Clear Day at Clear Creek

 Yesterday a number of nature enthusiasts participated in the annual Clear Creek butterfly count.  Weather was quite nice for a change, but a bit on the muggy side.

I did the Clearville area with some friends, which included the nature reserve and Clearville Park.  We started at the old quarry which is always an interesting area.

Highlight there was a Grey Comma, although I could not get a decent photo.

Another decent find was a Common Painted-Lady.  I think it was actually the first one I have seen this year.

We did get one Broad-winged Skipper which is expected here.

Two Common Buckeye were nice to see along the road.

Quite a few Peck's Skippers were at the corner of the main road.

Hardly any odes this day, but I did see Violet Dancer.

There were lots of Giant Swallowtails, but this count always has a high number of them.

From there, we moved down the road to the Bury Cemetery trail.  

There was not as much as we had hoped there, but quite a few Tawny-edged Skippers were in the grasses along the road.

At lunch time, we moved down to the lakeside at Clearville Park.  There was hardly anything here!

Common Wood Nymph

There is a little trail that I find interesting at the sharp bend in Clear Creek here.  The land comes to a point here.

I called it quits after this, while the others finished out the day.  By noon, we had tallied 26 species, which was acceptable.

I have no idea of final results (and probably never will!), but I suspect is was a good day overall.  I heard that at least 47 species were tallied.

A few days ago I took the long walk at Reid CA.  I came across a large buzzy insect called a Virginia Giant Hover Fly.  I have seen these here before, but they are quite intimidating.  They are classified as rare in Ontario by the NHIC.

A few Common Buckeye have been around lately, and I saw one at Reid that day.

And, Red-spotted Purples.

Saturday I made a change in scenery and walked part of the CASO trail near Ridgetown.  

Eastern Giant Swallowtail

I then made a short visit to Blenheim lagoons, but it was a quieter day there.

Bronze Copper at Blenheim

The Ruff only stayed for two days, and was gone by Saturday much to the disappointment of birders from farther afield.

Today was quite unproductive.  It was just one of those days not much is around.  I went as far as Rodney to check out the Tanager Tract.  It is one of the Thames Talbot Land Trust properties, and part of the "West Lorne Woods" complex.  It is a pretty neat area!

Recent Dukes' Skipper

Out And About (Again!)

 Friday I checked out Point Pelee, starting with a lakewatch at the Tip.  Nothing unusual showed up, but there were lots of gulls and a few shorebirds.  I was putting in time before I looked for insects.

Sanderling

I then checked several areas for butterflies, but for a while it was overcast, not helping matters.  I did not come across any rarities.  I think it will be a good late summer and fall though!

Giant Swallowtail was the most common native species.

It started to get very hot and muggy, so I went over to Hillman Marsh for a long walk before it got too unbearable.

I did find a good variety of butterflies, but still no rarities.

Broad-winged Skipper

Common Buckeye

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Today, I went up to north Lambton, starting at Forest lagoons.  Lots of shorebirds in to sort through, but no rarities.  Lesser Yellowlegs have dwindled in numbers, but more peeps were in.

What to do next?  I went up to Karner Blue Sanctuary and the Liatris plants are just coming out.

Cylindrical Blazing Star

Rough Blazing Star (blooms a tad later)

I always look at the Ebony Spleenwort nearby too.

It is a bit early for Leonard's Skipper there, so looked at a few other species.

Wild Indigo Duskywing

Crossline Skipper

probably Crossline

It was completely dead for birds!  I heard only one Red-eyed Vireo, lol.

Before leaving the area, I walked L-Lake trail and it too was dead for birds!

It was getting too hot, so I headed back south and stopped at McKeough.  I had hopes of finding another Marine Blue, but no dice.  I found a Common Sootywing in that location.

One last stop was at Reid CA, where I stumbled upon the find of the day.  Two Great Blue Skimmers were patrolling the old oxbow!  I recognized them right away.

This is a first record for here as far as I know.  Reid is alway good for insects, rather than birds!

While standing there, I did see a Dukes' Skipper (getting late for them), but it eluded the camera.

I managed to photograph one of my friends as well, a Royal River Cruiser.

By this time I was beat by the heat and humidity.

Bob O'Link

Rondeau Shores to Lambton Shores

 Saturday I was down to Rondeau bright and early for another long walk.  I decided to head out marsh trail for a change.  There was not much to report out there, but one never knows what is out there until you look.

Common Gallinules seem to be in decent numbers this year, as I found them in various locations on my walk.  Rails are out there too and if you are lucky you will see or hear the usual three species.  I did see a Virginia Rail in one spot, once on the way out and once on the way back!  No King this day though.

The only migrant warblers were couple of each Blackpoll and Tennessee.  I did hear a Yellow-breasted Chat at one point.  Seems to be a few around this year of this declining species.  We used to have them regularly at Rondeau, even out marsh trail.

Willow Flycatchers have arrived in good numbers, and marsh trail is the best place to see them.

I was just coming up to the parking lot after finishing my walk, when word of a Summer Tanager was put out.  (good thing I was not still at Long Pond!).  I arrived at the scene of the crime and after some patient waiting, it showed up.  A nicely coloured young male!

The rest of the morning was spent at various locations adding to the day's list.  Cuckoos are in very good numbers this year all over.   They are more often heard than seen and the two type's calls can be similar at times.  Photos from the past:

Black-billed Cuckoo

Yellow-billed Cuckoo

Today, a change in scenery was in order.  I like to go to different places and look for different things.  With the "lockdown" year, I have not gone very far, but I really needed to do something different.  North Lambton and Lambton Shores was the destination today.

I started by walking at Ipperwash Forested Dunes and Swales.  There were more mosquitoes than birds!  I found the place extremely quiet and not even a single migrant.  Lots of Veery are there.

I found a pair of chickadees excavating a hole.

Here, was can find some orchids such as the common Pink Ladies Slipper.

I wanted to look for Dusted Skipper today as well, so just down the road I checked out the big MNR parking lot area and "barrens".  It was fairly early in the day and somewhat overcast, but I did find a few Dusted Skippers.

Look for the white above the eye to ID these little bandits!

One of my favourite spots for insects up that way is the Karner Blue Sanctuary in Port Franks.  I had to go there next!  The sun came out for this walk, thankfully.

Numerous leps were on the scene (and odes too!).  A highlight was a Dusted Skipper.  I do not think I have seen one on this property before.

I had numerous duskywings, all of which appeared to be Juvenal's.  Other types can be found here as well.

I even caught sight of a Northern Cloudywing.  Not photographed well though!

Other leps included Spicebush Swallowtail, Giant Swallowtail, Hobomok Skipper, Northern Azure.

I photographed some dragonflies as well.

Chalk-fronted Corporal (f)

Calico Pennant (f)

Springtime Darner

??

My next walk was at the L-Lake trail and NCC trail west of Port Franks.  A good variety of birds can be found here as part of the Lambton Heritage Forest.  Acadian Flycatcher, Hooded Warbler, Cerulean Warbler were expected birds I found today.

One Cerulean was singing very loudly treetop; a variation of song that I had never heard before.  It had me puzzled at first, but I realized it could only be a Cerulean.

Just before leaving the trail, I picked up on a another lep for the day.  A Common Roadside Skipper. (was not alongside the road though).

It will be back to Rondeau tomorrow, and hopefully it is a good day to fly a kite.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of Lambton Shores Nature Trails.  They have various trails in the Ipperwash and Port Franks area.  Also, there is the Mystery Fall trail along the Ausable River north of Arkona.