Saturday, June 30, 2012

Insects and Another Dickcissel

Compass plant flower

I did a tour of some areas north of Wallaceburg this morning.  I was done by noon when the heat got to me!
I started at McKellar on Bickford Line.  Last week I thought the one area was good for Dickcissel and what do you know, one was singing there today!  I have found this species in at least six locations so far and seen or heard birds in nine or ten.  Certainly the most I have come across!
I got fairly close to this one.  It was a scruffy-looking bird.

McKellar has lots of ponds good for dragonflies, but maybe I was there too early in the day.  A young Pied-billed Grebe was swimming with a Hooded Merganser in one of the ponds.
baby grebe

A southbound Solitary Sandpiper was at another.
Spotted Sandpiper with Solitary Sandpiper

I checked Moore WMA and found a good number of hairstreaks of four species.  I still have not seen a Striped this year though.
Hickory Hairstreak

Coral Hairstreak

Edwards' Hairstreak
Banded Hairstreak

At Reid CA hairstreaks were few again today.  It is certainly not a banner year for them like it was in 2008.  The Indian Hemp is now fading as well as much of the milkweed already.

I found another Dukes' Skipper or two.  I think this one is a Dukes'.
Scarce Swamp Skipper

I also found Dion.

Broad-winged Skippers are not out yet it appears.

Up at McKeough Flag-tailed Spinylegs were out in force.  There were about 15 near the dam structure.


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