Owls On The Prowl and Recent Outings

 This past Friday there was an interesting experience right here at home.  I had been working on an upstairs window for some time, but all of a sudden I heard a commotion with an upset robin.

I looked over towards the neighbour's house and noticed an Eastern Screech-owl sitting on the robin's nest.  I grabbed the camera.

You can see one of the feet of a young robin.

The owl must have flown in at one point since this commotion happened all of a sudden.  The young robins were doomed!  I guess owls eat anything.

That evening at least screech owls were on the prowl at dusk.  Obviously they were locally-raised owls roaming the neighbourhood.  I see this every year about this time.

While looking out my bedroom window, one owl alighted on top of my flagpole.  I did not have time to adjust camera setting properly,  but I managed this photo.

The owls are still around at time of this writing.

That same evening, two Common Nighthawks flew over.  It is quite late for migrants, so who knows what they were doing.  Perhaps some may be nesting in the area.  They were here historically.

That morning I went for a walk at Reid CA.  It was a bit too early for insects, but I had nothing else to do.

Rhubarb Weavil

I noticed these gall things on Shagbark Hickory.

Phylloxera caryaefallax

Hickory Leafstem Gall Phylloxera

Saturday was the annual bird survey at Sydenham River Nature Reserve.  It was rather uneventful with regards to birds, actually.  Not as many as usual.

One of the ravines

During the walk I watched for insects.

Monarch

Common Whitetail (male)

Midland Clubtail

Near the end, the highlight was Arrowhead Spiketail.  Rather rare for this area, but known at SRNR.  I saw a total of three.

Being encouraged by this, afterwards, I went down to Wardsville Woods to look for the specialties there.  However, it was very disappointing.  No spiketails there...yet!

I did see a couple of large nasty-looking insects called Elm Sawfly.

Sunday I did a wetland tour from Keith McLean C. L. over to McGeachy Pond and the marsh trail.  Also stopped by Blenheim Lagoons.  Nothing of note, but you never know what is out there until you try!

Map Turtle

Today, I was really at a loss what to do.  However, I needed a long walk and went out Rondeau's marsh trail.  It was rather uneventful. No bitterns or rails as I walked all the way to Long Pond.  I do not think there are as many around this year since each time I get very few or even strike out.  Lots of Marsh Wrens everywhere though!

It was raining by the time I got back to the car, so that curtailed things for a bit today.