Some Slow Days and Spiny Things

 I have found birding quite unremarkable this summer.  The last few days certainly have been very slow for me.  Sunday I checked out Blenheim Lagoons and the Erieau marsh trail with nothing of note.  The lagoons are no good for shorebirds with the water levels much higher, and the sprinkler cells dry.  I will not be going there again anytime soon, unless something is reported!

Lots of Spot-winged Gliders (and some Wandering Gliders) are around everywhere right now.

Spot-winged Glider at McGeachy Pond

In the afternoon, for lack of anything else to do, I took a long walk at Reid CA.  The Zabulon Skippers were still present!  I am fairly certain there were three.  Showing a little wear now.

Along the back field edge, I found this mason wasp.  There are many different kinds, and I photographed it just for the heck of it.  I found out later it is considered rare by the NHIC!  Called a Smiling Mason Wasp, it is quite similar to others.

I did not take time to get a clear photo of this flower fly, but it turned out to be one I have not photographed before.

Eastern Flower Fly

There was still a Dukes' Skipper flying.  One of the latest there I have seen.

Lots of Lance-tipped Darners were flying (as well as Royal River Cruisers).

After the walk, while driving home, I realized I had a passenger.  A Buffalo Tree Hopper had clung to me and escaped into the car.

Yesterday, I ended up at Rondeau and walked out south beach.  It was extremely slow for birds, and quite disappointing.  I only had one warbler!  A Northern Waterthrush was out south beach.

Practically no shorebirds, and no notable gulls. Nothing to photograph, so no photo to share here!

I did get this Fatmucket mussel for lack of anything else.

Walking back, I checked out the Cylindrical Blazing Star.  I did not realize the population was quite extensive!

Once in a while, one will see the white form.

I stopped by Keith McLean C. L. on the way home.  Extremely show there for birds as well.

Common Buckeye

Today, I had to do something different because there was no place else to go.  I went to Strathroy and checked out the lagoons and the conservation area.  Still extremely slow for birds!  High water levels from the excessive rain this summer did not help matters.

The conservation area is a neat place and has an extensive network of trails.   I was there earlier in the summer but could not access the place because it was flooded!  Too much rain.....

The Sydenham winds through here.

It is good for insects (sometimes).  I saw a couple of Blue-tipped Dancers, among other things.

On the way home I stopped by Shetland boat launch.  I met the Nethercott's from Sarnia there and I found them a Blue-ringed Dancer.

It appeared to be having lunch.

There was very little flying (again!), but this Royal River Cruiser hung around.

As well, at least three Flag-tailed Spinylegs were patrolling the river's edge.

We also saw Black-shouldered Spinyleg, but I did not bother to photograph it.

A cute little Spiny Softshell turtle was along the edge.

It eventually crawled up onto the mud, where it was well-camouflaged.

I had to be home by 13:00h, so my day was cut short at this point.

North Lambton Shorebirds to Insects

Heading northward today, I first stopped at Forest Lagoons.  Shorebirds are getting a bit fewer and the the cells are drying up and getting covered in vegetation.

There were still lots of Lesser Yellowlegs and Semipalmated Plovers plus some others.

The last couple of days, two Red-necked Phalaropes have been seen at Forest.  I was there for a good hour and did not see one today.  I thought since it was the weekend, a bird of this calibre had decided to leave.  I was just about to leave, and spotted a Red-necked Phalarope in the distance!  Where it came from I have no idea since it certainly was not in view for an hour.

Quite distant, but I attempted a photo.

I next walked at Ausable River Cut CA looking for anything with wings.  I saw only one dragonfly along the river,  perhaps something like a basket-tail.
Near the end of the trail, I found a decent flock of birds including Blackburnian, Black-and-white, Bay-breasted, Nashville, Chestnut-sided and Blue-winged Warblers.

Blackburnian Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler

There was a good spot for butterflies here, but perhaps it was too early in the morning.  Both Cylindrical and Rough Blazing Star is here--a good spot for Leonard's Skipper.

