Recent Observations (Pelee) and Events (Sombra Ferry)

With the very hot and dry weather, little has been happening at my end.  Or, at least one has no ambition!

Today I wanted to go to Point Pelee.  We can now get in the park at 7 a.m., so one can beat the heat and tourists!  I walked to the Tip and watched for over an hour.  I had the place to myself, so that was nice.  A few gulls were around, including the Lesser Black-backed that has been around for some time.

There were no Bonaparte's Gulls for some time, but all of a sudden, a bunch came in.  Possibly they were scared off Seacliffe Beach by tourists.

Several Black and Common Terns were loafing about.

Pelicans have thinned out, but at one point I am sure I had one in the distance.

I walked up west beach trail, then cut over to Sparrow Field in hopes of seeing the resident Yellow-breasted Chat.  It was still there and made a lot of noise in the underbrush for the longest time.  It popped up briefly, so I got a quick look, then it disappeared again.  So much for a photo!  Included here is a photo from last year (2019) at northwest beach in the park.

It was a FOY, as there were only a couple of at Rondeau this spring I never caught up with.  The one at McGeachy Pond never co-operated for me despite my efforts!

I continued up west beach trail, but there was little to see.  I am sure the hot and dry conditions kept leps and odes at bay.  I saw only a few common species.

Common Whitetail (f)

Black Saddlebags

Blue Dasher (f)

I checked Cactus Field trail as well before leaving.

Out of the park, I passed by Mersea Road 21 fields.  Seven Short-billed Dowitcher were in the wet area.

I headed east and ended up at Blenheim lagoons.  We are indeed well into fall migration, and lots of shorebirds are showing up.  There were over 30 Lesser Yellowlegs at Blenheim, among other species.

Halloween Pennant

The summering Ring-necked Duck and Canvasback were still around.

Blenheim bonie

Now I must inject an historical note here!
It was the end of an era at Sombra this week, as the ferries were sold.  The Daldean left about 05:15 Tuesday morning, much too early for me to get up!
Some photos were taken just downriver by M.B., and I thank him very much for these.

My cousin Rusty was at the helm to take the Daldean to its new home at Bob-Lo Island.

This ferry means much to me as it was built new at Erieau in 1950-51 on order from my grandfather, Morgan Dalgety, and his business partner at the time.
There was much fanfare on its maiden voyage and arrival at Sombra July 1, 1951.  There was a big celebration for the 'big new ferry' after its arrival.

The photo below was taken at Port Lambton July 1, 1951 by my uncle Bill Abraham passing near the old Ohio Cottage Hotel. The Mann summer cottage was nearby.

Three long and two short!

Mid-July Pelee Visit

I decided to head down to Point Pelee today since I have not been there much this year.  This time of year can be interesting for birds, but more-so for butterflies.  However, it was dismal for butterflies, as most places have been this year.  (blame it on the crappy spring weather!).
Next weekend is the BioBlitz, so I hope things pick up in that department!

On the way to Pelee, I came across a Snowy Owl atop a pole along Queen's Line just west of the road to Prairie Siding.  Although I did not stop to take a photo, I believe it is the first one I have seen in July!  There are still a number of Snowy Owls spending the summer in Southern Ontario.

I spent some time at the Tip until tourists started to arrive and scaring away the birds.  Quite a few Black Terns were on the move today, and many went by the Tip.

There is even a decent sand spit and some sand on the west side!

Lots of bonies are now showing up.  Nothing unusual mixed in with them though.  I have still not seen a Little Gull this year!

After some three hours in the park, I headed over to Hillman marsh.  I walked around the shorebird cell looking for butterflies.  It was practically void of butterflies--highly unusual for this time of year.  I suppose the drought has some bearing as well.
I did find Broad-winged Skippers in a known spot.

A Dickcissel briefly sang on the path towards the cell.  It was first reported back on July 3.

Dickcissels were singing near Camper's Cove Road as usual, as I headed east. 
My next stop was Blenheim lagoons.  We are well in the midst of shorebird migration, but there is not as much habitat yet there as last year.
The sprinklers work occasionally, so that will help.
Shorebirds included 6 Least Sandpipers, 1 Greater Yellowlegs, 7 Lessers, and a Short-billed Dowitcher.

The male Lesser Scaup was still present from earlier in the summer.

On the way home I swung by the Dickcissel sites behind Canadian Tire and along Campbell Line.  Males were still singing away.

A Pelee Visit and other Sightings

Today I headed to Point Pelee, but first stopped at Blenheim Lagoons.  The weather was a bit iffy, but as usual, it deteriorated just in time for the weekend.  There were some bouts of sun while at Pelee which I took advantage of while there.
 
