More Insects and Shorebird Season

Another week has just about passed.  Too hot and humid to do much, but yesterday evening I got out briefly.  I went up to McKeough Dam to see what was lurking around.  Although late in the day, some dragonflies were still out.  I found one swarm of several species.  I took some time looking at these since there were some "red" ones involved.  Obviously they were Red Saddlebags, which have been reported widely of late.  Both males and females were involved.  I did not get any photos here, but I have seen them about a month ago.


They have even been found in the north at Thunder Bay. (click on Michael Butler's blog [North Shore Nature] on right sidebar).

I am not heavily into dragonflies, but I do watch for them as some interesting ones show up from time to time such as the Great Blue Skimmer from this past weekend.
For dragonfly sightings or to post sightings, go to:  Ont-Odes

Blue Dashers are very plentiful right now.  A couple were in the yard today.

Blue Dasher at McKeough

Peak time for satyrium hairstreaks is passing already locally.  As mentioned before, I did not see a lot this year and I did not find a Southern (Northern Oak) Hairstreak this year despite much effort.  One was seen by Paul Carter over a week ago though.
I found a few Banded yesterday, but maybe the others were hiding due to the heat!

Two butterfly counts are this weekend.  Ojibway is Saturday.  It is one where we find a high number of species in our party (~50+). It will be interesting since things were earlier this year.  Perhaps we will run into a colony of Dainty Sulphurs!  Jeff Larson found some today at his place in Harrow.

Dainty Sulphur (Hillman Marsh shorebird cell)

Shorebirds will be building up in numbers now.  Stewart Wetland near here is (or was) looking good until the heavy rains the last two days, but still has potential.  Good for herons and ibises too!  Still waiting for a White Ibis.  One was found not far away in Michigan last week by Karl Overman.

Ridgetown Lagoon has excellent habitat--better than Blenheim.  The good cell at Tilbury was dry as a bone on Monday, but maybe recent rains have renewed the habitat.