Red Phalarope Steals the Show

A fine day for birding at Point Pelee today.

 I met up with Steve Pike and Marianne Reid at De Laurier first thing.  Many birds were flying over, especially warblers.  We then headed to the VC, meeting up with Jeremy Hatt to get the first tram to the Tip.

The first bird of interest was a waterthrush just south of the solar panel.  Not sure what species as we never got definitive views.  Maybe a Louisiana?

At the Tip we could see hundreds of gulls.  As we stepped out onto the sand, Steve spotted a phalarope.  Obviously a Red!  This creature was working the sand and not bothered by our presence.  In fact it walked right up to us for stellar shots.

Steve spent considerable time sitting on the sand at the surf-line as this bird came right up to him.  An incredible experience!

Phalarope vs. Pike

At one point the phalarope looked up as if a predator was approaching.  It then hunkered down in a depression.  Neat to see!

Can you see me?

Ironically, we talked about Red Phalarope on the way to the Tip and that Jeremy needed that one.  Turns out it was his 300th Ontario bird for 2012!  A nice bird for the 300 mark.

Other shorebirds at the Tip included Sanderling, a Ruddy Turnstone and a juv Golden Plover.

Quite a few hawks moving today, but nothing of note.
We worked our way up to Sparrow Field, noting some Common Gray-Hairstreaks.

Ian Woodfield joined us and we searched for White-M Hairstreaks.  After a while, Marianne and I spotted one at the same time on goldenrod.  It was the crappiest-looking one anyone has seen!

However, it was a lifer for Marianne, so it did not matter.

We had lunch in the Red Bus---nice to have a Green Goddess again!

We checked for shorebirds behind the Day's Inn.  There were quite a few, but we had to walk out onto the mudflat to see them at the north end.  Two Red-necked Phalaropes were here.
We later checked Blue Heron area and found an Ovenbird for the day.  Quite a few warblers were in the trees at the parking lot.
A check of Northwest Beach area revealed more Gray Hairstreaks and Common Checkered-Skippers.

Lots of Monarchs today!

Night-Herons to Hairstreaks

I went down to Rondeau on this cool morning.  Almost needed a jacket!  I met up with the Burk's at south point trail and we had a pleasant walk out the south beach.  Lots of warblers were around, but it was difficult seeing them in the foliage.  They were even all the way out the beach in the shrubbery.
Lots of gulls were moving westward today.  Some of which were far out and left to speculation--Laughing, Black-headed, Franklin's.....etc.  None of the above.

Several Bald Eagles were around today and many hawks migrating.
Birds flying overhead included American Pipits.  I saw the first two while at Strathroy yesterday.

As we arrived at Sora City, the rails were calling like crazy.  One wonders how many are really out there.

We went as far as the "old" break and Jim spotted a Gray Hairstreak.

By this time it was warming up and we headed back keeping eyes peeled.  At the area of the wild rice, some Black-crowned Night Herons popped up.  We did not even see them on the way out!  They rose in bunches and there was around 80!  Keith counted 78 to be exact.
I have never seen so many of them at once. It is not the record high though as one spring 120 were counted by Dick Ussher many many decades ago.






As I walked back, I kept an eye on goldenrod.  Sure enough I spotted a White-M Hairstreak!  It was a bit worn and a chunk was out of its right side revealing the blue of the upperwing.

Rondeau's 2nd White-M Hairstreak

It was rather quiet walking back and few birds were seen and no more hairstreaks.
However, I checked the entrance area of marsh trail and found 3 more Gray Hairstreaks.

After lunch, I headed down to McGeachy Pond.  I figured it would be a good day along the dike.  I found at least 12 Gray Hairstreaks.  I had 9 one way and 12 going back, so who knows if I counted twice.

Next stop was Blenheim Lagoons.  Few shorebirds today, but 8 Red-necked Phalaropes were circling around pond 1.  They finally settled. The number varies at times, but the maximum last week was nine.






I spotted a Bronze Copper at one point.  Believe it or not, it is the first one I saw this year.  I think the dry year has had some bearing on numbers.





A few Common Checkered-Skippers were around.

Some butterflies are getting worn.  This Red-spotted Purple has seen better days!

Pelee Funereal and More!

Another Sachem!

Well, another good butterfly happened my way again today.  I was not sure if I would go to Pelee today, looking at weather forecasts.  Yesterday they were all over the map with wind direction, and wind is critical for certain activities at Pelee.  Go anyway...weather forecasts are wrong most of the time anymore!
I started at Blenheim Lagoons and Erieau first thing this morning.  A good number of shorebirds at the lagoons, but nothing new.  There was a Red-necked Phalarope ( a normal one!) in pond 5.  That is the fourth one there this month that I know of.
On to Erieau where there was not much to see.  Sky was clearing, so why not try Point Pelee.
I headed straight for west beach parking lot and headed down the edge of the beach.  This has been the best spot recently. Lots of knapweed, etc.
I found a total of 11 Sachems this time.  At one point I found a mating pair!