The most numerous butterfly at Point Pelee was Giant Swallowtail.  The most notable was a Little Yellow along west beach trail.  It kept on motoring south, so I never got a photo!

Nothing of note was at Blenheim.  A few days ago an American Avocet showed up, but of course was long gone by this weekend.  I could have seen it later in the day it was present, but did not bother heading down due to the time of day.

Just south of Hillman, were 4 Sandhill Cranes in a wheat field.  They were just taking off when I returned after lunch.  Sandhill Cranes seem to be everywhere these days.  Lots are around Wallaceburg right now.

At Pelee, there were hundreds gulls and a fair bit of action at the Tip.  Upon arrival at the Tip, a Northern Waterthrush was on the rocks--a species I fully expected to see at this point.

Some juvenile Black Terns were around among the many Common Terns and Bonaparte's Gulls.

The most notable gull was an adult Little Gull heading east which I saw only briefly.  I was not in a position to get a decent photo.

For the ship buffs, the Manitoulin was going through Pelee passage, then turned towards Cleveland.

I walked back up west beach trail while there was a bit of sun.  I only saw one skipper among the swallowtails, etc.

I checked out De Laurier as well.  It was 15 years ago (August 4) that a Gray Kingbird was there, so you never know what may be around!

After a Perch dinner at the "red bus", I headed over to Hillman Marsh under gloomy skies (must be the weekend!).  I went to a spot where Broad-winged Skippers are reliable and found a half dozen.

That was about it for today!

Swamp Rose Mallow

Pickeral weed

Saturday Nature: Willet to Rubyspot

With the cold front coming in overnight, I knew there would be some birds around this morning.  Lighting was horrible first thing this morning due to the heavy cloudcover, so there were lots of silhouetted warblers.  The sun refused to come out along the lake, but it was sunny farther north.
Warblers were on the move and I spent quite a bit of time at the south point parking lot after I arrived.
After my walk, I had about 17 species of warblers.  There were a lot of Cape May, Blackpoll and Tennessee Warblers today.  I think Blackpoll took top honours today!

Tennessee in Joe Pye-weed

As well, a large number of Swainson's Thrushes was evident.

A good percentage of the warblers were left unidentified as they quickly moved around and hid in the dense foliage.

There was virtually nothing moving on the lake today except the usual cormorants.

After south point, I checked Dog Beach just up the road.  At first, I walked right by a Willet beside the pond!  I had no camera at this point since it was drizzling, so I went back to the car to get it.  The Willet co-operated nicely for a photo shoot.  There are not too many records there for this time of year, but I have had them a couple of times in the first week of September.

Next major stop was beside maintenance.  A few birds were right there including a Scarlet Tanager, a couple of Great-crested Flycatchers and an Olive-sided Flycatcher.  New warblers for the day included a Canada.

There is a Great Crested in there!

I checked the start of marsh trail as well.  Quite a few things were there including more Tennessee Warblers.  Hunters were getting blinds ready for the upcoming season, so keep in mind there is hunting at Rondeau on Monday, Wednesday, Friday and Saturday starting later this month.

Blenheim Lagoons still remain shorebird unfriendly.  The white Tree Swallow is still working the place!  I saw an egret in the distance, but it was only a Great.  I once found a Snowy there years ago, so that is always a possibility.

Lots of ducks are in finally.  There were close to 100 Northern Shoveler and in second place were Blue-winged Teal.  While scanning the ducks, I spotted a Horned Grebe (rather distant).

And then a Black Tern!  It was one of those juveniles that catches your eye at first.

Continuing on, I went to the R/R track trail at Erieau.  Lots of birds were there as well, including many Swainson's Thrushes.
I also walked a bit of McGeachy Pond dike, but there were no birds.  Some dragonflies though.  This one appears to be a Lance-tipped Darner.....I hope!

saddlebags

After a late lunch in Blenheim, I got the idea to head over to Thamesville. A couple of weeks ago Bill Lamond stopped at the bridge on Victoria Road to look for rubyspots.  Both Smoky and American were there.  I have passed that spot hundreds of times (usually the way we head to the 401) and wanted to stop there.  There is a little parkette, cemetery and the old bridge abutments.  You can park beside the cemetery and walk to the river bank below the bridge.
The bank is steep and treacherous, and today the river was running high due to recent rains.  However, I immediately spotted some rubyspots on the easterly side of the bridge.  Actually the first thing I spotted was a large dark one which I am sure was an Ebony Jewelwing.
Sure enough, both Smoky Rubyspots and a couple of American Rubyspots were along the edge.

American Rubyspot

It is the first time I have seen Smoky, the rarer of the two.

A good way to end the afternoon!