Mostly Insects This Past Week

 The weather has been rather cool lately, but this time of year I am more focused on insects.  Again, leps and odes have been somewhat scarce this year but one can only look around.

Last Sunday I started at Mitchell's Bay.  Birds were of the expected kind.

Great Egret

At one point, I noticed a Gray Catbird struggling with a very large moth.  I could not get close enough to determine species, but it was obviously a sphinx moth.

Later, after submitting to iNaturalist, it was determined to be a Carolina Sphinx, one that I had not encountered before.

Obviously this catbird was not going to swallow this thing whole!

After things warmed up, I ventured east to Wardsville Woods.  

Scenes along the creek

Yet again, odes were scarce, but a few butterflies were flying.  Best was a Baltimore Checkerspot in the Ann White meadow.

A Great-spangled Fritillary here as well.

I have had this species here before.

Some Crossline Skippers were on the wing as well.

At the pond, this Slaty Skimmer posed briefly, along with Calico Pennant and Twelve-spotted Skimmer.

Monday was an "off" day, but Tuesday I travelled a little further and went to John E. Pearce PP south of Wallacetown. Of course I was there a little too early to see many insects.

Heading back west, this Coyote was bounding across a field on Coyne Road.

Wardsville Woods was on the way back, so it was a must stop.  Yet again, odes were very scarce (what is going on this year?).  Early on, I encountered this clubtail.

I moved on and came back to the spot and it was still in the area.  Turned out to be a Cobra Clubtail, a rarity known here.

Some other insects included these:

Helmeted Squash Bug

Pale Green Assasin Bug

Black-dotted Glyph

The next day, I checked out Reid C. L.  No hairstreaks!  But I was early in the day.  There were several Common Thick-leg flies along the trail.

A fresh Great-spangled Fritillary was working the area.

Only one Appalachian Brown.

At one point, I noticed a Gray Treefrog trying to hide.

On Friday, I ventured to Point Pelee. I had not been there much at all this year, but this day seemed to be the day to go.

I walked out Shuster Trail and down east beach to the Tip. A Prothonotary Warbler was singing along Shuster at one point.

The Tip had lots of American White Pelicans.  Over 40 in fact.

Lots of gulls, but nothing of note.

Just south of the solar panel, I encountered the first ode (where are they?) of the day.  It was a decent one in the form of a Prince Baskettail.

I walked back west beach trail.  The theme continued of very few butterflies and dragonflies.

Back at the VC, I saw Rick's car in the parking lot, but he was nowhere to be seen.  lol.

I stopped at Hillman Marsh and walked around the shorebird cell.  There was lots of Slender Spreadwings, but very few leps and odes.  Good grief, where is everything?

At the back corner, this Yellow-billed Cuckoo had one ode in its mouth.

Today was foggy, but I drove around.  The singing Dickcissels were still at the Sombra solar farm and the floodway at Baseline Road bridge.  Nothing else of note.

Looks like it will finally warm up this coming week, so hopefull insect life will pick up.....

Recent Chat

 (needed to thnk of a catchy title!)

This past Wednesday, I decided to do some birding in Sarnia. Stopped by Wawanosh Wetland first thing. Not often I get there anymore, but when I first started birding, it was a place I went to often.

A good variety of birds there on this outing.  A lost Lesser Scaup was swimming in the main pond.

At one point I thought I heard a Blackpoll Warbler sing.  I did not think much of it (at this date?) and continued on.  Later, I came to the same spot and indeed a Blackpoll Warbler WAS singing!

This is exceptionally late at this date, and likely a record late spring date for Lambton by a longshot.  Latest I have ever seen a Blackpoll Warbler was at Rondeau Park June 22, 2003.  Needless to say it was (and still is) record late for spring.

I also walked around Dow Wetlands.  The Clay-colored Sparrows and Sedge Wrens were still present.  No doubt nesting.  None co-operated for the camera!

Highlight was a bunch of Baltimore Checkerspots.  This attractive butterfly always gets one's attention.

Before getting home, I stopped in Reid Conservation Lands to see how the hemp dogbane plants were coming along.  Just coming into bloom.  I had Northern Oak Hairstreak on my mind, as it was prime time for them to emerge.  None seen.

There were lots of Peck's Skippers.

At one point I saw a large dragonfly go to perch.  I thought it was a female Twelve-spotted Skimmer, but it turned out to be a Prince Baskettail.  They are quite similar in appearance.  Not often I seen a Prince.  This one had a bent abdomen.

Thursday was museum day.......

Friday I headed up to north Lambton just short of Grand Bend.  The Klondyke Sports Park is a good birding spot.  A few days ago, James Holdsworth came across a Yellow-breasted Chat.  Quite rare for Lambton!

This day was the first chance I had to go up that way (1.5h drive from Wallaceburg).  I had not yet come across a Chat for this year, despite trying at Rondeau.

Upon arrival, I could hear the bird singing, but it remained unseen.  They are famous for being elusive!  It took about an hour and a half before I caught a brief glimpse of it.  No chance for a photo!

Yellow-breasted Chat from the past (Point Pelee)

While up that way, I stopped in at other places.  One was the Sandrin Tract in the County forest.  As eluded to in a previous post, the "bowl" is almost dried up, so no good for dragonflies.  Several rarities have been seen here in the past though.

