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.

Some Lake Watching and Other Notes

 Not too much to report lately, but I have done some lake watching in different locations.  Seems the lakewatches have not produced as much as anticipated!

Friday, a late day visit to Mitchell's Bay was a bit windy.  It was clear though.  I could see the Detroit skyline quite well.

View towards St. Anne's Island

I had a close encounter with a Black-throated Blue Warbler.  A bit too close to fully focus!

On Saturday, I went up to Sarnia as the wind seemed fairly decent.  It started off with a bang when I spotted a Sabine's Gull just before it got very light.  No opportunity for a photo, but there it was.  I never saw it after that.  However, late in the day presumably the same bird made a close pass for viewers!

There were lots of duck and gulls, but the only notable was an early Iceland Gull.

The next day, a stiff north wind was blowing.  I chose Ipperwash Beach for a lakewatch.  It fell quite short of expectations.  There were lots of ducks, especially White-winged and Black Scoters, but nothing really of note.  I was joined by Bill Lindley and James Holdsworth, but after a few hours we concluded it fell short.

Monday, I stayed close to home on a drizzly day.  Lots of sparrows at Peers Wetland, but despite a valiant effort, nothing of note was seen.

Today, I went down to Rondeau.  Wind was not favourable for a good lakewatch, but we tried anyway.  It was comfortable for watching on a fairly calm lake.  Lots of ducks, especially Ruddy.  Horned Grebe numbers are building, but that was the only species of grebe seen.  And, just Common Loons were noted.

Passerine numbers were good in the park.  Dog beach parking lot was crawling with warblers and kinglets.  Of note, was a tardy Cape May Warbler.

There was Orange-crowned and Blackpoll, and scads of Yellow-rumped.

I walked south point trail which kept me busy for a while.  A lingering Red-eyed Vireo was working some dogwoods at one point.

Lots of Ruby-crowned Kinglets around lately.

I stopped by Keith McLean Conservation Lands on the way back home.  It was quite busy with birds, and after 1.5h I was tired.  I would have liked to stay longer!

I managed to get three Nelson's Sparrows, and no doubt there were more there.

One, a bit distant, was scruffy and with little colour.  May possibly have been Le Conte's?  Wrrants further study, so will update.

Green-winged Teal numbers are impressive there.  I estimated around 585 on a quick count.

Turkey Vultures were migrating today, and during my visit well over 400 were seen to the north.

A few butterflies were out today as it was a bit warmer, including this Bronze Copper.

Insect Theme Continued!

 Not finding anything special, I have been out enjoying the nice weather near home.  We had another wicked storm late Thursday, but it was not too bad around Wallaceburg.  Sombra through Wilkesport and around Sarnia got hit hard.  Lots of trees down and roofless buildings!  I was surprised with the number of trees down as I passed through Sombra this morning.

It was a nice morning along the river.  The Common Loon was still in Sombra Bay.  I stopped to watch a ship go by at nearby Cundick Park.

Tim S. Dool

Here are some finds at my usual haunts the last few days.  I finally photographed some Broad-winged Skippers at Reid!

Lots of spreadwings lately, mostly Slender.

I checked out various sedge patches at Reid CA the other day, but did not find any skippers other than at the two known areas.  They seem to be doing well this year unlike some other species.

Yesterday I checked out various spots, but things were sparse....again!  Mosquitoes are doing well though!

Skimming Bluet at Dow Wetlands

Stream Bluet at Perch Creek

Lance-tipped Darner at Perch Creek

Northern Pearly-Eye at Perch Creek

Appalachian Brown at Perch Creek

Eastern Pondhawk

another spreadwing

Today's main walk was at Reid CA where I did the north half.  I saw several Broad-winged Skippers in the old river-course.

I managed to find two more hairstreaks!  This one was very faded, but seems to be a Banded.

Nearby, I came across this Hickory.

This katydid was trying to hide on a leaf.  Not sure of species, as they are sometimes difficult to ID.

Before leaving Reid, a quick check for Dukes' Skippers is always in order.  Two today in short order.

I decided to do a quick check of McKeough CA before going home for lunch.  A couple of Flag-tailed Spinylegs were working the riverbank.  This species is critically imperiled, but regular along the north Sydenham.

A very fresh Bronze Copper, uncommon here, was nice to see.

Lately, I have been watching the garden for the variety of critters that visit.  It is quite fascinating!  Here are a few more.

Common Aerial Yellowjacket

Lunate Longhorn-cuckoo Bee

Monarch

Two-spotted Longhorn Bee

female Tule Bluet (I think)

And, lots of very tiny insects.  The Margined Calligrapher is a regular visitor.

With Moth Week about to start, here is an Eight-spotted Forester from the garden.