Hot Finds and Reid CA Strikes Yet Again!

 It has been an uncomfortable week with hot and humid conditions.  And, not too exciting........at least until today!

I always go for a walk somewhere each morning, and Tuesday it was Mitchell's Bay.  Just the expected birds were seen.

Green Heron

Spotted Sandpiper (with no spots)

And some insects....

Slender Spreadwing

Milkweed Tussock Moth caterpillars

Yesterday, I decided to go to the Shetland CA boat launch and look for odonates.  It was sunny around home, but approaching the said place, it clouded over and was a bit foggy.  Not surprising as it was horribly humid yesterday.  Just my luck.

I looked anyway, and eventually the sun thankfully came out.  Anyone who looks for butterflies and dragonflies knows that the sun is essential for good activity.

I was hoping to see a Dusky Dancer, but that was not to be.  Hopefully this rarity will show up soon.  However, I did see almost all the other regulars at Shetland.

A couple of Flag-tailed Spinylegs showed up in the large dragonfly department.

Also its cousin the Black-shouldered Spinyleg was around in numbers.

Speaking of spiny things, a large Spiny Softshell pulled up on a usual perch just downriver.

And of course a few Blackstripe Topminnows made themselves known.

Back to odes, a few of the dancers were dancing around.  (As a disclaimer, I was not on my A-game with the camera this day!).

Powdered Dancer

Blue-tipped Dancer

Violet Dancer

Blue-fronted Dancer

This is a good spot for the endangered Blue-ringed Dancer.

On the way home, I made a quick stop at Wilkesport.  I managed to get a photo of a Royal River Cruiser for the day!

Today, I did not have a clue what to do.  I ended up going to Rondeau Park and walking out marsh trail to half way point.  It was uncomfortably hot and humid, and perhaps that it why I did not see much of note!

Common Buckeye

Swamp Rose Mallow (plentiful in some areas)

This afternoon I just had to go for a walk at Reid CA despite the heat.  Turned out to be worthwhile!

The usual Dukes' Skippers were near the start greeting me as I walked by.

Soon, they will be gone for another year, as they are now showing their wear.  It has been a good year for them.

I walked to the end of the laneway, then along the east edge of the back field.

Appalachian Brown

Quite a few Lance-tipped Darners are around now.  The ones I saw today flew into shaded areas to escape the heat.

Then for whatever reason, I walked through the Lilly Bush, mosquitoes and all!  I usually stay out in the open in summer here.  But, I survived.

Walking back the laneway, I spotted a skipper flitting around.  I thought it was a Peck's Skipper and was going to ignore it.  However, I thought to attempt a photo anyway since I could include it as part of the Nature Conservancy's Backyard Bioblitz which is on, starting today.

As I focused on the creature, I realized it was not a Peck's Skipper.  The only other possibility was a Zabulon Skipper!  Never in my wildest dreams would I think of finding one at Reid.

After taking several photos, I walked away still in disbelief.

Reid CA continues to produce interesting and rare things. I now have at least 56 species of butterflies on the property.

Zabulon is a rarity in Ontario.  Lots of records are in Essex County over the years, including many this year.  I was actually tempted to head down to Ojibway this summer just to see one or two, but I hate that drive!  Now it is not necessary.  And, it is certainly a lot more fun finding your own, especially in an unexpected location.

As far as I know this is only the second Lambton record, as one was photographed on June 1 of this year at Canatara Park by DB.  Something must be afoot with them this year.

After this hot find on a hot day, it was cool sailing the rest of the day!

Middlesex Meanderings June 10

Today I headed into Middlesex County to visit some familiar spots.   I found it generally quiet compared to previous years at this time.
First stop was Napier Road where Clay-colored Sparrows have nested the last several years.  One can see/hear these from the car.  A couple of them were singing their monotone buzz song atop spruce trees.
Just north of that spot is a good pasture for the usual types such as Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark and Grasshopper Sparrow.  I saw/heard all of these.

One of the sought-after birds is Upland Sandpiper, found in the many pastures in the area.  This species has declined over the years due to loss of habitat.  They were regularly found north of Wallaceburg, but I now I have to travel some distance to see one!
I drove several roads, and strangely came up empty for them in spots I have had them before.  So, it was on to Clark Wright CA southwest of Strathroy.
This cozy little natural area is a good place for birds and butterflies.

Hobomok Skipper

Common Painted-Lady

Ebony Jewelwings are now out.

Last year, a Blue-headed Vireo was singing in the woods, and the years previous to that, White-eyed Vireo was present.  None today!
There is usually a Pine Warbler at the back among the Pines, but I even struck out on that.
A Blue-winged Warbler was singing here though, but remained a bit elusive for the camera.

