More Running Around and Some Bonuses

 I have been visiting various places in the last week.  Seems like a lot of running around and not finding much of note (until today)!

Last Friday I headed up to north Lambton and checked out the entire Ipperwash Forested Dunes and Swales trails.  Once again it was almost devoid of birds.  Not sure what is going on with that place!  I was looking more for insects though.

Cardinal Flower

Of note, I found this Huron Shore Bee Fly.

Perhaps I have unknowingly seen it before, but it is rather uncommon.  Seen in dune habitats, I suppose it got its name from this area.  However, it can be seen elsewhere.  There is a Rondeau record, Long Point, and it is seen in the NE United States.

In any case, the walk gave me some much-needed exercise!

Next day it was fairly local.  I took a walk at Reid C. L. and found some insects.

Common Painted-Lady

Greene's Giant Ichneumonid Wasp

Fraternal Potter WAsp

Later, a brief walk at McKeough revealed my first Common Buckeye of the year.

A single Flag-tailed Spinyleg was along the river's edge.

Sunday I checked out Blenheim lagoons.  Lots of shorebirds, but nothing of note.  Quite a few Stilt Sandpipers, and Lesser Yellowlegs continue to be in big numbers.

Yesterday I was due for more exercise, so I walked out Rondeau's marsh trail to the half way point.  Not much in the way of birds, and actually I was disappointed. I was hoping to see some southbound warblers!  I had seen zero as of yesterday.

Lance-tipped Darner

Eastern Pondhawk

A Common-checkered Skipper was in the yard in the afternoon.

Today was a different story with a perfect weather day.  I went to the south shore trail at Mitchell's Bay.  There were lots of birds, including warblers! (10 species).  Lots of vireos as well.

An added bonus was a flock of at least six Yellow-headed Blackbirds flying over.  Too quick for a photo, but there might have been more as I had just caught the tail end of the flyover flock.

This afternoon I could not resist going for a walk at Reid C. L.  Took a different route today and actually walked through the woods, which I rarely do during the summer.

Great-spangled fritillary

On the way back, I cut out to the laneway. At one point I caught sight of a dark skipper.  It turned out to be a female Zabulon!  I have only seen one before down at Ojibway.  All others have been males in this area.  

It was a pleasant surprise indeed.

I was just getting home, when I got word of a decent bird not too far away.  So, off I went to near Port Lambton.  Since it is a restricted access place, location will not be revealed here until later.

A Snowy Egret was a nice addition to such a nice day.

But wait, there was a bonus.  Two Red-necked Phalaropes were nearby.

One of the better days for this summer!

Point Pelee Butterfly Count! And Other Notes

 This past Saturday a butterfly count was revived at Point Pelee and surrounding area.  I always used to attend this one, but it was discontinued at least ten years ago.  It has always been in early August, making it a "fall" count.

I was joined by Keith Burk and we scoured the accessible areas south of the visitor centre.  Frankly, it was slim pickings!  A continued theme for this year.

We walked to the Tip then headed back the west side.

West beach trail has always been a prime section to look for good things.  There was not much, but Keith spotted a duskywing.  I immediately recognized it as a Horace's Duskywing!

A nice find indeed.

There were some crescents, which are now tricky to ID.  There is the Pearl, but Northern has been declared two distinct species, depending on timing.  Alan Wormington always maintained that there were three distinct species, so I guess he was right!  I am still trying to understand the situation.

The "Northern " complex (at this time of year) is presently called by its scientific name, Phyciodes diminutor.  Here is one I photographed on the count.

There were other species along the way including Dun Skipper.

I did not photograph some such as Giant Swallowtail, Spicebush Swallowtail, Monarch, Orange Sulphur, etc.

We made a second pass on the northern section of the west beach trail.  Things are always changing there, and it was certainly worthwhile.

We found two more Horace's Duskywings in short order.

Farther up the trail, I spotted a butterfly move in the shade. It opened its wings briefly, and I realized it was a Compton Tortoiseshell!  It moved to another branch, but never opened its wings.  However, it was indeed the said species.

There has been a bit of an invasion of this species of late, but it is quite rare in Essex County.  Apparently, there have only been about 17 records, and it is very rare at Point Pelee.

This sighting certainly made the day, after seeing so few butterflies.  Indeed a first for me at Point Pelee.

