Something Elusive and OFO Convention Weekend

 Warblers are still coming through in good numbers of late.

Peers Parula

And, sparrows are certainly increasing in numbers.

Lincoln's Sparrow

The afternoon before I left for Algonquin Park, I noticed a clubtail fly into the yard.  It set down on a cedar tree, as seen from my bedroom window.  I went outside with the camera, but could not get close to it.  It looked quite interesting!

I took some really crappy photos, and on further examination, I was fairly certain that it was an Elusive Clubtail.  This is an uncommon clubtail not seen often in late summer and early fall.  It can show up anywhere, but more likely along rivers such as the Sydenham or Thames.  I have only photographed some once, and that was at Brander Park, Port Lambton 14 October 2013.  So they can be quite late in the fall.

I put the photos on iNaturalist not expecting any results. A fellow naturalist confirmed it as such, so it will go down as an incredible yard record!

Here is a photo, and take it as you may.

Thursday was quite nice, and I went for some walks locally.  At Wilkesport, I found a Royal River Cruiser.  Getting late for them, and probably the latest one I have seen.

Other insects:

Oblique Streaktail

Comma of the East

Common Buckeyes are not problem anywhere this year!

This weekend was the annual Ontario Field Ornithologists (OFO) weekend, which was held at Leamington.  Nice to have it close to home!  Next year it will be even closer, at Sarnia.  First time for there, so it will be interesting.

Friday's weather was fairly nice, but very windy as the remnants of hurricane Helene blew in.  A Red Knot was found at the Erieau pier, so I decided that was a good place to start my weekend.  I was just getting things together at home when it was reported, so I then made a beeline to Erieau in hopes that it was still there.  It was, and it was  a nice addition to my year list.  I was worried that I would miss it this year.

It spent quite a bit of time on the leeside of the pier.

Red Knots have taken a nosedive in numbers the last fifteen years or so.  We often just see single birds anymore, if any at all.  I recall when I first started birding, we could get good-sized flocks at Rondeau later in May.  Mostly a thing of the past!

It was very windy at Erieau (and elsewhere), and I stayed for a couple of hours in hopes of seeing something else of interest.  Did not happen though.

A couple of Peregrine Falcons hung around though.

Erieau Pier

It was then off to Point Pelee to start my OFO convention weekend.  

*their logo*

The weather was nice enough to look for butterflies, but I did not seen too much.  This Fiery Skipper caught my eye at one point.

It probably noticed me as well.

I also later saw a Southern Dogface-Sulphur at Sanctuary.  They are getting worn and fewer in numbers.  Strangely, no other bigtime rarities from the south have been seen yet.

I spent other time looking for birds.  Along the way, this melanistic Garter Snake was slithering around on the trail.  I was not in a position to get the whole creature in a photo.

Lots of moths are seen this time of year.  I think this one is a Corn Earworm Moth.  I could not get in a better position to photograph it.  Note the green eye!

With the wind, some lake ships were anchored.  I think this one is the John J. Boland.

With the high east winds, the constantly changing Tip was gone.  Lots of spray over the shallow waters.

Friday evening there was an informal dinner at the Portuguese Club Leamington.  Sarah Rupert's famous bird quiz was once again challenging!

Saturday was another story.  It was constant rain and drizzle most of the day.  As usual, the weather forecast was wrong and we received way more rain than predicted.  The high winds made it quite miserable as well!  I guess I am used to that....

As a result, I did not bring out the camera, so no photos unfortunately.

However, we were all out looking for birds.  I opted to go to the Tip (and get soaked).  Lots of birds were seen, but nothing spectacular.  However, a couple of distant jaegers were seen, and two American White Pelicans put on a show for observers.

At one point, I caught sight of a shorebird flying quickly south.  It turned out to be a Red-necked Phalarope, and I got a few dedicated birders on it.

Later, I spent most of time around De Laurier, where I found a multitude of birds.  Through off and on rain, I actually found it interesting and racked up a good list.

Orange-crowned Warbler (example of one species I found)

I was soaked during the day and had no change of clothes as I did not expect all this rain, but dried out enough to attend the evening festivities.

This year's Distinguished Ornithologist is Mark Peck, well-deserved with his decades of work at the Royal Ontario Museum, shorebirds surveys especially on James Bay and elsewhere, writings, and other things.

The keynote speakers made an interesting presentation on indigenous bird names.  Quite informative!

I went home after the event, rather than stay another night.

The OFO Convention is certainly a wonderful social affair which I enjoy immensely and look forward to it every year.  Next year, I can stay at home to attend the event!

Rondeau Watch, Kite Flying, Smoky on the Thames

 It was down to Rondeau this foggy morning.  It was one of the more humid days of this summer!  I can do without these hot and humid days.....

I started with a lakewatch at dog beach.  There was much gull action, but no rarities in view.  Most were Bonaparte's (several hundred), compared to the previous day where less than a dozen were seen!

