More Running Around and Some Bonuses

 I have been visiting various places in the last week.  Seems like a lot of running around and not finding much of note (until today)!

Last Friday I headed up to north Lambton and checked out the entire Ipperwash Forested Dunes and Swales trails.  Once again it was almost devoid of birds.  Not sure what is going on with that place!  I was looking more for insects though.

Cardinal Flower

Of note, I found this Huron Shore Bee Fly.

Perhaps I have unknowingly seen it before, but it is rather uncommon.  Seen in dune habitats, I suppose it got its name from this area.  However, it can be seen elsewhere.  There is a Rondeau record, Long Point, and it is seen in the NE United States.

In any case, the walk gave me some much-needed exercise!

Next day it was fairly local.  I took a walk at Reid C. L. and found some insects.

Common Painted-Lady

Greene's Giant Ichneumonid Wasp

Fraternal Potter WAsp

Later, a brief walk at McKeough revealed my first Common Buckeye of the year.

A single Flag-tailed Spinyleg was along the river's edge.

Sunday I checked out Blenheim lagoons.  Lots of shorebirds, but nothing of note.  Quite a few Stilt Sandpipers, and Lesser Yellowlegs continue to be in big numbers.

Yesterday I was due for more exercise, so I walked out Rondeau's marsh trail to the half way point.  Not much in the way of birds, and actually I was disappointed. I was hoping to see some southbound warblers!  I had seen zero as of yesterday.

Lance-tipped Darner

Eastern Pondhawk

A Common-checkered Skipper was in the yard in the afternoon.

Today was a different story with a perfect weather day.  I went to the south shore trail at Mitchell's Bay.  There were lots of birds, including warblers! (10 species).  Lots of vireos as well.

An added bonus was a flock of at least six Yellow-headed Blackbirds flying over.  Too quick for a photo, but there might have been more as I had just caught the tail end of the flyover flock.

This afternoon I could not resist going for a walk at Reid C. L.  Took a different route today and actually walked through the woods, which I rarely do during the summer.

Great-spangled fritillary

On the way back, I cut out to the laneway. At one point I caught sight of a dark skipper.  It turned out to be a female Zabulon!  I have only seen one before down at Ojibway.  All others have been males in this area.  

It was a pleasant surprise indeed.

I was just getting home, when I got word of a decent bird not too far away.  So, off I went to near Port Lambton.  Since it is a restricted access place, location will not be revealed here until later.

A Snowy Egret was a nice addition to such a nice day.

But wait, there was a bonus.  Two Red-necked Phalaropes were nearby.

One of the better days for this summer!

Sparrow Hunting and More Insects

 This past Friday I decided to check out Forest Lagoons.  This place has often been a hotspot for birds of various sorts.  Used to be good for shorebirds, but it has grown in too much and water levels are a bit on the high side.  This time of year it is good for sparrows.

I had the notion to look for the more secretive type such as LeConte's and Nelson's, which no doubt will be renamed in the future!  Both have been seen here in the past.

I spent the better part of two hours there, but despite a valiant effort, I did not turn up either species.   Getting to be too much phragmites as well!

There were lots of other sparrows, especially Song and Swamp.  Some warblers included Palm.  This one posed for a time.

Heading back homeward, I stopped by Marthaville Habitat for lunch break as I often do.  Not many birds there.

The last stop was at Moore Wildlife Habitat Area which I have avoided all summer.  This year it was too grown-in and wet and the river too high due to all the rain.  However, it was fairly accessible now that vegetation is dying down, but the river was running a bit high.  The area near the river has been known for a thick forest of ragweed in the past.  However, this year there is none due to all the flooding!

Some mussels were along the bank.

Deertoe

Giant Floater

Saturday it was Rondeau bound.  Birding was a bit better than the previous visit with more warblers and sparrows.  Lots of Bonaparte's Gulls were on the move, but par for the course for Rondeau, nothing was with them.

Here is a plant in the dunes area called False Indigo Bush.  It is fairly uncommon here, and listed as imperiled in Canada, but is common at Point Pelee.  It may be introduced at Rondeau though. (photos taken along a trail)

I later stopped by Keith McLean C. L.  where many birders eventually came along looking for an elusive Nelson's Sparrow.  One just has to be in the right place at the right time for those most of the time.  Luckily, I managed to see two different ones.

Sometimes they can be co-operative for photos, but often not.  This is what happens when one is not quick enough with the camera!  You can see the orange though.

Not as many butterflies this day, probably due to the wind, but this Peck's Skipper was the path.  Getting late for them.

Sunday  I had no clue what to do, but since there was a decent SW wind, I decided to head to Rondeau and do a lakewatch.  It was very disappointing as not much was moving.  Some ducks were though to keep up interest.

There was a nice sunrise to start.

