A Morning At Rondeau and Beyond

 Wednesday morning I decided to give Rondeau a shot for birds and whatever else came my way.  I started at the Park Store watching the "morning flight" with Brandon Holden and Steve Charbonneau.  I really did not intend to do a watch, but they were already there observing a decent flight!

The last few years, we have realized that birds stream out of the park by the hundreds or thousands on mornings with a decent NE wind, especially.  Many remain unidentified, as they are moving fast and/or high.  It is quite interesting if one has the patience!

This day we noticed lots of Tennessee and Cape May Warblers moving.  Those were the dominant warbler species it seemed.  There were other warblers of course, but blackbirds and Bobolinks were in high numbers.

After this watch, I headed down to south point trail and walked along the edge of woods.  There were hundreds of dragonflies.  Most dominant was Black Saddlebags.

A few Carolina Saddlebags were mixed in.

Lots of Green Darners were cruising around as well.  A couple of Twelve-spotted Skimmers and Spot-winged Gliders were seen too.

The highlight at one point was a Green-striped Darner that alighted on a tree trunk.

This species is uncommon and vulnerable in southern Ontario.  There are a few records in Essex, especially at Point Pelee.  Quite a few records are in north Lambton  around Port Franks and Pinery.

I have seen it before many years ago at Rondeau, and may have a photo from that time.  Oddly, it was in the same general area of this day's!

Quite a few birds including vireos and and Eastern Kingbirds were seen along the way.

I stopped by Keith McLean C. L. after heading out of the park.  Highlight there was my first-of-year Fiery Skipper.

I also found a Common Sootywing.

Heading up Kent Bridge Road, it dawned on me that this is the time of year to start looking for Smoky Rubyspots.  So, I veered towards Thamesville!

I stopped by the Victoria Road bridge, and luckily the river was a bit lower than the last visit.  Still a bit higher than I would like though.

Site of many bridges over the years!

Lots of Smoky Rubyspots were flying.  It was still treacherous along the riverbank, so I did not get the photos I wanted.  There was little maneuvering room!

They were most dominant, as I only saw a few American Rubyspots.  Also one Violet Dancer.

Smoky Rubyspot is endangered in Ontario. It is only found on the Thames, eastern branch of the Sydenham in a few spots and some on the Ausable River in north Lambton.

I have found mussels here before, and I noticed three together in one spot.  Turns out they were Pimpleback, all the same size!  Pimpleback is another endangered species in Ontario.

At home, a couple of Black Saddlebags were working the yard.  Not often I see them here.

Also, another Royal River Cruiser was cruisin'.  I was not able to obtain a photo of this fifth yard record.

Butterflies included a Common Painted-Lady.

A Ruby-throated Hummingbird was around at the same time.  Long-distance photos:

In the evening, I saw my first migrant Common Nighthawks of the season just before dusk.  Always neat to see!  Too high for photo attempts.

Today was uneventful as I did not venture far with little ambition, and did not see anything of note.  Among at least seven species of butterflies today here, a Mourning Cloak visited the yard.

Summer Rambles

Been checking things out not far from home since I am not able to get too far away!  We are in the 'dog days' of summer and the days are getting shorter 😞
Recently I have been going to Reid CA quite a bit since it is close and convenient.  Last Monday when I had an extra day off, I walked around the back field.

I found it an interesting walk, so I have now done it three times, including today!  There are lots of insects and plants.  I see several of my favourite dragonfly, the Royal River Cruiser.

Wild Bergamot

Swamp Milkweed

Question Mark

False(?) Sunflower

Gray-headed coneflower

Today was quite nice and just before lunch, I stopped by Reid.  I saw several Dukes' Skippers right away, and pointed them out to Chris Cheatle and Bonnie who happened to arrive at the same time.

Earlier today, I was at a loss where to go, but ended up at McLean's outside Rondeau.  There were not too many shorebirds, as I cannot seem to get the right day!  A pair of Sandhill Cranes flew by just before I left.

There was not much at Blenheim lagoons either.  The habitat for shorebirds is very minimal unfortunately.

Friday, I went to north Lambton starting at Forest Lagoons.  Once again, it was not the right day!  There were a lot of Lesser Yellowlegs and one Solitary Sandpiper, but that was it for shorebirds.
A number of Great Blue Herons were in the lagoon, totalling about 15.

Next stop was the Lambton Heritage Forest where I spent quite a bit of time.  I walked the High Ridge Trail and Savannah Trail.  The High Ridge was interesting as it was only the second time I ever checked that one out.

Northern Pearly-eye was the most common lep.

Grey Comma

I came across a Striped Hairstreak at one point.

Acadian Flycatchers are numerous in the forest here; I came across eight.

