Now that we are well into the new year of 2025, I look back at 2024. I will touch on a just a few highlights. As I am a "local" person, these were not too far from home!
It was not the best year for birds. There were fewer birds and less rarities than the year before to my eyes. It did not help that I had a lot of bad luck this year. Almost every time something of significance showed up, I was in the opposite direction! As well, I could not find much of note. The only half decent self-found bird this year was the Snowy Egret at Mitchell's Bay back in May. Many went to see it.
There were some highlights with life birds though. The Ferruginous Hawk at Port Alma in May was a long-desired Ontario bird for many including myself. It was way too distant in a field when I saw it though.
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| LOL! |
The Black-tailed Gull at Port Glasgow was indeed a nice life bird for myself as well as others. This was another day I went in the opposite direction, but I was not going to miss this one!
It was nice to see the Mountain Bluebird near Rondeau. It was a long-overdue record for the Rondeau birding circle. Thanks Steve! Not a life bird though, as I have seen a couple others.
On the other hand, it was a good year for insects. I found lots of rarities and did well with other uncommon things. The fact that I spent a lot of time looking for insects certainly paid off.
There were lots of things in the backyard garden, some uncommon to rare. The tiny Cobalt Hover Fly was a nice spot one day.
There were a few things up at Reid CA, including this Virginia Giant Hover Fly.
There was not a huge number of butterflies, but there were lots of good sightings. Topping the list was Zabulon Skipper. There was already a good showing in Essex County, then Dale Buchner found one at Canatara Park in June for Lambton' first record. I thought there had to be some around elsewhere.
One nice day at Reid CA, I spotted a skipper flitting about. It would take off and then go back to the same perch many times. I thought at first it was just a Peck's Skipper, but after a closer look, I realized it was a Zabulon Skipper!
I found another a bit farther along the trail the same day. These were males waiting for females that never arrived. They stayed a good two weeks.
Later on, I found another male a Wilkesport's Nicholls Memorial Forest and Wetland. One had to wonder how many were actually out there!
Not long after, I was checking one of my favourite insect spots at Wardsville. I found another Zabulon Skipper, constituting that county's first record.
Also saw the one at Point Pelee, which was the park's first record.
The sedge skippers did well in 2024 during a very wet early summer. Lots of Duke's Skippers were at Reid and it was no problem finding some any time I visited.
I found a couple of Skunk's Misery during the butterfly count which constituted that county's first record as far as I know.
For the first time, we saw Mulberry Wing at Reid.
We also saw them at a private property near Brigden. Nice to see these uncommon creatures.
It was also a treat to see the uncommon-for-the-south Silvery Blue at Sarnia.
It was an excellent year for odonates. Hands down, the highlight was the Golden-winged Skimmer at Port Franks found by Darrell Parsons. After hearing about it, I went the next morning and found it with no problem. A gorgeous creature.
It was the first record for Canada!
It was a good location for other odonates as well. Comet Darner, relatively rare for Ontario, was also here.
At Reid CA, I found lots of odonates, including a Great Blue Skimmer. I had found two there two years previous which was a first for that location.
Also at Reid, I saw a couple of Mocha Emeralds. Although this species is expanding its range, it is always nice to find this rarity.
A Mocha Emerald was also at Skunk's Misery, certainly a unique sighting for there along a creek. Probably a first for that specific location where I found it.
One of my favourite spots for odes is Wardsville Woods. I have covered the rarities there in the past such as Arrowhead Spiketail, Twin-spotted Spiketail, Cobra Clubtail, and Riverine Clubtail. Odes were rather scarce there in 2024, but I managed to get everything except Twin-spotted Spiketail.
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| Riverine Clubtail |
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| Cobra Clubtail ! |
I also found another uncommon spreadwing there called an Amber-winged.
Along the Sydenham, we have the rarities such as Flag-tailed Spinyleg. I found my first one for Reid CA this past summer, and also the first at Peers Wetland just outside of Wallaceburg.
Good spots for odes include the Shetland CA boat launch, Mosside boat launch near Aughrim, and the bridge at Florence.
One day I met Jon Pleizier from the Hamilton area at Shetland. We saw some of the good ones including the endangered Blue-ringed Dancer.
We later checked out Florence and found the Arrow Clubtail cruising the river, another good rarity for Ontario.
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| Arrow Clubtail (photo by Jon Pleizier) |
We also saw the endangered Dusky Dancer during that visit.
It would not be complete without mentioning the Royal River Cruiser, my favourite. Although classified as critically imperiled, I saw lots of these in various locations this year. Included were several in my yard right here in Wallaceburg, Peers Wetland, the south shore nature trail at Mitchell's Bay (really weird!), Moore WMA, McKeough CA, and of course the hotspot of Reid CA.
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| The Royal |
On last mention is the Elusive Clubtail that landed in my backyard late one afternoon. I saw it come in to the yard from my window and thought that looked interesting. It was impossible to get proper photos, but I concluded it was the Elusive. I know the average person would not ID it from the photo, but I know that is what it was! An incredible record indeed for the yard.
These are uncommon around here, and spend much time high in trees, so often go unnoticed.
Lastly, as you all know, I look at mussels. This year I found Lilliput at Reid CA, a critically imperiled species. This was last spring. I found another there just last week. These are quite small for mussels.
Also found one or two up on the Ausable River at the river cut. Only the second record for there.
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December ended with a whimper, but I was out on New Year's Day to see what was around. I ended up going to Wheatley Harbour Point Pelee. The theme continued with very few birds seen!
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| Double-crested Cormorant at Wheatley |
Waterfowl watching has been good though, where-ever one goes. There were lots of ducks on the lake to sort through.
There was some estensive shoreline off Sparrow Field in the park, while off Shuster Trail, there was no shoreline! I guess this is where the sand went.
It was not the best day weatherwise, and I was happy not be doing a Christmas Bird Count, especially along windy Lake St. Clair.
I passed through the area though on my way home. I spotted a White-crowned Sparrow at one point near the St. Clair NWA. Turns out it was the only one in the area for that count! So that is my nickel's worth for the count.....
Next day was not good. I headed down towards Rondeau, but had to turn around due to the traffic being diverted off the 401. Roads were bad anyway due to the heavy snow (not in the forecast!). I ended up heading out to the old Dover Twp. but there was not as much around as the previous day (just my luck again!).
I did spot a Snowy Owl in the usual spot. Although it was there the last day of December, I think it was not seen on the count day!
Today, I checked out the St. Clair River. Not the best day weatherwise either with quite a bit of wet snow at times.
The Redheads were still at Sombra dock, which seems to be the only place they are on the entire river so far.
Amongst them was an annual visitor in the form of a Redhead X Ring-necked Duck. Although we have seen several of these, it is interesting how they return to the same spot every winter. It was yet another gloomy day, so photos are poor.
Also of note were two Common Loons off Willow Park south of Courtright.
Some better days are ahead, no doubt. I hope!
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