Here are a couple of butterflies:

Red-spotted Purple

Hackberry Emperor

Next stop was Ipperwash Forested Dunes and Swales.  I walked the Cedar Trail which parallels the wetland.  It was flooded in spots, but luckily I had waterproof footwear on.

Here are some insects there:

Slaty Skimmer (male)

Slaty Skimmer (female)

Elegant Spreadwing

Racket-tailed Emerald

Hobomok Skipper

I headed towards home after this walk, but had one last stop in mind.  I am not satisfied each year until I see an Oak Hairstreak!  The Indian Hemp was in full bloom, attracting insects.  After almost an hour I was just about to leave, when something caught my eye.  A Northern Oak Hairstreak just popped in!

Hopefully they will have a better showing this year.  I only saw one in each of the last two years, and I was the only one to have seen one.

Today I toured in south Lambton just north of Wallaceburg.  Dickcissels in three locations, but still none co-operated for the camera.  I did get a crappy photo of one though.

I stopped by Reid before heading home, but it was fairly early in the day, and no hairstreaks.

This afternoon I went to Sarnia for a little celebration of Lambton Wildlife Inc. It all started sixty years ago!

More Insects, Valves and a Gold(en) Medal Find

 Needless to say, it has been a scorching-hot week and it has been too uncomfortable to be out past noon.  Once again, the Wallaceburg area received way too much rain!  I saw places flooded that were not before!  As a result, activities have been limited.

Been checking local spots and finding the usual things.  No sign of any hairstreaks at Reid CA or elsewhere after last Sunday.  It might be another bad year for hairstreaks, but we will see.

Pronghorn Clubtails have been doing well, especially at McKeough.  Multiple individuals.

Butterflies have been scarce, it appears.

Eastern tailed-Blue

Delaware Skipper

This morning I went for a walk at McKeough before it got too hot.  Not much to see, but I lucked out and found a Baltimore Checkerspot!

I have had them before at this location, but not for a few years.  And, they are indeed scarce in our area.

I then took a few steps, and came across a Common Buckeye.  I completely missed this species last year.

I checked Brander Park, Port Lambton again a couple of days ago but no luck in finding anything decent.

Skimming Bluet

I noticed a bluet coming out of nymph stage at one point.

Yesterday I headed up to Port Franks and area.  There was a reason!  To kill some time at first, I stopped by Ausable River Cut CA.  It was too early for many odes, but I looked for some mussels.  Not much variety, but here are some of the less common types.

Wabash Pigtoe

Deertoe

Mapleleaf

This bluet was quite familiar.

I also walked Karner Blue Sanctuary to put in more time before heading to a unique spot.

Calico Pennant (F)

Destination was the Sandrin Tract at Northville, which is part of the Lambton Heritage Forest complex.  I had never been there before, and it is actually a fabulous place with an extensive network of trails.

In the middle is an old sand extraction area which has some ponds.  The previous day Darrell Parsons found an apparent Golden-winged Skimmer.  This is a species never before seen in Canada, and is common in the south-east United States.  It extends up the east coast and inland.  There is only one record for Michigan.

There is no doubt as to the ID!  Needham's Skimmer is very similar, but has a more restricted range and has subtle differences to the Golden-winged.

I arrived at the trail entrance off Port Frank's Road and followed it, not knowing where I was going.  Eventually, it came to an open sandy area with some small ponds.  I then knew I was at the spot.

There were lots of odonates flying, including a couple of obvious Comet Darners.

This is the earliest I have seen a Comet Darner.  Usually it is into July at the other known sites!

I also found a spreadwing, which is apparently a Southern.  These are another rarity!

After only ten minutes, I spotted the Golden-winged Skimmer.  It was quite obvious!  It eventually went to perch and stayed there for over half an hour.

I really had doubts that I would see this skimmer, but it was certainly a treat to find it right away!

Another skimmer, but common, was the Twelve-spotted.

A number of other things were flying including Carolina Saddlebags, somewhat uncommon here.

This is an incredible spot with so many rarities!  Other things seen here by others include Citrine Forktail and Mocha Emerald. It is certainly worth another visit soon!

On the way home, I stopped for a lunch break at Marthaville Habitat near Petrolia.  It is a good place for odes, but it was once again, getting too hot to linger.  I always see Slaty Skimmer here.

This morning, I started at Mitchell's Bay and walked the south trail.  It was quite birdy, but with the common stuff.

A couple of bluets here included Tule and Skimming.

I then headed up to McKeough (as mentioned above) then to Moore WMA.  Moore was quite miserable as it is so grown-in anymore and of course it was wet with the recent rain.  The hot and humid weather made things more miserable!

There was not much flying (except mosquitoes), but the usual Blue-tipped Dancers were seen.

Not much in the way of mussels (valves), as the water level was a bit high.

Mapleleaf

This afternoon I checked the garden for different insects again.  Here are a couple of new ones.

Bellflower Resin Bee

Louis's Club-horned Cuckoo Wasp (possibly)

And of course, the common and very tiny Margined Calligrapher.