End of May Report: Some Long Walks and Tours

 This past Monday I took a long walk at Rondeau, going out the south beach.  It was not overly productive, but at least it was a calm day for a change.  I went out via the south point trail (west).

It was cloudy for the first part of the morning, but visibility was good.

Shorebirds are the main target this time of year.  There was not a huge number, but I did see a couple of Red Knots.  Dunlin were plentiful.

I was hoping to see Hudsonian Whimbrel, but for some reason they never show up on the days I am at Rondeau!

A lone Long-tailed Duck was sitting on the beach.  Looked the one I saw the previous week near dog beach!

There were not many ducks, but an odd duo included a Blue-winged Teal a nd a Redhead.

Along the trail, I noticed this Yellow Warbler nest.

During my travels in the park, I noted a multitude of Red-eyed Vireos. I counted a record-breaking 139, so just imagine how many were actually in the park.

Here are some scenes along Bennett Road. It is quite scenic this time of year, especially now the the birding rush has passed.

I also walked from maintenance to pony barn.  Along the way, a singing Connecticut Warbler was heard.  Seems we have done well with them this spring.  Some years we do not encounter any!

After leaving the park, I scooted over to Erieau to walk the trails there.  McGeachy Pond was good for birds, but I only did the west end.  My target was Olive-sided Flycatcher.

This Scarlet Tanager was showing nicely.  Not very scarlet-looking!

Next day I checked out the Lake St. Clair area, but it was not too productive.  But in the afternoon I decided to go for a walk at Reid C. L. I had not been there in some time, so wanted to see how things were doing. There was certainly a lack of insect life.  I think these cold weather days this month killed off a lot of things.

There were only about three species of butterflies.

Silver-spotted Skipper

Giant Swallowtail

I did see a dragonfly.

Springtime Darner

Wednesday I made a big tour.  I started at Skunk's Misery.  Sitler Woods and Dogwood Road is one of the best spots to start your day.

There was a multitude of singing birds, including a Cerulean Warbler.  I did a video recording, as well as a recording of the Cerulean Warbler..

Acadian Flycatchers and Hooded Warblers among others are here.

After finishing up in the Mosa Forest, I headed up to Pinery Provincial Park.  I do not get there much anymore, but this seemed to be a good opportunity.

I started on Riverside Trail, my favourite for birds, in the park.

Eastern Bluebird

Along the trail, I noticed this moth, which is a new one for me.

Cherry Scallop Shell Moth

A number of birds were here including a pair of Yellow-billed cuckoos putting on a show across the channel.

Olive-sided Flycatcher was here, which seems to be  ausual spot to find them.

An American Redstart was singing, but it was more like a Prothonotary Warbler.  Not quite identical to Prothonatary, but it was fooling some people.  Especially those relying on the Merlin app.

I also checked on the resident Prairie Warbler while there.

After having a nice morning in the park, I headed over to Ipperwash Beach. I found some Dusted Skippers, but not as many as one might usually find this time of year.  It was a rather cold day, so the cold no doubt had some bearing.

Very few dragonflies, but some included Lance-tipped Darner.

And, Common Baskettail.

On friday, I went back to Rondeau and walked out the marsh trail.  I had originally intended to go only to Long Pond, but once I got out there, I kept going.  It was too nice of a day.

Along the way, I kept flushing up a woodcock.

Marsh Wrens were quite numerous at Rondeau.  In fact the number trips the eBird filter by a longshot!

I walked all the way to the end.  By coincidence, I met Steve Charbonneau out there, who was on the south beach.  This was not the first time we have done this!  At least three times this has happened.

Another Scene farther out looking towards Erieau

There was not anything unusual encountered on this walk.

Later in the day at home, I was out tending to the garden, and noticed a small dragonfly.  I ran for my camera, and managed to get a photo of a Racket-tailed Emerald.  Although quite common, I missed them last year.  A nice one for the yard.

At dusk, I heard the buzzy call of a Common Nighthawk.  Not often I get them here in the spring, but they are showing up in good numbers everywhere this spring on their journey north.

At the same time, the local Merlin was on its "sunset perch", while an Eastern Screech-owl was calling nearby.

Things have certainly calmed down now, and only a few migrants are trickling through.  It was a quiet day so I just took it easy now that May is coming to an end.

Time to look sor insects!

Lambton Leps and Things

 The past couple of days, I spent some time in Lambton County to see what was around.

Tuesday it was up to Port Franks and Ipperwash.  At least it was a pleasant day weatherwise, as the main focus was insects.

I think the constant cold northerly winds all May did a lot of things in, as there was not the usual number of insects that one would see this time of year.

I first walked the L-Lake and NCC trail off Outer Drive at Port Franks.  I always enjoy this walk for birds and insects.

There were not as many birds as usual, but several Acadian Flycatchers were on the usual territories.

Mud Creek winds through the area, and at a certain location, one can look at the watercourse.

The uncommon Cyrano Darner flies here.  Although I have seen it in the past, there was nothing to be seen this day.

I then slid over to Karner Blue Sanctuary to check out the recent burn.  It was long overdue and things looked good.

However, not as many insects as usual.  I did find several Juvenal's Duskywings.

One very worn duskywing appeared to be a Sleepy.

This Peck's Skipper popped up at one point.

Not the best place to find the rare Dusted Skipper, but I did manage one individual here.

Next stop was Ipperwash around the old MNR parking lot.  Here one can find good numbers of Dusted Skippers, but there were not as many as these little bandits usual.

At one point, I spotted an Elfin, albeit very worn.  I think it was probably a Hoary.

I do not see many Elfins since one has to go to north Lambton fairly early in spring.  I spend more time in the south at this time of year!

Very few odes, but this bluet was likely a Boreal, which is uncommon here.  Nobody seems to want to offer any comment on iNaturalist!  Should be enough to go in here.

It was a hot and muggy day, and by the time I was done at this location, I decided not to do any more.

However, I did stop briefly at Wilkesport to look for Zabulon Skipper, but no luck there.

Yesterday I headed up to Sarnia to check around.  I did a long walk at Perch Creek Habitat finding the usual birds.  It was too early for many insects though.

I walked along the creek for a bit, something which I had never done before.  Potential for lots of odes there, so maybe I will try that again soon, if I can tolerate the mosquitoes.

I also walked around the adjacent old landfill, but there was nothing of significance.

Common Ringlet

One of the main targets was to see Silvery Blue butterflies at Blackwell Trails park.  This is the only known spot this far south, and they are fairly abundant here.

I saw several, but they are always very flighty. One co-operated for me.

Others butterflies included Peck's Skipper and Wild Indigo Duskywing.  I could not rule out Columbine Duskywing though on this one.

Towards home, I stopped at Moore WMA.  A bit early for odes there, but some teneral Blue-tipped Dancers were out.

Add, of course, a look for mussels did not reveal anything of note.  Just the usuals.

Mapleleaf

In the history department, on this day in 1972, the Parker Evans rammed the Sidney E. Smith Jr. under the Bluewater Bridge.  The Smith quickly sank as a total loss.

The hull still exists as a breakwater at the end of Seaway Road near the government docks.

As a result, only one-way freighter traffic was allowed form this point forward.

As a kid, I recall going to see the Smith lying on its side in the river.  Also, the wheelsman on the Evans was a friend of my dad's and he recalled the incident.  There was nothing he could do to stop the event.  I remember him saying that his heel marks were left on the wheelhouse floor!

I do not seem to have photos of the above freighters on hand.  Still looking.