Rough

Cylindrical

Moving on, I decided to try Karner Blue Sanctuary in Port Franks.  I found a couple of migrant warblers here plus several other species.  There was a large flock of orioles moving through at one point.

Here, we have my go-to place for Leonard's Skippers.  A section where Rough and Cylindrical Blazing Star blooms is a good bet for Leonard's.  Sure enough, I saw two of the creatures.

A lingering Wild Indigo Duskywing was present as well.

Some other leps included a late Common Wood Nymph, and a Hackberry which I though was uncommon for here.

I only got a quick look at the Hackberry.

Later on, I saw a darner fly by and perch on a tree.  Turns out it landed right beside a cicada!  I think it had no idea.  It appeared to be a Shadow Darner.

I saw no Royal River Cruisers in the area like a couple of weeks ago on the blitz.  Recently, James Holdsworth found one on the Ausable at the River Cut CA.  They are certainly uncommon this far north.

With such nice weather (was it really the weekend?), I stopped by L-Lake trail.

It was terribly quiet for birds, but I did come across a lingering Hooded Warbler.
Near the turn of the trail, I saw this fresh female Slaty Skimmer.

At the turn one can go onto the Nature Conservancy property and follow a long trail.  I have never gone all the way.  One used to be able to access at the end, but a bridge had been removed many years ago there.

Along the trail, I found a Northern Pearly-eye.  It is very late in the season for this species.

Northern Pearly-eye is single brooded and usually done by later in August.  I recall a number of years ago I found a very fresh one at the end of August at Moore WMA.  Alan Wormington told me it was a rare second brood!

It was nice here, so I ate my lunch while sitting on a bench!


Since I was driving by Marthaville Habitat Management Area near Petrolia, I stopped in.  I had not been here in a few years.  I think the last time was when I found a White-eyed Vireo here in June.

Compass Plant

Near home, I stopped by Nicholl's at Wilkesport.  I saw one Royal River Cruiser here, so I got my cruiser fix for the day!

At home in the garden, several Peck's Skippers were flitting about.

As well, tiny Fragile Forktails were in the garden.  They are so tiny, hence their name, I guess!

Weekend Walks

Sunday I decided to head up to Sarnia to check things out, starting with Perch Creek.  There is not much to see there in the summer, but there are some plantings of prairie plants.  Spiked Blazing Star is now coming out, as well as many others.

Perch Creek Habitat can be good for butterflies.  I came across some Broad-winged Skippers alongside the trail farther back.  First time I have seen them there.

It is also the only place in the area that I have found Leonard's Skippers.  Soon they will be appearing.
There were a few other species yesterday.

Question Mark

Red-spotted Purple

There was not much in the way of birds at Perch Creek yesterday, but it can be good during migration.

Next stop was Wawanosh Wetlands.

It is also a good place for birding with much variety.  I used to go there quite often in my earlier years as it was an excellent spot for shorebirds.  Not so in recent years due to phragmites growth!
It was almost a year ago that a Franklin's Gull showed up there, so you never know what may appear.

Green Herons probably nest in the area as many have been sighted recently.

Skies were gloomy as I left Sarnia, so I did not do much after that on a typical weekend day.
A brief stop at Moore WMA revealed nothing.  Some Purple Coneflower is blooming near the parking lot.

Today I decided to check out Rondeau.  It was uncomfortably hot and humid, but that has been the norm this summer.  I did not really come across any migrant warblers.  Often by this time of year I have seen a variety.
Hardly anything was moving on the lake.  This time of year we can possibly see many Little Gulls, but there were none today.
I did hear the lonely White-winged Dove at one point, so it is still around!

I came across a couple of Red-headed Woodpeckers along Harrison Trail. One was an immature, while this one was an adult.

Cylindrical Blazing Star is just coming into bloom in the dune areas.

I checked the beach area along south point and saw only a couple of Sanderlings and a Semipalmated Plover.
Of interest, was this alien craft on the beach.