There were virtually no warblers, but I think they left early  due to the devastation left by the Gypsy Moth caterpillars.  I did hear one Hooded Warbler though.  They are usually numerous here, but I think not many showed up this year.

I also checked out L-Lake trail, where it was rather quiet.  It is part of the Heritage Forest and trees are quite leafless here as well.  Even the Hemlocks and Pines were hard-hit by Gypsy Moth caterpillars.

At one point along L-Lake, I spotted a darner, which I think is a Green-striped.  It perched in an awkward location, so I did not get a good look nor a good photo.

Later on the walk, I spotted a Fawn Darner, which I do not see too often.

One has to check for Oscellated Darner, which are common farther north.  Never seen one!

I stopped by Moore WMA on the way home, as I cannot resist the place!  Nothing new though.  I always look for mussels, and this very small Mapleleaf caught my eye.

They are considered "imeperiled" in Canada, but are fairly common in the north Sydenham.

Odes included the usuals.  No sighting of a Mocha Emerald though.

Stream Bluet

Blue-fronted Dancers

Late in the afternoon at home, a Royal River Cruiser came into the yard.  It perched for a while, but by the time I got the camera out, it took off!  It is the second record for the yard.

With moth week upon us, I took photo of some common ones that I saw in my travels.

Inornate Olethreutes Moth

Goldenrod Gall Moth

Common Idia Moth

Clover Looper Moth

Snowberry Clearwing

In other news, Thursday night was the closest approach to Earth of Comet Neowise. I finally got to see it, and out my bedroom window!  It is quite visible by binoculars, and one can see a decent tail.  I looked at it last night as well.
I do not have the proper camera equipment, so I only got a "smudge" for a photo.

Tomorrow is the Clear Creek butterfly count, so I will be out in the Clear Creek area looking for things with wings!

This post is Dun.

Dun Skipper

Pelee: Lodes of Odes

I like to try and get to Point Pelee once a week during fall migration if possible.  A Tip lakewatch is always fun, but this weekend the winds were not suitable for that.  Although there were quite a few Common Terns and Bonaparte's Gulls moving this morning, the north winds that kicked in Friday night were good for passserines.  As well, when it warms up, good for insects!

A strange pigeon is lurking around the Tip.....

I arrived at the park and met up with Mike Nelson and Steve Pike for the first tram to the Tip.  Lots of warblers were moving through at the VC, as well as thrushes.
It was one of those picture perfect days where you could not ask for nicer weather.  It was rather pleasant standing at the Tip this morning, as there were a few landbirds coming to the spot and a few things out over the water.

Lots of dragonflies were flying, although 98% were Common Green Darners.  At one point, I noticed a dragonfly perched atop a dead tree.  It was not close and I looked at it with binoculars for a bit.  Since it looked a bit different from any that I have seen before,  I got Steve and Mike on it.  I got a little closer to try and take photos.

We had already talked about saddlebags, and Striped had crossed our minds.  It thought it looked pretty good for Striped, but since I had no experience with them, it was not certain.  Unfortunately it took off when it got a good look at Steve.  (LOL!).
Later, Steve got out his field guide and it seemed to match a male Striped Saddlebags!

Just the past Tuesday, Bill Lamond had spotted one of these creatures.  It was only the second time Striped was recorded at Pelee. Back in October 2010 there were a few seen for the first time at Pelee.
They are at home in Texas, but sometimes wander far north in late summer and into fall.

Moving on, we later walked up the east side to Sparrow Field sorting through all the green darners.

female Common Whitetail

Continuing up west beach trail.....

Near the serengeti tree, we came across a Common Checkered-Skipper.  Not sure if any have been recorded within the park yet this year, but here is a photo:

Not long after, a duskywing caught our attention.  It turned out to be a worn female Wild Indigo.  Frankly, it was the largest Wild Indigo I have ever seen!

After that walk, Steve had to leave, so I went up to the Cactus Trail.  Lots of insects there including some darners.  There were Mottled and Lance-tipped for sure.

Mottled Darner

I encountered a few birds, including my first Lincoln's Sparrow of the fall.  These sparrows quietly migrate through and are not often seen!

The trail is rather overgrown.  Not sure why the park takes on these projects and then does no maintenance.  I came out covered in tick trefoil seeds!  That discouraged Jeremy Hatt, whom I met as I exited the trail!

I decided to walk west beach trail again (the usual one south of west beach parking lot).  I came across another Common Checkered-Skipper, although the sun was in the wrong direction.

More darners.  Seemed to be quite a few of these today, as well as Lance-tipped.  One I believe to be a Green-striped.

For a footnote, Shadow Darner has not been recorded within the park.  It has been found outside the park, and is somewhat common elsewhere, so it is an oddity.

After a check of North-west Beach area, I reluctantly headed home.

Stay tuned for more reports from Point Pelee!