2012: A Summer to Remember For Butterflies and Other Insects

 Today, I spent much time indoors after being out all morning. I was down to Erieau and east of Rondeau looking at the lake.  (The park was closed).  It was just too windy and cold today to be out walking for any length of time!  Nothing of note was seen.....again.

I was reminiscing late this afternoon by going through old posts on the blog.  

This past summer had some insect highlights, especially with dragonflies and butterflies.  The Marine Blue at McKeough in August was the best lep highlight, and later, the one I discovered at Clear Creek quarry was even better!

However, the year 2012 was an incredible year for rare butterflies and other insects.  It has been unmatched since!  There was so much everywhere.

I came across one posting which gives a taste of what was around at Point Pelee and environs for a couple of days.  Sachems and Dainty Sulphurs had a banner year!  As well, I saw a couple of Funereal Duskywings that summer.

It is reposted here (August 15-16, 2012):

Pelee Sachem and Gray Hairstreak Invasions!

With time on my hands, I spent Wednesday and half of Thursday at Point Pelee and found a butterfly bonanza.  Pelee lived up to its fame with a fabulous showing on Wednesday, and fewer butterflies on Thursday.
I was out on West Beach by 09:00 Wednesday and the butterflies were immediately evident.  I found several Sachems (certainly the target species of this trip!).  During my stay I noticed several were in pairs, mating was likely an occurrence.

Sack-ems!

Most of the Sachems were at the north end of the beach, south of West Beach parking lot.  I walked all the way to the Tip and back, alternating between beach and trail.  I notice many Gray Hairstreaks south of the solar panel on first pass.

After a break, I did the same route, and by this time it was warmer and sunnier.  I kept tally the whole time, trying not to count twice, but with the sheer numbers, it was a challenge.  Around and south of the solar panel things got interesting.  Gray Hairstreak galore!  It was quite a chore to count them.  I conservatively came up with 32 along in that area!  Most I have ever seen on one walk!  Total for the park that day ended up at 41 which is a new daily high.

Horace's Duskywing

Other highlights included Horace's Duskywing and Common Sootywing.  I think that is the first sootywing I have seen in the park!  Not common there anyway.

Common Sootywing (not a snout!)

By this time it was after lunch and some nourishment was needed.  I checked out that new place just outside the park gate.  An interesting luncheon indeed.
After lunch, I checked out Black Willow (south) and Northwest Beach (south).

Next stop was Wheatley Provincial Park.  I decided to camp there for the night anyway.  It was actually quite pleasant as I chose my usual site at the north end of Highlands.  No people around in the immediate area and the weather was nice.  I like that area because it is quiet and there is an old lagoon site just behind that I always walk.
There I found five more Sachems among other things.

I then went over to Hillman Marsh.  More butterflies and I got Dainty Sulphur (8) for the day. Lots of checkered skippers needless to say.  Also added a Peck's, something that almost never shows up within Pelee Park for some reason.  I had the last one about 3 year's ago or so, and previous to that there was one in 1996 I believe.

Peck's Skipper

The evening was nice at Wheatley with lots of Red-breasted Nuthatches around.  Many moving now.  Screech Owls heard during the night.

Hillman Dainty

Next morning I did the same route at Pelee, but noticed fewer butterflies.  The wind had stiffened and switched to the SW.  At the Tip parking lot I met Alan Wormington.  We started at the Tip where we met up with Jeremy Hatt.  He was leading some friends around, but could not join us.  Too bad he missed yesterday! LOL.
Alan and I walked up West Beach Trail discussing other possibilities of butterflies along the way.  There are many potentials this year such as Whirlabout, Clouded Skipper, Long-tailed Skipper....

Another Sack-em!

This morning I walked De Laurier first thing and noted quite a few migrant warblers.  An early White-throated Sparrow was chipping in the underbrush, but I did not see it.  Things are getting too thick there with grape vine, etc.!

Following is a list for this trip:

August 15:
WEST BEACH TRAIL/BEACH south of West Beach P. L.:
Common Sooty-Wing (1)
Horaces's Duskywing (1 immaculate female)
Common Checkered-Skipper (25)
Fiery Skipper (13)
Sachem (16)
Common Gray-Hairstreak (37) --32 of those were in the area south of the
Solar Panel!! (conservative number!)

White-lined Sphinx Moth near Black Willow

BLACK WILLOW south beach:
Common Checkered-Skipper (5)
Common Gray Hairstreak (2)
+White-lined Sphinx Moth

NORTHWEST BEACH south of P. L.:
Common Checkered-Skipper (4)
Common Gray-Hairstreak (2)

HILLMAN SHOREBIRD CELL:
Common Checkered-Skipper (55)
Fiery Skipper (4)
Peck's Skipper (1)
Sachem (2)
Dainty Sulphur (8)
Common Gray-Hairstreak (2)

WHEATLEY P. P. -old lagoon site at north side
Common Checkered-Skipper (1)
Fiery Skipper (2)
Sachem (5)

August 16:
WEST BEACH TRAIL/BEACH south of West Beach P. L. (including south of solar
panel):
Common Checkered-Skipper (13)
Fiery Skipper (7)
Sachem (8)
Common Gray-Hairstreak (19)

NORTHWEST BEACH south:
Common Checkered-Skipper (2)
Fiery Skipper (2)
Sachem (1)

V.C. PARKING LOT:
Fiery Skipper (3)
Common Gray-Hairstreak (1)

Early Thanksgiving Weekend Birding

Friday morning I headed down to Point Pelee as a brisk SE wind was blowing.  It was not overly strong, but the possibilities were there for a good Tip watch.  I much prefer doing lake watches this time of year!
I was the first to arrive at the Tip and noticed a good number of bonies moving south on the west side.  I was soon joined be Richard Carr (aka The Afternoon Shift) and we had a good time watching the lake.