More Sachems in a month?

A few Fiery Skippers and Common Checkered-skippers were found.  Gray Hairstreaks as well.
At one point I caught sight of a fairly large duskywing.  This one flew around alot and never settled.  I eventually lost sight of it thinking possibly funeralis. It did not strike me as Horace's, and I have never seen one this far down the beach.

Just south of the serengeti tree, there was Steve Pike and Chris Law and another couple.  They had seen a total of 26 Gray Hairstreaks near the solar panel.  When I got there, I only found 5!  Too much traffic ahead of me.  All in the timing as usual.

Common Checkered-Skipper

I headed back the same route not really adding anything new.

Next stop was the old parking lot south of NW Beach parking.  More of the same there.  Just as I was about to step onto the road, a duskywing caught my eye.  Funereal! This one was quite active and I got good looks at it, but not a good photo.  It took off south and I never saw it again even though I looked.

It was almost 2 p.m. so I headed out.  I briefly stopped at the end of conc. E road and looked on the dike.  A good spot for White-M, but no luck.

Gray Hairstreak with Fiery Skipper in background

I stopped at Liddle's fish place for a lunch, then went over the ramp area.  While eating there, I noticed quite a few butterflies in the grass and weeds.  Turned out to be several Wild Indigo Duskywings, a Common Sootywing, Fiery Skippers and a Gray Hairstreak.

A decent day!
I am back to work tomorrow, so there will be a lull in the storm.....

wasp with Orange Sulphur (?) caterpillar 

Yard Butterflies and Stuff

Least Sandpipers

This morning I decided to check out Strathroy Lagoons.  This place has lots of potential with large lagoons and trees surrounding them and open space.  There is some mud, but not many shorebirds today.  Lots of trees around to collect songbirds and open spaces with weedy areas.  This is certainly one of the more pleasant lagoon sites to visit.

Deepwater Yellowlegs

I wish it was a bit closer, as it takes just over an hour to get there from home.

Fiery Skipper at Strathroy

On the way home I stopped at McKeough CA.  A few Flag-tailed Spinylegs were still flying, but I could not get on one for a photo.
A few butterflies, including a Gray Hairstreak!  First one I have had there.

A Gray Comma was nice.  They are common in this area.

Eastern Tailed-Blue

I also stopped at Port Lambton to check the gardens at Brander Park.  Just Fiery Skippers and Peck's Skippers.  I am still holding out for a Sachem there!

Peck's Skipper

Just after I got home, I noticed a Gray Hairstreak nectaring on Black-eyed Susan.  Not a first for the yard, but been a very long time.

I did some relaxing this afternoon on the back porch and noticed a Common Checkered-Skipper flying around.

Tomorrow....??  Thought of Pelee, but last night's forecast said light south winds for Sunday, this afternoon they said west, now its east.  Ridiculous!  No degree of accuracy anymore!

White-M at Erieau!

It was a rather slow day today, however one good thing can make the day.  I hung around the home area till mid morning, then decided to head to Rondeau.  Not many flowers out except Joe Pye-Weed and goldenrod and a few others that were wilting.  At one point I found a Peck's Skipper and a Fiery Skipper.  I did not see much at Rondeau, so moved to Blenheim Lagoons.  Little to see there as well!  I had a Common-checkered Skipper there yesterday which was a first for me at that location.  Not surprising as I had expected it long ago.  Saw one or two today as well.

Common checkered-Skipper at Erieau!

Next stop was Erieau. Along McGeachy Pond dike I immediately saw two Gray Hairstreaks together.  Maybe a sign of good things?  However, hardly any flowers out and few butterflies as I walked.  Then I saw a checkered skipper.  Not surprising, but new for there as well!

Common Gray-Hairstreaks

As I walked along, there was more Queen Anne's Lace alongside the trail.  At one point I saw a flash of iridescent blue.  I knew exactly what it was--a White-M Hairstreak!  It landed atop a flower and stayed there for a while.
It was quite windy today, so it was challenging to get photos as it swayed in the wind.  How interesting, as I just sent greetings to Bruce Ripley last night on his find of one of these beauties near Kingston yesterday.
I have seen one before August 12, 2008 on Pelee Island.  I was spending three days on the island with the bird observatory people.  It was an enjoyable trip exploring the island, and needless to say the White-M was a highlight.  Adam Pinch can attest to my excitement with that find!
Here is today's butterfly:

I fully expect there will be more rare finds of butterflies this summer and fall.  It has been an exceptional year unparalleled to any other.










