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.....

Travels This Week: Insects and Other Things

 Monday was a clear day as I headed to the Strathroy area.  I walked the conservation area within the town.  It was a bit early in the day for insects, however it was a place I wanted to walk.

Quite a few Appalachian Browns were flying, which appeared to be the most numerous butterfly.

 

This bluet was all too familiar along the river.

A pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers is nesting in the area.

Next stop was the sewage lagoon, where I walked around the north pond.

Common Gallinules nest in the south pond, and one was visible.

There were not as many insects as I had hoped, but a few Widow Skimmers were flying.

Since Shetland was on the way home, I made a quick stop at the boat launch where we can find a good variety of odonates, among other things.  There was not much flying, as has been the case in most locations this season.

Stream Bluets were the more numerous damsel.

Dancers included Violet, Blue-tipped and a single Powdered.  Too early in the season for the rarities.

Just before getting home, I stopped by Reid Conservation Lands, but not surprisingly there were no hairstreaks.

Tuesday, I was fairly close to home, checking out some local areas and listing for the bird atlas.  I found a family of Pied-billed Grebes at Stewart Wetland.

I made another stop at Reid for a longer walk.  A female Slaty Skimmer posed nicely at one point.

Wednesday I was fairly busy with various things, but later in the morning I ventured over to Wardsville Woods.  It was rather dismal for odonates, but early on I found this pair of Cobra Clubtails in the wheel position.  This was the best I could do for photos.

This unit stuck together, but then flew off out of sight!

At the pond, there was very little activity, but this Rainbow Bluet was nice to see.

I had hoped for Double-striped Bluets, but I have not come across any yet this year.

Violet Dancer is here as well.

There were a few Twelve-spotted Skimmers around the pond.

Very few butterflies....

Northern Pearly-eye

At home, another Slaty Skimmer stopped by.  Not often I see them at home.

Today, I had to go somewhere for a long walk, and Rondeau's marsh trail was the best option for a sunny morning.

Nothing special appeared though!

Swamp Spreadwing

American Lady

Hobomok Skipper

Eastern Bluebird

Tule Bluet

Later on, I came across this fairly large Eastern Foxsnake.

While down that way, I decided to go to Clear Creek and check out the quarry.  Upon arrival, the clouds had rolled in and a sudden unscheduled rain came in.  As a result, my visit was cut very short.  There was not much flying anyway.  A familiar sign this season.

I did catch a photo of a Westfall's Slender Bluet.  I had no time to look closely though as the rain came down very suddenly.

Better days ahead....as long as the weather co-operates!