoln's Sparrow

The afternoon before I left for Algonquin Park, I noticed a clubtail fly into the yard.  It set down on a cedar tree, as seen from my bedroom window.  I went outside with the camera, but could not get close to it.  It looked quite interesting!

I took some really crappy photos, and on further examination, I was fairly certain that it was an Elusive Clubtail.  This is an uncommon clubtail not seen often in late summer and early fall.  It can show up anywhere, but more likely along rivers such as the Sydenham or Thames.  I have only photographed some once, and that was at Brander Park, Port Lambton 14 October 2013.  So they can be quite late in the fall.

I put the photos on iNaturalist not expecting any results. A fellow naturalist confirmed it as such, so it will go down as an incredible yard record!

Here is a photo, and take it as you may.

Thursday was quite nice, and I went for some walks locally.  At Wilkesport, I found a Royal River Cruiser.  Getting late for them, and probably the latest one I have seen.

Other insects:

Oblique Streaktail

Comma of the East

Common Buckeyes are not problem anywhere this year!

This weekend was the annual Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) weekend, which was held at Leamington.  Nice to have it close to home!  Next year it will be even closer, at Sarnia.  First time for there, so it will be interesting.

Friday's weather was fairly nice, but very windy as the remnants of hurricane Helene blew in.  A Red Knot was found at the Erieau pier, so I decided that was a good place to start my weekend.  I was just getting things together at home when it was reported, so I then made a beeline to Erieau in hopes that it was still there.  It was, and it was  a nice addition to my year list.  I was worried that I would miss it this year.

It spent quite a bit of time on the leeside of the pier.

Red Knots have taken a nosedive in numbers the last fifteen years or so.  We often just see single birds anymore, if any at all.  I recall when I first started birding, we could get good-sized flocks at Rondeau later in May.  Mostly a thing of the past!

It was very windy at Erieau (and elsewhere), and I stayed for a couple of hours in hopes of seeing something else of interest.  Did not happen though.

A couple of Peregrine Falcons hung around though.

Erieau Pier

It was then off to Point Pelee to start my OFO convention weekend.  

*their logo*

The weather was nice enough to look for butterflies, but I did not seen too much.  This Fiery Skipper caught my eye at one point.

It probably noticed me as well.

I also later saw a Southern Dogface-Sulphur at Sanctuary.  They are getting worn and fewer in numbers.  Strangely, no other bigtime rarities from the south have been seen yet.

I spent other time looking for birds.  Along the way, this melanistic Garter Snake was slithering around on the trail.  I was not in a position to get the whole creature in a photo.

Lots of moths are seen this time of year.  I think this one is a Corn Earworm Moth.  I could not get in a better position to photograph it.  Note the green eye!

With the wind, some lake ships were anchored.  I think this one is the John J. Boland.

With the high east winds, the constantly changing Tip was gone.  Lots of spray over the shallow waters.

Friday evening there was an informal dinner at the Portuguese Club Leamington.  Sarah Rupert's famous bird quiz was once again challenging!

Saturday was another story.  It was constant rain and drizzle most of the day.  As usual, the weather forecast was wrong and we received way more rain than predicted.  The high winds made it quite miserable as well!  I guess I am used to that....

As a result, I did not bring out the camera, so no photos unfortunately.

However, we were all out looking for birds.  I opted to go to the Tip (and get soaked).  Lots of birds were seen, but nothing spectacular.  However, a couple of distant jaegers were seen, and two American White Pelicans put on a show for observers.

At one point, I caught sight of a shorebird flying quickly south.  It turned out to be a Red-necked Phalarope, and I got a few dedicated birders on it.

Later, I spent most of time around De Laurier, where I found a multitude of birds.  Through off and on rain, I actually found it interesting and racked up a good list.

Orange-crowned Warbler (example of one species I found)

I was soaked during the day and had no change of clothes as I did not expect all this rain, but dried out enough to attend the evening festivities.

This year's Distinguished Ornithologist is Mark Peck, well-deserved with his decades of work at the Royal Ontario Museum, shorebirds surveys especially on James Bay and elsewhere, writings, and other things.

The keynote speakers made an interesting presentation on indigenous bird names.  Quite informative!

I went home after the event, rather than stay another night.

The OFO Convention is certainly a wonderful social affair which I enjoy immensely and look forward to it every year.  Next year, I can stay at home to attend the event!

Algonquin Visit: No Shortage of Rain!

 Sunday, I headed up to Algonquin Park for my annual visit.  I took the usual route and arrived after a 5.5h drive.  The weather was nice on Sunday, but it went downhill from there.  My usual bad luck followed me.....again!

As always, it was just nice to be in Algonquin.  I fought rain and drizzle from Monday to Wednesday, but made the best of it.  Birds were not plentiful and I only got one of the specialties despite a valiant effort.  I added some year birds, and a some new birds for my Algonquin list.