Birding the rest of the day was a bust....just not much around.  So, I went for a long walk at Reid CA.

Here are some insects.

Common Buckeye (lots!)

Common Checkered-Skipper

Bare-winged Aphideater (new for me!)

These are not identified to species, but there are hundreds of them around right now.

Long-tailed Aphideater Complex

Thick-legged Hoverfly

It was quite windy, so very difficult to focus on these little insects.  This one no specifically nailed down to species, but is a fly.

Neocyptera

Monday, it was all Lambton birding as I went to Dow Wetlands, then Perch Creek Habitat.  Both places are good for sparrows, and there was no shortage of them.  Any bird I saw was too active or unco-operative to get photos!

Way at the back of Perch Creek I managed to get a quick look at a Nelson's Sparrow.  So, not a total loss.

Butterflies included Common Buckeye.  This time of year we often see the "red" form, which is neat.

I stopped by Nicholl's at Wilkesport before getting home.  With the cooler day, there were fewer insects.

Today I did not venture far, checking out Peers Wetland first thing.

No sap on this tree!

Quite a few sparrows, but nothing I wanted.  I once saw a Nelson's here a few years ago though, so there is potential.

White-crowned Sparrow

It was then off to Brander Park at Port Lambton, where there were a fair number of birds.  Quite a few Tree Swallows were near or over the lagoons.  As well, a few late Northern Rough-winged Swallows were mixed in.

Next walk was at W. Darcy McKeough CA.  A fair number of birds, but I could not come up with anything of note.  Always a chance of LeConte's there too, but I have never had one there despite all the years trying.

I went for another walk at Peers in the afternoon, but it was virtually birdless!  Amazing how things change from morning to afternoon.

I photographed this wasp.  Comes up as Catskill Potter Wasp on iNaturalist, something new for me.  Nobody has confirmed it though.

The days are getting too short......

Oblique Things and Sightings of Late

 Nothing too earth-shattering this week.  I have been looking at insects lately, and today especially, there was a multitude of butterflies.

With asters in bloom, many little insects have been attracted to the flowers.  Oblique Streaktails have been plentiful.

Oblique Streaktail at Peers

Oblique Streaktail at Rondeau

Yesterday, I came across another insect with oblique in its name.  An Oblique-banded Pond Fly was at Nicholl's Memorial Forest and Wetland at Wilkesport.

Some other insects:

Bramble Mason Wasp 

flower fly sp.

This past Monday afternoon was nice enough to go for a long walk at Reid CA.  I encountered three Royal River Cruisers, certainly the latest I have seen them.

getting worn!

Some butterflies included Silver-spotted Skippers and Common Buckeyes which are very abundant this year.

Common Painted-Lady

And the tiny things:

Tufted Globetail

Of course, a mussel shell cannot go un-noticed along the way.

Giant Floater

Tuesday I was interested in the long walk out Rondeau Park's marsh trail.  I went as far as Long Pond, a familiar 11 km round trip.

It was interesting, with lots of birds, but nothing unusual.  I had hopes of finding a Nelson's Sparrow, but despite a valiant effort, I came up empty on that front!

Several birds tripped the eBird filter, including Swamp Sparrow where I tallied 120.  

Wilson's Snipe kept popping up with at least 31 seen.

Quite a few Marsh Wrens are still around.  I saw/heard at least 20.

There were not too many warblers, but Palm seemed to be the most numerous.  Among various species, there was Orange-crowned and Ovenbird.

There were a few butterflies including Least Skipper.

And, just as I was leaving the trail, a Fiery Skipper caught my eye at a bad angle.

I checked Keith McLean C. L. before going home.  No Nelson's Sparrow seen!

Yesterday, I stayed fairly close to home, but did not find anything to write home about.  I went for a walk at Peers Wetland, and in the afternoon, a pleasant walk at Wilkesport.

Lots of flower flies, and the following one was very numerous. However, it is too difficult to ID as to species.

flower fly sp.

Tufted Globetail

Common Whitetail (F)

Today, seemed like a good day to go to Rondeau.  I had anticipations of a good lakewatch at dog beach, but not too much was seen.  Better days ahead no doubt!

I then walked south point trail (east), but found few birds.  However, there was  crazy number of sulphurs and Common Buckeyes, among other butterflies.  Probably saw close to 40 Buckeyes!

It as then off to Keith McLean C. L. to see what was around.  I met Steve there, and we looked for Nelson's Sparrows to no avail.  There is not as much good habitat this year it seems.

After Steve left, I ate my lunch, then decided to go for another walk.  It was successful!  Although not a close look in good light, I came up with my first Nelson's Sparrow of the year.

This area was also littered with Common Buckeye, sulphurs, and others.  This Bronze Copper caught my eye at one point.

There are probably some interesting days ahead with birding, as I like October!

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in the yard