Strathroy Lagoons is not far away, so that was the next stop.  Water levels were very high, so no shorebirds except Spotted Sandpiper.  I did get a bonus bird, an American Woodcock.

The lagoons have been productive in the past at times for shorebirds.  I once found an American Avocet here.  There was even a Snowy Plover once!
Butterflies can be found here, but even those were few and far between today.  Last year, I had several Milbert's Tortoiseshells and Wild Indigo Duskywings.
Some European Skippers were out today though.

Heading back west, I checked many roads again in vain for an Upland Sandpiper.  Good grief!  Not even any Dickcissels in spots they have been in the past.  I did come across this Red-headed Woodpecker along Walker's Line.

I was about to give up in disgust, but made one more pass down McArthur Road.  Finally, there was an Upland Sandpiper.  Not just one, but three in close proximity!

#1

#2

#3

After this, I headed towards Skunk's Misery and started down Watterworth Road.  I briefly stopped at the Crown Land at Argyll Road where I heard a usual Hooded Warbler.  I did not hear an Acadian Flycatcher, but some American Crows were making a ruckus over perhaps an owl.

Into the Mosa Forest area, I walked a couple of trails but found it rather quiet.  It was mid-day, so that was one factor.  I found several Hooded Warblers, but no Cerulean in a usual location.

Great-crested Flycatcher

I came across some Black-shouldered Spinylegs.

I did hear a Magnolia Warbler singing at one point though, not too unusual for the area at this time.

Last walk was Wardsville Woods, west of the village of Wardsville.  I like this little spot and stop there any time in the area.  As mentioned in the past, it was once a golf course (more natural one). It is good for butterflies, but again, I did not see many today.
Blue-winged Warbler is here, and there is more than one.

I heard one singing an odd song, but never saw it, so who knows if it was a pure bird.
I will probably stop by here in about a month to check for more butterflies.

Black-shouldered Spinyleg

Mixing Oil and Nature

Today's feature event was going to the Fairbank property at Oil Springs and the root of North America's first oil producing area.  However, the outing was not begin until 10 a.m., so I checked out some other spots beforehand.
First stop was Blackwell Sideroad, Sarnia.  Here there is an old landfill and an extensive solar farm that I have mentioned a few times before.  Two years ago Dickcissels and Grasshopper Sparrows were in abundance with other grassland species.  This year, a couple of Grasshopper Sparrows were at the solar farm, but little else in the landfill.  I only got a couple of Eastern Meadowlarks this time.  Like all grassland species, they are down in numbers compared to many years ago.
A couple of Great Egrets were in the landfill pond.

Back of the landfill is the well-known Perch Creek Habitat Area.  I walked that too!  There was not really much of interest there and not a lot of birds, which seems to be the trend everywhere this year.

With a little time left, I went to Marthaville Habitat Area near Petrolia.  This is a neat little spot with a nice pond and marshy area.  First off I heard  White-eyed Vireo singing away!  Not one I expected this morning.
Some dragonflies included Dot-tailed Whiteface.

On to Oil Springs....

The outing at the oil fields, led by Larry Cornelis, was interesting.  There are 600 acres with mostly grassland and scrubby-type habitat with a couple of decent woodlots.  Owner Charles Fairbank accompanied us.

Charles Fairbank, left and Larry Cornelis

Here they have the primitive jerker-rod system that was developed early on.  It is highly effective though, with an endless network of rods throughout the property moving back and forth driven by electric motors. (In the old days it was steam).

With all the wells and jerker-rod lines, the area is not suitable for modern farming, so there is a lot of habitat for meadowlarks and other birds.  Oil and nature do mix!

I noted quite a few Orchard Orioles as well.
No Grasshopper Sparrows were detected, but as usual these are difficult to find anymore in this part of the province.

By noon, the tour was done, but I was not.  I headed over to Skunk's Misery in hopes of finding some butterflies.  The poor year continues, as I did not see many there!  Some Juvenal's Duskywings were still flying among other species.

Dragonflies were better this week, with many species. Black-shouldered Spinylegs and some clubtails out today including this one.

Midland Clubtail

I noticed lots of the very large darners, which could have been Swamp Darners.
Birds were rather quiet by this time of day, so I did not hear many.

Not far away, west of Wardsville, is Thames Talbot's Wardsville Woods (the old Mosa Hills golfcourse). Here I found quite a few butterflies including Peck's Skippers, Tawny-edged Skippers, European Skippers, lots of Silver-spotted and others.

A couple of Blue-winged Warblers were on the property.