Some odes at Pelee on Wednesday:

Spot-winged glider

Variegated Meadowhawk

Wandering Glider

Pelee Sachem and Gray Hairstreak Invasions!

With time on my hands, I spent Wednesday and half of Thursday at Point Pelee and found a butterfly bonanza.  Pelee lived up to its fame with a fabulous showing on Wednesday, and fewer butterflies on Thursday.
I was out on West Beach by 09:00 Wednesday and the butterflies were immediately evident.  I found several Sachems (certainly the target species of this trip!).  During my stay I noticed several were in pairs, mating was likely an occurrence.

Sack-ems!

Most of the Sachems were at the north end of the beach, south of West Beach parking lot.  I walked all the way to the Tip and back, alternating between beach and trail.  I notice many Gray Hairstreaks south of the solar panel on first pass.

After a break, I did the same route, and by this time it was warmer and sunnier.  I kept tally the whole time, trying not to count twice, but with the sheer numbers, it was a challenge.  Around and south of the solar panel things got interesting.  Gray Hairstreak galore!  It was quite a chore to count them.  I conservatively came up with 32 along in that area!  Most I have ever seen on one walk!  Total for the park that day ended up at 41 which is a new daily high.

Horace's Duskywing

Other highlights included Horace's Duskywing and Common Sootywing.  I think that is the first sootywing I have seen in the park!  Not common there anyway.

Common Sootywing (not a snout!)

By this time it was after lunch and some nourishment was needed.  I checked out that new place just outside the park gate.  An interesting luncheon indeed.
After lunch, I checked out Black Willow (south) and Northwest Beach (south).

Next stop was Wheatley Provincial Park.  I decided to camp there for the night anyway.  It was actually quite pleasant as I chose my usual site at the north end of Highlands.  No people around in the immediate area and the weather was nice.  I like that area because it is quiet and there is an old lagoon site just behind that I always walk.
There I found five more Sachems among other things.

I then went over to Hillman Marsh.  More butterflies and I got Dainty Sulphur (8) for the day. Lots of checkered skippers needless to say.  Also added a Peck's, something that almost never shows up within Pelee Park for some reason.  I had the last one about 3 year's ago or so, and previous to that there was one in 1996 I believe.

Peck's Skipper

The evening was nice at Wheatley with lots of Red-breasted Nuthatches around.  Many moving now.  Screech Owls heard during the night.

Hillman Dainty

Next morning I did the same route at Pelee, but noticed fewer butterflies.  The wind had stiffened and switched to the SW.  At the Tip parking lot I met Alan Wormington.  We started at the Tip where we met up with Jeremy Hatt.  He was leading some friends around, but could not join us.  Too bad he missed yesterday! LOL.
Alan and I walked up West Beach Trail discussing other possibilities of butterflies along the way.  There are many potentials this year such as Whirlabout, Clouded Skipper, Long-tailed Skipper....

Another Sack-em!

This morning I walked De Laurier first thing and noted quite a few migrant warblers.  An early White-throated Sparrow was chipping in the underbrush, but I did not see it.  Things are getting too thick there with grape vine, etc.!

Following is a list for this trip:

August 15:
WEST BEACH TRAIL/BEACH south of West Beach P. L.:
Common Sooty-Wing (1)
Horaces's Duskywing (1 immaculate female)
Common Checkered-Skipper (25)
Fiery Skipper (13)
Sachem (16)
Common Gray-Hairstreak (37) --32 of those were in the area south of the
Solar Panel!! (conservative number!)

White-lined Sphinx Moth near Black Willow

BLACK WILLOW south beach:
Common Checkered-Skipper (5)
Common Gray Hairstreak (2)
+White-lined Sphinx Moth

NORTHWEST BEACH south of P. L.:
Common Checkered-Skipper (4)
Common Gray-Hairstreak (2)

HILLMAN SHOREBIRD CELL:
Common Checkered-Skipper (55)
Fiery Skipper (4)
Peck's Skipper (1)
Sachem (2)
Dainty Sulphur (8)
Common Gray-Hairstreak (2)

WHEATLEY P. P. -old lagoon site at north side
Common Checkered-Skipper (1)
Fiery Skipper (2)
Sachem (5)

August 16:
WEST BEACH TRAIL/BEACH south of West Beach P. L. (including south of solar
panel):
Common Checkered-Skipper (13)
Fiery Skipper (7)
Sachem (8)
Common Gray-Hairstreak (19)

NORTHWEST BEACH south:
Common Checkered-Skipper (2)
Fiery Skipper (2)
Sachem (1)

V.C. PARKING LOT:
Fiery Skipper (3)
Common Gray-Hairstreak (1)