Adventures of the Past Week....More or Less

 Nothing spectacular seen in the past week as time marches on.  Last Friday I went to Rondeau Park.  There were lots of warblers moving along the Bay side.  Most were unidentifiable!

I spent the first hour at the park store watching birds migrate, then walked out the marsh trail.  Blackpoll Warblers were the most numerous.  We see more of them in the fall migration than the spring since they take a different route.  Redstarts and Magnolia Warblers were also in good numbers.

No photos....birds moving too fast!

Saturday I headed up Sarnia way for the first time in over a month.  Stopped by Dow Wetlands before going to Canatara Park.  Lambton Wildlife was having a special event with a walk around the park, then a picnic lunch.

Tall Coreopsis

Here are a few things I photographed.

Wild Indigo Duskywing

Smeared Dagger (moth caterpillar)

Rough Blazing Star

On the way home, I made a brief stop at Nicholls at Wilkesport.  Some Royal River Cruisers were flying, nearing the end of the season.

Sunday I walked out Rondeau 's marsh trail for lack of anything else to do.  It was not overly productive with birds.  There are lots of hummingbirds around right now.

I looked at the garden at home in the afternoon.  Goldenrod attracts a lot of bees and wasps!

Locust Borer

Hump-backed Beewolf

Common Eastern Bumblebee

Perennial Mason Wasp

European Paper Wasp

I do post some of these on iNaturalist, but as usual lately, there is lack of ID participation.  Not sure what people are afraid of here.  

Yesterday I did not have a lot of ambition.  There were very few birds around anyway, but I went for a walk at both Reid C. L. and McKeough C.A.

I admired some of the trees at Reid.

A walk at McKeough revealed probably the last Flag-tailed Spinyleg I will see this year.

Among other things, a Common Buckeye was in the floodway channel.

Today, I really did not know where to go, but ended up at Rondeau Park.  There was a stiff south wind, so Steve and I did a lakewatch at dog beach.  As usual, nothing of note!

A quick stop at Keith McLean C. L. before heading home, revealed my first Fiery Skipper of the season.

Till another time......

Latest Travels: Some Birds, Low Water, Fiery Skipper

 Another week has passed already!  Some fine weather, but this week looks more autumn-like with cool temps and rain.

Making my rounds, I stopped by W. Darcy McKeough CA on Monday.  

This Palm Warbler was soaking up some early morning sun.

Water level very low due to the lack of rain the past few months.  May be the lowest I have seen it there.

Among some Killdeer, a Least Sandpiper was on the mudflat.

Purple Finches seem to be everywhere now.  A few Pine Siskins here and there.  We will see if other finches show up this fall!

I visited Rondeau on Wednesday.  Not much of note.

Northern Parula

I walked back the beach off south point trail.  Lots of beach showing now.

Sanderling

On the way out, I stopped at Keith McLean C. L.  There were a lot of birds there, so I spent quite a bit of time.  I did catch a glimpse of a Nelson's Sparrow.  As usual, it did not stay up long enough for a photo!

As usual, been to Mitchell's Bay a couple of times.

Thursday was very calm.  It was nice looking onto Lake St. Clair even though there was not much activity.

Lots of blackbirds moving around.  One tree had three male Yellow-headed Blackbirds!

 I have seen quite a few this fall.

Friday I went up to Dow Wetlands.  It was not as birdy as I had hoped.  Near the end of the walk close to the parking lot, a couple of Eastern Bluebirds were flying around.  Was not able to make one into a Mountain....

Today, I had the urge to go to Rondeau Park and start with a lakewatch.  It was the first good south wind for a lakewatch.  However, not much was moving!  Lake watching has been the pits so far this fall.

Checked out south point trail (east) afterwards, then went to McLean's.  Lots of sparrows there, but not much else.  It was devoid of shorebirds, except for four Dunlin which took off as soon as I approached.

It was quite warm today, so some butterflies were out.  Caught sight of this Fiery Skipper at McLean's.  I am sure it will be the last one for this year!

The change in weather this coming week should stir things up.  We sure need some rain!

Fall Flings and Things

 Thought it was time for blog post!  There has been lack of subject matter here, hence the long break since my last post.  However, I have been out each day making my usual rounds to various places.

Most of the warblers have passed through, but there have been some decent days especially at the south shore trail at Mitchell's Bay.  The "south" trail is better for bird diversity.   

Great Blue Heron

I visit there about every two to three days, and have not been disappointed.  No rarities (I doubt I will find another Sage Thrasher!), but enough to keep me interested.  Earlier this week I did have a decent look at a male Yellow-headed Blackbird that flew right overhead.  But then, this species is almost expected in that locale.  No chance for  a photo though.

Green Heron

I stopped by the "north" trail once or twice as well.  One gets great views of Mitchell's Bay.  The one occasion revealed hundreds (~800) of Tree Swallows.  No doubt they roosted in the marshes overnight, then dispersed.

Bronze Copper along the trail

Been to Rondeau Park and Keith McLean C. L. a couple of times as well.  The last visit to Rondeau I walked out south beach.  

One large fallen tree had to be dealt with.  I remember when this tree was in the woods!

It was not as productive as I had hoped.  I needed the exercise anyway!  Quite a few Palm Warblers out the beach.

A previous trip, I came across my first and only Common Buckeye of the year.

I stopped by Keith McLean C. L. that day as well, and came across my first and only Fiery Skipper of the year!

Quite a few Common Checkered-Skippers this time of year here and there.

Some Bronze Coppers as well.

McLean's has had quite a few shorebirds, but nothing unexpected.  Some Long-billed Dowitchers have been present lately.

This is the time of year Nelson's Sparrows typically show up, and McLean's is the go-to spot for the most part.  This past Tuesday I stopped in, and got a fleeting glimpse of a Nelson's.  I thought perhaps, it was the first one of the season, but unknowingly to me, SRC had seen one a bit earlier in the day!

I rarely get to St. Clair NWA anymore, but a week ago Friday I decided to go there for something different to do.  Lots of sparrows, especially Swamp in the reeds.  Some Marsh Wrens were along the way.

Little did I know, the NWA was going to be closed this past week for some renovations, till the end of the year.  Glad I went for one last time this fall!

Today I went up to Forest lagoons.  I had not been there in a long time, and this time of year is good for sparrows.  A Nelson's had been seen there yesterday, so why not give it try today?

There were lots of sparrows (especially Savannah), and it was not too long before we saw the Nelson's.

I had not see one there before, despite trying in past years.  Although I was fairly certain I saw one once, but was not entirely sure.

Not as many insects this time of year, but I keep an eye out.  This was a new one for yard.  A Cedar Beetle was caught in a spider web, so I freed it.  It is quite a large creature.

A ruby-throated Hummingbird visited the yard one day.  I managed a fairly decent shot through the porch rails!

Yesterday, after visiting Mitchell's Bay, I stopped by places north of town.  Not much to see! We sure need a change in weather.  This Viceroy was at Wilkesport.  One can only see a hint of the cross-stripe. 

Water levels are extremely low due to lack of rain.  This Greater Yellowlegs was taking advantage of mud at McKeough CA.

A couple of Northern Corn Rootworm beetles were at Peers Wetland. Just happened to catch my eye.

The old moon is full and bright tonight!  It is in conjunction with Saturn, which can be seen just below to its right early this evening.  Though I could not get both in the photo with my lens.