Just June Junk

 The other day, I headed north to Sarnia to see a somewhat uncommon butterfly for our region.  A few years ago, Silvery Blue was discovered at Blackwell Trails park.  The park is a former dump converted back to nature and has some good creatures within.

Last year if anyone recalls, I went there and saw the Silvery Blue, a rather attractive lep, for the first time.  This year, I had no problem finding several (about 10) on the wing.  They rarely stop, so getting a photo is difficult.  I managed one good photo, the same one on this blog header.

Silvery Blue is rare in SW Ontario.  There are some records going way back (1981, 1982) at Point Pelee, and there is one NE of Wallaceburg along McCallum Line in 2014.  One has to go farther afield to see them in any numbers!

There were several other species of butterflies, including these two:

Common Checkered-Skipper

Wild Indigo Duskywing

While there, I tallied an Olive-sided Flycatcher, which has been elusive for many this spring in our region.  In typical pose, dressed in a vest, atop a dead tree.

Red-headed Woodpecker is also at Blackwell Trails.

The rare Comet Darner is also found at Logan's Pond within the property.  I have seen it there in the past, but we will have to wait until about mid July to see it!

I zig-zagged home and stopped by Moore WMA.  Odonates are now showing up in variety, and I saw my first Midland Clubtails of the year there.

Water levels are dropping with the lack of rain, and more mussels were showing.  Nothing new, but this nice Mapleleaf wanted to be photographed.

On Thursday, I headed to east Chatham-Kent to see what was around.  Some good birds were seen/heard.

A female Calico Pennant had just emerged at the old quarry at Clear Creek.

Over at Erieau, some "summer" Canvasbacks were resting off the rail trail.

I headed to Point Pelee on Friday.  Some good birds had been showing up there recently, but of course not on my visit (again!).  Just a matter of luck, as some have better luck than others.

However, this time of year, American White Pelicans are a regular at the Tip.  Up to 19 came in on my watch.  Always nice to see!

A couple of immature Little Gulls were mixing with the bonies at the Tip.  Here is one resting on the sand.

Today I stayed close to home and did some bird atlassing.  I realized I had one more point count to do in one square, so I did that.

I did some birding at McKeough CA, then went down to Reid CA.  Nothing new really, but one always has to check!  A late Gray-cheeked Thrush was of note at Reid.

Speaking of odes, Racket-tailed Emerald has recently emerged.  I found a few at Reid today, an excellent place locally to find them.

Seems like the dog days of summer already, but it only early June!  When will we get some much-needed rain?

Sarnia--Wawanosh Area

Recently I put up a photo of an old Lambton County map, particularly the Sarnia area.  On it was marked Lake Wawanosh which obviously no longer exists.  Back in the 1800's this area on the east end of present-day Sarnia, was a shallow lake and marshy area.  As was the practice back then, these types of areas were drained for farmland.  I do not know the approximate dates, but it was long ago.

I thought the whole thing was interesting, so I looked at Google Earth.  One can certainly roughly see where part of the old Lake Wawanosh existed.

Looking at the present-day image, one can imagine the north and west boundary of the old lake.  The old Grand Trunk Railway right-of-way made a good boundary as it curved to the south from the east. (The tracks once went straight to Point Edward along the lakeshore, but a line curved south to the Canadian National railway--the curve you see in the photo).

Along this area we have the present-day Blackwell Trails park, where ponds exist.  These are good birding and wildlife locations today.  The south pond at Blackwell Trails has some open water in the winter where waterfowl congregates.  Often we see Greater White-fronted Geese and Snow Geese here.

The larger north pond (locally known as Logan's Pond) was apparently an old quarry at one point.  We can find a good array of odes in the summer.  In particular, Comet Darner is found here.  It was just last summer that I finally saw one of these rare Ontario residents.

A couple of other ponds exist in the north part of the old lakeshore as well.

The main wildlife area within the old lake is Wawanosh Wetlands which we all know so well.  Two ponds exist here, and some forested area (mainly plantation type).  It was back in the early 1980's that this area was developed to a more natural state by Ducks Unlimited and other agencies.
More recently, the area was extended west to Modeland Road and named Suncor Way.

Wawanosh Wetlands is a popular spot for birdwatchers.  It was a location I often went to in my early birding years, especially for shorebirds.  In the late 1980's and early 1990's, the larger pond was prime for shorebirds.  Unfortunately, it is not anymore with the growth of phragmites and other vegetation.  I recall getting many life birds there!  I did not take photos in those early years, so I have nothing to share in that regard.

More recently,  rarities like Franklin's Gulls show up here.  Back in August 2015, local birders were delighted to see one.

The wooded areas have been good for migrant birds.  Lots of passerines  can be found moving through the trees.

The Sarnia airport is just east of Wawanosh Wetlands.  Obviously a good spot for such a place on an old shallow lake bed.  Here we can find Snowy Owls in the winter.
In past years, Buff-breasted Sandpipers were seen on the grounds.

Just something of interest I thought about this evening!