Wild Indigo Duskywing at Erieau

This afternoon I took a quick trip down to Erieau. I first walked the R/R trail. I noticed that there were a lot of butterflies. Only a couple of warblers (Blackpoll, Chestnut-sided) were there.
I then walked the dyke along McGeachy Pond. Birds included a Mockingbird and a couple of Palm Warblers. A single Sanderling was on the beach. Lots of butterflies and dragonflies too.
I noticed a small dark brown butterfly flying around. I followed it until it set down. It was a duskywing! This time of year it is most likely a Wild Indigo. This particular individual was hanging around Crown Vetch, and I knew that this plant was one of its food plants.

I had never seen a duskywing in the Rondeau area before. Upon checking the list at home, it is not on the park list, and I am not aware of any sightings adjacent to the park. So, this is a significant sighting!

Many other common butterflies were out, including Monarchs. This one looked very fresh while nectaring on New England Aster.

At the Erieau pier and area, there were lots of gulls and Caspian Terns. I counted 60 Caspian Terns on the Rondeau spit point. There were lots of Turkey Vulture either on the beach or in the air. Some were feeding on something black on the sand--either a cormorant or one of their own!