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

Weekend Report August 11-12

Saturday morning I decided to head up to Port Franks and Ipperwash.  Along the way, I stopped at Forest Lagoons.  It was very disappointing....hardly any birds.  Not even worth doing an eBird list!

I walked the Lambton Heritage Forest.  

There were no migrant warblers, but a couple of resident Hooded Warblers were still present.  As well, I came across four Acadian Flycatchers, still calling.  One I did get a good look at was a youngster.

I then walked Karner Blue Sanctuary, which was rather quiet.  I was hoping to see some Leonard's Skippers, but that was not to be.  In fact, there were very few butterflies.  They are attracted to Rough and Cylindrical Blazing Star which is fairly plentiful there.

Next walk was at Ipperwash Dunes and Swales.  It was extremely quiet for birds, but I do like checking out the place.

Cardinal Flower in a Swale

I saw  few dragonflies, including Shadow Darners.

I have been looking closer at moths lately.  There are a lot out there!

Red Twin-spot

Closer to home, I stopped by the old landfill along Sarnia's Blackwell Road.  Most if not all of the Dickcissels have left, but I did catch a glimpse of one as it flushed out of the grass.

Sunday I decided to check out Rondeau since I had not been there for a while.  I met up with Jim Burk, and we walked south point trail.  There was actually quite a few birds, including migrant warblers.

A few Blackburnian, a Bay-breasted, a Tennessee and a Blackpoll were among the early migrants. Flycatchers are moving through as well, including the couple of Yellow-bellied that we saw.

A pair of Yellow-throated Vireos were singing near the parking lot on the way back.

I stopped by Blenheim Lagoons on the way home and a few species of shorebirds were present.  A couple of early White-rumped were in the mix among the Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers.

Butterflies seem to be picking up.  A couple of Common Checkered-Skippers were at the lagoons, and I even had one in the garden when I got home.

PairaPeck's

We are well into fall migration, so stay tuned!

Sloughs, Swales, Dunes and Duskywings

I took Friday off since the weekend weather was soon to come.  The day was nice and sunny except for the prevailing east winds (not good for Rondeau!).
I visited Rondeau Park, but birds were rather few.  As I mentioned earlier, I believe that many birds overshot the Lake Erie shoreline this year and birding has been better farther inland or farther north.

The park remains flooded in many areas with the only trails that one can wear shoes are Spicebush and the maintenance loop.  South Point trail is completely flooded on the east side and ordinary rubber boots will not cut it!  Hip waders would do nicely.
The sloughs are overflowing!

Friday morning I parked at maintenance and walked down Rondeau Road across Bennett and back up Harrison.  The Eastern Screech-owl was back on Water Street at its leafy hideout.

No doubt more birds are yet to come as many breeding birds were not present in numbers.  There were very few Red-eyed Vireos.  Among other things, I have not yet seen a cuckoo!  Unprecedented for this date for me.
Some flycatchers are in, but no doubt more are to show.

Eastern Wood-Peewee

I found a variety of warblers in my walk, but not in any numbers.  I did come across 4 different Prothonotary Warblers, one being way up Harrison north of the VC.  This one has been there over a week.
Black-throated Greens I have found scarce this year.

An American Woodcock was along Harrison Trail.

Being rather discouraged, I left the park well before noon and headed over to Hillman Marsh.  Things are always changing there, so it is worth a try.  Unfortunately I did not see anything of note.  The Little Gull and Wilson's Phalarope that were there in the morning were not to be seen in the shorebird cell.

Today, just like clockwork, it was cloudy and rainy.  (I just copy and paste this phrase each week).  I needed a change of scenery so I headed up to Ipperwash and Port Franks.  It was far more productive than a visit to Rondeau!  My first walk was at Ipperwash Dunes and Swales, a truly unique natural area.

The series of dune ridges and low swales create a nice habitat.

I found a good variety of warblers there, plus other birds.  Sandhill Cranes nest here, and fresh colt was accompanying its parents.  I was not able to get a clear photo though.

The best warbler here was a singing Connecticut in a thick area.  Despite some effort, it did not show its face with bold eye-ring!
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was here and likely nests.

It was an enjoyable walk despite the cloudy skies.

Usually an Acadian Flycatcher here!

Next, I moved over to the Lambton Heritage Forest at Port Franks.  This is one of my favourite spots as it is a large tract of forest.  I was not disappointed here.
Acadian Flycatchers breed here and I found at least 3 this day.  They tend to be around concentrations of hemlock trees for some reason.
Hooded Warblers are regular here and I heard at least two.  Normally there are more though.
I found a good variety of warblers, and in good numbers.  Many were migrants, but a singing male Cerulean was likely a resident.
I got quite a ways down the trail when it started to pour rain.  I found a large hemlock tree to stand under until the rain passed.
Red-eyed Vireos were quite numerous today.  Yellow-throated Vireos nest here and I found at least five individuals.
It was a joy to spend a couple of hours here looking for birds despite putting up with weekend weather.

The third walk was at L-Lake trail.  At the start, a singing male Hooded Warbler greeted me.  Much farther along the NCC trail, there was another singing male.

Where the second Hooded was, an Acadian Flycatcher was present--in the same spot as last year.

One needs to know bird songs and calls to seek these things out!

The NCC trail parallels part of the trail system at the Heritage Forest along a meandering creek.

old oxbow

A couple of benches are along the way, including this one.  I remember Delmar Ellis from my earlier days in Lambton Wildlife.

By this time, there were breaks of sun, so I headed over to the Karner Blue Sanctuary.  Here we have  one of the best spots to find duskywings.  It was not an ideal day, but I did find a few including Juvenal's, Dreamy and Sleepy.
At one point I likely had an elfin, but it got a way on me.

Sleepy Duskywing

Juvenal's Duskywing

Also, there were a couple of dragonflies, including Springtime Darner (our earliest mosaic darner).

Despite the weather, it was quite an enjoyable day in one of my (many) favourite natural areas.

Forster's (not Forester's) Tern