Algoma Enterprise

At one point, Richard spotted a jaeger coming down the east side, somewhat distant.  As often is the case it was fast moving.

There were actually two jaegers and both chased a gull when they were directly SSW of the Tip.  We had good scope views, but trying to get any photos was difficult.  The two interacting with the gull would have been a good photo, but I could not get on them!

I was pretty sure the one was Parasitic, but left it as jaeger sp.  The other, after some analysis of photo at home, I put down a Pomarine.  When looking at jaegers, one should get a good look at the central tail feather (or retricies) which help in identifying the species.  They certainly were not Long-tailed Jaegers in any case.

All three scoter species were seen during this watch.  Black Scoters have put on a good showing so far this fall.

Surf Scoter at bottom

Things died out after a while so we headed back to the VC.

I then checked west beach trail for butterflies. There was quite a bit of overcast this day (even though the forecast said otherwise....), so butterfly activity was minimal.
I did however, come across my first and only Grey Hairstreak of the year.

I checked some other areas of the park for birds, but "land" birds were very scarce.  Winter Wrens were plentiful though.  Practically no warblers!

Blackpoll Warbler

Today, I headed down to Rondeau on a cold NW wind.  The lake was dead once again, so we moved on to south point trail.  Some warblers were hiding among the shrubs, including a late Black-and-white and Magnolia.
A Palm Warbler was in the mix as well.

A check of maintenance area revealed a few more birds.  Ruby-crowned Kinglets were certainly plentiful, as they often are this time of year.

A stop at McLean Conservation Lands added some more birds for the day's list.  A couple of Nelson's Sparrows were fun to watch.

The mudflat had some Semipalmated Plovers and a Greater Yellowlegs for shorebirds.  One has to wonder why we have not had a Hudsonian Godwit there yet this year!

This afternoon, I just wanted to go for a couple of walks north of Wallaceburg.  McKeough was first, then Reid CA.  Walking through the woods was nice today.

I came home along the Sydenham River.  Some shorebirds at the end of Charlemont Line included Long-billed Dowitchers and Lesser Yellowlegs.

Sunday calls for a strong SW wind, so you know what direction I am heading!

Labour Day Weekend Wanderings

For Sunday, I had a hunch that birding would be good at Rondeau Park, so that was my destination.
Upon arrival at south point trail, things started off nicely with a Connecticut Warbler.  Jim Burk had just staked it out right at the start of the trail.  On the opposite side of the trail was a Mourning Warbler!

Chestnut-sided Warbler blending in

Not far into the trail, we encountered a multitude of warblers which kept us busy for some time.  However, we had to make a dash to the cars since it started raining.  There was no rain in the forecast for Sunday all week, but what can you do?  It was quite gloomy for the first part of the morning, but no matter, since there were lots of birds.

The lake was not too active since the winds had shifted.



I saw quite a few species of birds that I did not encounter the day before, so it was obvious that many had dropped in overnight.

After south point, we went to the north end of Harrison Trail where there was another good crop of birds.  Near the pony barn, we found dozens of warblers which kept us busy sorting through.

At one point, I spotted a multi-coloured Scarlet Tanager high in a tree.

At the end of the day, I tallied 20 species of warblers, among the other migrants.

Sunday afternoon was so nice, I went for a walk up at Reid CA.  It was quite enjoyable.

Although Reid is not usually known for concentrations of birds, I did find quite a large pocket of warblers to sort through.  They were moving quickly though.
Some curious Black-capped Chickadees were mixed in.

Some darners were flying about, including this one.

Shadow Darner (?)

Holiday Monday has strong SW winds forecast, so I decided to give Point Pelee a try.  I arrived at the Tip and found Kory Renaud already set up.  We watched for some time, but it was not too productive.  It is still early in the season, so there will be lots of opportunities to come.

We walked up the beach to Sparrow Field, giving some Sanderlings a workout.

A few warblers were at Sparrow Field.
I continued up west beach trail, but it was rather windy.  The only butterfly of note was a Common Checkered-Skipper.

A number of warblers were on De Laurier, but I did not spend much time. Still too many tourists!

A stop at Hillman Marsh shorebird cell area revealed numerous checkered-skippers.  I counted about 40 in less than a hour.

The most notable thing was Common Gray-Hairstreak.  It has been at least two years since I have seen one!

Another summer has virtually come to an end, but there are good days ahead.  Fall is my favourite time of year for birding!

Eastern Amberwing