One Hot Week!

 Activity was limited last week due to the extreme heat.  Canada Day (July 1) was the hottest while I spent most of it outdoors at the Wallaceburg Museum.  Each year, the museum puts on a celebration with displays, games for the kids, live music, barbeque and an assembly of vendors selling their goods.

Attendance was down obviously due to the heat, but a number of people came out.

The next morning, I went out to Mitchell's Bay early before the heat of the day set in.  Mainly just for a walk!

Eastern Kingbird

Chestnut-marked Pondmoth

Tule Bluets are the most common there, with hundreds.

Friday was little better, but not by much.  I went farther afield and ended up at Strathroy lagoons.  Black-necked Stilts once again nested there, and the four young were out and about.  The ponds are quite large, so photos were taken from a distance.

Farther west, Dickcissels were frequenting a field along Winter Drive.  Up to six singing males have been seen.  I saw at least three, including one on a wire along the road.

Down Sexton Road, there are some pastures.  I finally found a Grasshopper Sparrow singing in one of them.  It was too distant for a photo, but at least there is one in the area!

On the way home, I stopped at the Shetland Conservation Area boat launch which is a traditional spot to look for good odonates.  There were not many!  A continuing theme this year.

Powdered Dancer

Blue-tipped Dancer

Blue-fronted Dancer

Stream Bluet duo

Some butterflies were around as well.

Tawny Emperor

American Painted-Lady

One last stop was at Reid C. L.  No hairstreaks yet again, but I did find a Bronze Copper which is good for there.  In fact, I think it is the first one I have ever seen there.

Brings my total of butterflies there to 56 species.

This young White-tailed Deer was walking down the laneway at one point.

Yesterday was a bit rainy in the morning, so I just drove along the St. Clair River.

The afternoon turned out sunny, so after attending the Sombra Museum blueberry social, back I went to Reid.

Some moths caught my attention.

Saw-wing

Grape Leaf Skeletonizer

Hummingbird Clearwing

I was hoping for Dukes' Skippers, as they should be out at this date.  I was informed the site near Brigden had one in the morning.

Just before I left, I finally caught sight of one!

A couple other butterflies:

Dun Skipper

Eastern tailed-Blue

Plus a Monarch.

Today was a write-off as it rained most of it.