Steve joined me early on.  He spotted a jaeger (a novelty for Rondeau) way out, but I never got on it.  A different wind for tomorrow, so will try again!

I checked out south point trail, then the north end of Harrison Trail.  Thrushes were once again the theme of the day.  Seems they are extremely abundant this fall!  Many were still giving the calls much like their nocturnal flight calls.  One can distinguish the difference between Gray-cheeked and Swainson's.

There were not a lot of warblers today though.  Vireos, including Philadelphia, were in good numbers.

Not a good photo!

It was about 11:30 by the time I was done in the park.  I had been itching to go see the Swallow-tailed Kite at Orwell in Elgin county, so today was the day to go!  It was a little over an hour drive from Rondeau, but upon arrival at the site, it was soaring above the road!  No wait here!

It was a really neat bird to watch as it hunted over the area.

A year ago, I saw the one outside Point Pelee, so it seems to be a yearly thing.

I took a scenic route back, and stopped by Wardsville Woods for a walk.  Not much in the way of birds, but a few butterflies were flying.

Common Checkered-Skipper

Wild Indigo Duskywing

Further west, I briefly stopped at the Tecumseh Monument park east of Thamesville.  Viewing was limited along the river due to the high water level (too much rain this past week!).  I saw several Smoky Rubyspots, but no American Rubyspots.

Just as I was leaving, I caught sight of an Elusive Clubtail, but was unable to get a photo.  They are around this time of year, and some have been seen around Florence and Shetland recently.

Smoky Time of Year

 The summer is waning quickly!  I have been out as much as possible looking for anything of interest.

I come across many of my "friends", the Royal River Cruiser.

 Lately, McLean Conservation Lands near Rondeau Park has been one of the best spots around for shorebirds and other birds.  (I am still pulling for a Little Blue Heron there!).

This current bird of the week is a Red Knot.  Thursday evening I had nothing to do so went down for a quick look at shorebirds.  The Red Knot (more like a Grey Knot!) was very close, as it has been all week.

Seems we get one lingering bird here every year!

Other shorebirds included Short-billed Dowitchers, peeps, plovers and Stilt Sandpipers.

This morning I had a route planned, starting at McLean's.  I had the place to myself first thing.  New for the year was a pair of Baird's Sandpipers.  These less-common creatures prefer drier ground. They were a bit distant for my camera though.

Some of the same birds from yesterday were present.  I did not see the Knot, but I did not walk far enough as it had moved and was closer to the road.  The long-staying Dunlin was still hanging in there!

With passerine migration coming along nicely, I went into Rondeau Park to look around.  I started at Maintenance-pony barn area, but it was terribly quiet.  I then moved down to south point east side.  The trail is finally dry enough to walk without boots!

A few migrants included Blackburnian and Magnolia Warblers, and Tennessee.

I walked back the beach and found hundreds of gulls and terns, but no rarities!  I could not look at every bird though.

The Cylindrical Blazing Star was in bloom in a usual area.

A few Red-breasted Nuthatches were around at almost every stop today.  Two were even in my yard today.

Some butterflies included a late Appalachian Brown.

Next on the agenda was the river at Thamesville bridge.  This time of year we look for Smoky Rubyspots.  There is never a comfortable spot to view these, as the bank is very steep and thick with vegetation.  However, I did find several.

American Rubyspots were also present as expected, plus other dancers.

I kept an eye out for clubtails, namely Elusive.  Quinten had one there the other day.  I did see one clubtail, quite likely an Elusive, but it took off up the slope and out of sight.  It was the ONLY dragonfly I saw there!

The Elusive Clubtail is rarely seen, but I have seen some!  Unexpectantly, I saw some at Brander Park, Port Lambton back on October 14, 2013.  I guess they have a long season!

Next stop was the Tecumseh Monument park east of Thamesville.  I had the notion to check this out this year for Smoky Rubyspot.  There is only one spot to get down to the riverbank, as the rest of the area is almost a vertical drop!

Upon arriving at the riverbank, it did not take long to find Smoky Rubyspot!

American Rubyspot is also here plus Blue-fronted Dancer, and Violet Dancer.  Probably other things as well.

While there, lots of butterflies were in the flowers, and I caught sight of a Compton Tortoiseshell.  I was not able to get a good photo before it took off.  Not often I see these, but this year seems to be a banner year for them in Ontario.

My next stop was Wardsville Woods, which turned out to be rather quiet.  Hardly a bird there and not too many butterflies.

Tawny-edged Skipper

Spiked Blazing Star

For the route home, I went up to Lambton Line, and briefly stopped at Florence.  Not much was going on here, so I left!

Not quite ready to go home, I stopped by Reid CA for a walk.  Again rather quiet, but a Royal River Cruiser perched briefly right at the start.

At home, to cap things off, another Common Checkered-Skipper stopped by the garden late this afternoon.