More Insect Tours

 A stop at Reid C. L. this past Monday revealed some more of the usual species found there.

Dukes' Skipper

Broad-winged Skipper

Mourning Cloak

Great-spangled Fritillary

But, I did finally photograph a Mulberry Wing.

Looking closer, one can find tiny insects such as this Citrus Flatid Planthopper.

Hummingbird Clearwing moths are plentiful right now.  These chunky moths are quite unique.

Tuesday I headed up to Ipperwash.  It was not the best weather as it was cloudy most of the time, but I was anxious to get there.  I walked most of the Ipperwash Forested Dunes and Swales property owned by the Nature Conservancy of Canada. Don't go there for birds!  There were hardly any.

I did see Shadow Darners, but unable to get photos.  I did come across a Fawn Darner at one point.

There were all kinds of little moths, some of which were Yellow-spotted Renia.

And a Darker Diacme moth.

Along the wetland area, I came across this pair of Emerald Spreadwings.

Highlight, was a Harvester!  I saw this thing fluttering around at one of the boardwalks and was unsure what it was.  Conveniently, it landed on my hand!

Heading back home, I stopped at my usual lunch break spot at Marthaville Habitat Management Area near Petrolia.  Always a good spot for dragonflies.

Slaty Skimmer

Calico Pennants

Widow Skimmer

Wednesday, it was back to Reid.  Weather was quite pleasant.

Lance-tipped Darners are appearing, as this one did.

A couple of Royal River Cruisers were warming up in the sun.

Another Hummingbird Clearwing posed nicely in the morning sun.

More butterflies...

Dukes'

Broad-winged

Red-spotted Purple

Thursday morning weather was perfect as I went for a walk at Mitchell's Bay.  This Shiny Bog Fly caught my eye at one point.  Apparently, it is an endangered species.

Today, I went farther afield and ended up at Fingal Wildlife Management Area. Walked around the Ian Carmichael pond area.

Wild Indigo Duskywing

Heading back west, I stopped at John E. Pearce PP.  Usually it is good for odonates, but there were not many.  I was hoping for Comet Darner, but perhaps they are not there anymore, as I have not seen them in a few years.

A few butterflies were along the way.

Great Spangled Fritillary

Continuing back west, I stopped at Joe's Bush NW of New Glasgow.  I had been there in a few years.  It is a nice wooded area with lots of mature trees.

One last stop was at the old quarry in Clear Creek Provincial nature reserve.  There were not as many odonates as usual, but a couple of Comet Darners were flying the pond.

The most interesting thing was a swarm of Cicada Killer Wasps.  Had to be close to 100 beside the pond!

Other than that, there was not much to photograph.  Hope things are better there on Sunday for the butterfly count!

Mucking Around

 It has been a busy week, as I roamed around looking for anything of interest, tramping along mucky river banks, looking for odonates, birds, etc.  

A Blue Grosbeak (young male) was found at Tilbury by Paul Pratt, so I had to go and see that on Wednesday!  Lighting was horrible in the evening, so the photo leaves a lot to be desired.  Too many wires as well!  I heard it singing long before I saw it come up and perch on the wire.

It was the same sort of deal as last summer when a young male was on territory near Walsingham in Norfolk County.  I went to see that one, as I had not seen a Blue Grosbeak for a long time.

Thursday, I went for an evening walk at Reid CA.  There does not appear to be any Dukes' Skippers in the usual spot this year (yet), so a bad sign indeed.  There are some in another location farther back in on the property, where I did see one.

The cold and wet spring, and the hot and dry summer has played havoc with butterflies.

Friday, I went to south-east Chatham-Kent and into Elgin County visiting various spots in search for something of interest.  My ultimate goal was to see a Comet Darner for this year, since I missed it last year.  I went as far as John E. Pearce P.P. where I had them a few years ago.  It is so dry there (like all places), and there were hardly any odes!  No Comet.

I headed back and stopped at Clear Creek nature reserve's old quarry.  I lucked out and saw a Comet Darner right away!  Only one though, patrolling the pond.

It is an excellent place for odes, and I saw a number of species.  Some here:

Violet Dancer

Skimming Bluet

Slender Spreadwing

Azure Bluet

Eastern Amberwing

And, a poor photo of a Double-striped Bluet

Beaver at Clear Creek!

After that, I back-tracked and stopped at Wardsville Woods, which was very quiet on all fronts.  I did find a Fawn Darner though.  As usual for the species, it was in a shaded area.

And, I spotted my FOY Common Checkered-Skipper.

Heading down highway 2, I stopped at Tecumseh Monument and checked out the riverbank.  Hardly any odes, but later this summer I will check for Smokey Rubyspots.  I did see a Midland Clubtail.

Of interest here, was the river mussels.  It is a good spot, and there were oodles of them washed up!  Too many to sort through.  I even found some live ones at the edge which I looked at, then placed back.  

Mucket (live)

There were too many to look at, of several species.

Pimpleback

Deertoe

Mucket

Today, I had the urge to head to north Lambton for whatever reason.  I stopped by Forest lagoons, which has perfect habitat for shorebirds.  There were lots!  At least 80 Lesser Yellowlegs, and lots of others including a FOY Stilt Sandpiper.

I then headed up to Ausable River Cut CA where I wanted to look at mussels.  I had never looked there before, but there were lots when one starts looking.  Of interest was Three-ridged, which I may have not seen before.  Lots of them.

It is important to take photos of the inside of the shell for ID purposes.

Some other species:

Giant Floater

Deertoe

Mapleleaf

I stopped by Karner Sanctuary for a walk.  Rather quiet, but I did see an Aphrodite Fritillary which did not co-operate for the camera.

I found a couple of Coral Hairstreaks to add to the year's list.

Before home, I stopped by McKeough CA where a Marine Blue was found yesterday and this morning.  I guess I was a bit late today, as I could not find it!  It is very rare in Ontario, and one I have never seen before. 

Some Flag-tailed Spinylegs were the consolation, although expected.