For some reason, the Black-backed Woodpeckers disappeared and have been virtually absent since mid summer.  Where do they go?  Canada Jays are getting scarcer, and Boreal Chickadees are virtually absent from the Highway 60 corridor anymore.  Crossbills are not around this fall.

I did not carry the camera much of the time since it was either rain or drizzle under gloomy skies.

As always, my first walk was on the old railway bed off Arowhon Road.  Certainly a popular spot, as many people come here.  It was certainly a bit quiet for birds compared to last year.

Trees are turning colours

I did add a flyover Evening Grosbeak, which I was quite pleased about.

I met Mike Runtz at one point, and he indicated that a Spruce Grouse was in the area less than a half hour earlier.  I never saw it though!

Some insects included odes.

Canada Darner (lots!)

Autumn Meadowhawks

spreadwing sp.  (probably identifiable, but camera would not focus)

Another  things such as the common Eastern Calligrapher.

To kill some time before heading to Mew Lake, I stopped by the Cache Lake boat launch.  Here, as described in past posts, is where the famous Highland Inn and Park Headquarters were along the railroad.  Always interesting.

remnants--the steps to nowhere

After another walk was on Two Rivers trail. There is a nice cliff view.

I then headed into the Mew Lake campground across the road.  I checked out the old airfield first thing since I knew the weather was going to go into the toilet the rest of the trip.

Good thing, as insects were flying which would be absent the rest of the trip.

I found some American Coppers (at least six).

Other butterflies included a single Monarch (high-flying!) and some Clouded Sulphurs.

(photo from the past)

At the outlet of Two Rivers, there are always American Black Ducks.

But there was an American Wigeon as well, quite uncommon in the park.  It was a new bird for my Algonquin list.  Not close, but I attempted a photo.

Sunday evening, the clouds rolled in and thunder could be heard. We had a very heavy rain during the night which kept me awake.

Monday morning, I walked the old airfield again, not turning up much.  There were oodles of Yellow-rumped Warblers, as was the case the whole trip.  Certainly more plentiful than in past trips.  

Some other warblers were mixed in during the trip including, Bay-breasted, Blackpoll, Black-throated Green, Tennessee and even an Orange-crowned.  Lots of Palm Warblers and a few Pine as well.

I then headed to Spruce Bog Boardwalk in hopes of seeing Spruce Grouse.  I was not disappointed!  However, lighting was horrible due to the doom and gloom weather.  ISO had to be set at maximum, hence photo quality poor.

These tame creatures are not too bothered by your presence.

Since I was in that direction, I headed over to the Logging Museum trail.  Nothing really of note, except Tennessee Warbler had turned "rare" on the eBird list!

one of the displays

With a break in the rain, although there was mostly drizzle when not raining, I walked Bat Lake Trail. 

 It is an excellent birding trail (usually!).  In the past, I have had good luck with all the specialties on this trail.  Unfortunately, Boreal Chickadee (for example) is almost a thing of the past along the highway 60 corridor.

The out-of-place boulder I always photograph!

I did add another new species for my park list in the form of a Green-winged Teal.

I saw a "year bird" which was a Ruffed Grouse.

(there is a grouse in this cellphone photo!)

Near the end of the trail, I found a good pocket of warblers, including a Blackpoll and Bay-breasted which were now "rare" on eBird.  (I think their filter should be adjusted!).

While having an expensive lunch at Two Rivers Store, some Wild Turkeys were foraging across the road.  They are becoming more regular in Algonquin.  I think this was a new bird for my list as well.

Not wanting to go anywhere else while it threatened rain, I walked the old airfield again.  Out on the lake, I found the Horned Grebe which had previously been reported.  Rather uncommon in the park, and a first for my park list.  I have seen Red-necked Grebe before though!

Tuesday morning, I met up with Kevin Gevaert who works in the park.  I have known Kevin for some time since he used to work at Rondeau Park.  We checked out the old airfield.

Nothing of note, but lots of American Pipits were circling around.

I then decided to walk the old railway bed off Arowhon Road again.  I found it rather quiet.  I did see another Green-winged Teal though!

Before lunch, I checked out the trailer sanitation station area.  A portage trail is here, which I had not been to in many years.  I always used to check this place out and it seemed good for birds.  (had Boreal Chickadee there once).  However, it was quiet this time.

Then I walked Big Pines trail, which was almost birdless.  No doubt weather was a factor!

Saw this plant along the way which seemed to stick out.

Bluebead Lily

After lunch, it was to the old airfield again, then after supper yet another walk on the airfield.  Just the usuals.

Wednesday morning was quite rainy (nothing new there) as I packed things up for the drive home.  I walked the old airfield before leaving Mew Lake in the rain (no choice!).  The only thing new was a second American Wigeon.  Both were seen together.

Heading west, I stopped by Tea Lake Dam picnic area for a look.

Here is where the artist Tom Thompson camped at one point.  There is an interpretive sign giving the information.

The drive home was uneventful without rain of course, and the weather got better the closer I got to home......naturally.

The evening was spent trying to get things dried out....