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!

More Surprises ! Another Zabulon and a Harvester in the Mix

 The last couple of days I have been at a loss where to go in the morning.  Yesterday I went to Rondeau, but there were no surprises.

Some late migrants were still trickling through as expected.  Some Blackburnian Warblers were still kicking around, as well as others.

Shorebirds are still numerous with certain species.  Semipalmated things such as plovers and sandpipers were in good numbers.

I did have one Least Sandpiper at the east beach off south point trail, which is getting late by early June.

I stopped by Blenheim Lagoons as well, where there were lots of Semipalmated things.

Five White-rumped Sandpipers was a good number for the date.

Today, I really was at a loss where to go!  There are so many places and things to check out this time of year, I have to make some sort of decision.

I ended up going to Skunk's Misery which was a good choice, as it turned out.  It was still quite cool in the morning, which was a good thing as it kept mosquitoes at bay.

I spent quite a bit of time touring around and got most of the specialties, including two Cerulean Warblers.  They were unseen singing in the treetops!

I walked Sitler Woods and got the usual Acadian Flycatcher.

As usual I always look for American Chestnut.

Hooded Warblers were in good numbers, as I heard twelve singing males in total.  I just happen to have a good ear to detect them and other birds!  And yes, I was careful not to double count.

Ovenbirds are in big numbers at Skunk's, and today was no exception.

Red-eyed Vireos were everywhere, but that is to be expected in a place such as this.

Along one creek that has been dredged, I always see fingernail clams.  Very tiny!

Striated Fingernail Clam

While in the area, I decided to check out Wardsville Woods.  By the time I was done at Skunk's, it was after ten and warm enough for insects.

It is a bit early for the rarities, but lots of Midland Clubtails kept me busy.

Back at the pond, I was baffled to see a Zabulon Skipper!  This is the exact same spot I had one last year.

The little pond also had a beaver swimming in it.  That surprised me for such a small pond!

Walking back along the creek, I saw an interesting butterfly going back and forth over the stream.  It was in a difficult spot, so I could not get a good photo.

It suspiciously looked like a Harvester, a unique butterfly not often seen.  And indeed it was.

That was a bonus!

There were other things there of course.

White-striped Black (moth)

Juvenal's Duskywing

This afternoon, I was curious enough to go back to Reid CA and check on the Zabulon Skippers.  I met up with Pete Chapman who had unsuccessfully looked for them.  So, he followed me to the spots and sure enough they were there.   Exact same spot as a couple days ago, not to mention same as last summer.

These things have me baffled.  Do they overwinter?  I must do more research.

These males this year are in the exact same spots as last year both at Reid and Wardsville.  Just too coincidental.

I have yet to check the spot at Wilkesport, and if I find one there, it will be mind-boggling!