Keith and I had only 16 species, while the entire count ended up with 39 species.  Our Compton and the Horace's Duskywings were the only ones recorded on the count.

I have been out and about the past week, just not as much as usual, and certainly have not come across much of note.

Silver-spotted Skipper

Monday I came across some neat spiders.  There are lots out there though.  

Spined Macrathena

Arrowhead Orbweaver

Tuesday was quite foggy first thing, as I went for a walk at Mitchell's Bay.

It was such a glum morning, I went home.  But it got a little nicer in the afternoon, so I went for a long walk at Reid Conservation Lands.  

Common Wood Nymph

Common Ringlet

It was a good day for Royal River Cruisers, as I saw about twenty!

I have posted other things on iNaturalist, but there certainly has been a lack of ID participation on that forum of late!

Wednesday was such a glum day, I decided to go the museum to work for a few hours!

Today was yet another foggy morning.  It was quite dense at Wallaceburg, but I went out to Mitchell's Bay anyway.  Better visibility there at least.

It was "museum" all day today, so I was not out.

Some passerines are trickling through from the north, but I have not seen any!

Early August Anecdotes

 The first week of August is about done already!  I was out and about as usual, so here are some photos.

Saturday I checked out both the north shore and south shore trails at Mitchell's Bay.  Nothing of note seen.  The north shore usually has mud, but there was none for southbound shorebirds.  There is some "matting" farther out that might be attractive.

Some Great Egrets were perched and preening.

Swamp Rose Mallow is quite regular in various spots.

Sunday was uneventful, but Monday was a great day to be out in the fine weather.

After a drive along the river, I stopped for a walk at Nicholls Memorial Forest and Wetland at Wilkesport.

Cedar Waxwing

Common Wood Nymph

Then it was a stop at Reid C. L.  Some of the usual butterflies were showing their wear, as expected this time of year.

Dukes'

Peck's Skipper

Spicebush Swallowtail

And of course I never pass up an opportunity to photograph a Royal River Cruiser.

I also saw an unwanted alien in their midst.  This small creature is an Emerald Ash Borer.

I was home by noon, but got word that a Zabulon Skipper was visiting a property near Brigden.  I actually had this species on my mind in the morning, so naturally I headed up to Brigden!

First off, several Mocha Emeralds were flying around.  I had not yet obtained a photo of one this year, so this was my opportunity.

In fact, there were many Mochas flying around the property!  Never saw so many.

The target of the day took a while to find, but there it was. I knew from experience that once Zabulon's find a spot they like, they will stick to it.

While there, we looked at the resident Dukes' Skipper population.

Hummingbird Clearwing moths were working the Bergamot.

Tuesday, I went to Blenheim lagoons to look at shorebirds.  Target was the Red-necked Phalarope duo that was reported the previous day.  They were there, but unfortunately too distant to even attempt a photo.

Lots of other things to look at as well.

Least Sandpipers with a Semipalmated Sandpiper

Lesser Yellowlegs

Wednesday, I felt like going farther afield, and ended up at Strathroy.  I first stopped at Cuddy Woods CA northwest of the village.  I had never been there before, but it is a neat little place.  A number of Common Hackberry trees are here.

It has a pond, and the north end is muddy.  The local Black-necked Stilts have frequented this spot, but I was obviously too early in the day for them.  (They showed up later!).

My next walk was Strathroy CA within the village.  I did not see much of interest there, and things that I did, did not co-operate for the camera!

Scene along the Trail

On the way home, I stopped at Shetland CA boat launch to look for odes.  Very scarce!  I did see a Blue-ringed Dancer, but like everything else this day, did not co-operate.

A couple of Flag-tailed Spinylegs were on the riverbank, but even they were facing away.

Only saw one Violet Dancer whih remains un-ID'd on iNaturalist (many tend to shy away from IDing damselflies on iNaturalist! even when they are obvious)..

The usual Blackstripe Topminnows were in the area.

In the garden at home this moth was new for my list here.

Juniper Geometer Moth

Today was museum day, but I did go for a walk first thing at Mitchell's Bay.  Somewhat cloudy first thing though.

Those Shiny Bog Flies were still around.  Although secure in Ontario, they are considered imperiled in Canada overall.