Insects and Birds of Late

 There have been quiet a few slow days for birding lately, but I did have a couple of decent days.

I have been to Mitchell's Bay south shore trail a few times.  Wednesday was fairly decent, but nothing special.  Other times, rather slow for birds!  The place always has the potential for something decent, especially in the water bird department.  I learned recently, that a juvenile Little Blue Heron was in the vicinity on August 8.  But that was over near the trailer park.

Thursday I went down to Rondeau and walked out marsh trail.  It was one of the better days with lots of warblers and other birds.  However, lighting was absolutely horrible, so many went unidentified.  Birds were "streaming" north as they usually do on NE winds.  It kept me busy though.

This Peregrine Falcon made an appearance at one point

Friday, I did a change in scenery and ventured to Hillman Marsh.  It was one of those slow days for birds!  But one never knows without looking.  Maybe some Wood Storks could make an appearance...

Firstly, I went straight down to Cedar Springs to check for a Buff-breasted Sandpiper that was found by Jim the previous day.  It was difficult to find and follow, but I did see at least one.  These dainty shorebirds have been late and scarce so far this year in southern Ontario.

Over at Hillman, several Osprey have been hanging around lately.

I came across a Shadow Darner at one point.  In the shadows of course! I have been seeing quite a few in various places recently.

Common checkered-skippers were numerous around the shorebird cell as always.

Saturday, it was fairly local for walks.  In the afternoon, I took my usual long walk around the back field. Scenes along the trail: 

Here too, I came across a Shadow Darner, but it was at the edge of the bean field.

Wandering Gliders are numerous right now.  They do a lot of wandering since they are one of the most widespread dragonflies!

Royal River Cruisers have thinned out.  I have only been seeing one or two recently.

A checkered skipper was here as well.

Grey Commas are regular at Reid.

Lots of angle-wings were are around, especially along the roads.

The only warbler I saw was a Magnolia.

When I got home, I noticed I had a passenger.  Somewhere at Reid I picked up a White-spotted Prominent moth caterpillar.

Lots of Lance-tipped Darners are around right now also.  Many I have found in the "wheel" position, as this one was at Peers Wetland.

The garden has had fewer insects recently since many flowers that I have are done.  I found this Eastern Calligrapher, which is quite tiny and difficult to photograph.  They can go un-noticed but are quite common though.

Several different butterflies have visited the yard, including Peck's Skippers.  (still waiting for a Zabulon!).

Sunday was a really slow day for birds and I could not find anything much!  This Common Buckeye visited the yard in the afternoon.  Not often I get one in the yard.

Peers Wetland has really been dead for birds this year.  I visit there several times a week, but without much success.  Better for insects I guess!  This Common Painted-Lady was on the trail Sunday.

And lots of Lance-tipped Darners!

Seems to be a common theme at Peers!

Today, with the recent north winds, it looked good for a visit to Rondeau.  I mainly did south point trail, and it was littered with warblers and vireos.  They were moving around a lot, so difficult to stay on.  I tallied 17 species of warblers.  There were lots of Magnolia and American Redstarts and Black-throated Greens.   I missed Canada, but a few Wilson's were around.

We had hoped that a Loggerhead Shrike would make an appearance.  One was photographed just south of dog beach yesterday!  Must have moved on....

Near the maintenance yard, I stopped by a patch of goldenrod.  Several flies of various sorts were there.  Here are some that I noticed.

Transverse-banded Flower Fly

Narrow-headed Marsh Fly

Black-shouldered Drone Fly

I gave Keith McLean Conservation Lands a try before heading home.  Nothing of note for birds, but still has lots of potential.  

I saw a Fiery Skipper at one point. 

A couple of Common Painted-Lady were on the dike.

Hopefully some decent shorebirds will show up in the next while.  We are a bit starved for them!

Various Visits and Even More Garden Critters!

 Moving along with the waning summer, I visited Rondeau and Erieau last Monday.  I started with a lakewatch at dog beach, the first of many to come!  It was not too productive, but the long-staying Piping Plover flew right in front of myself and Steve.  It landed further up the beach, but good scope views were obtained.  This bird is unbanded, so it would be interesting to know of its origin.  Good photos can be found on various eBird lists.

I checked out south point trail after the lakewatch.  A few warblers and the like, kept me busy.

Cape May Warbler

Along the beach I looked at a couple of worn and bleached mussels.  Here is an Eastern Pondmussel, which is now imperiled thanks to the alien Zebra Mussel.  Rather broken up and bleached though!

Keith McLean C. L. was next on the docket.  Not much happening!  A good place to find the common Bronze Copper.

Next was the Erieau marsh trail.  Of note, there was a male Redhead acting like a dabbler.  It is missing its lower bill, so it looks like it is panting!

Blenheim lagoons has some shorebirds, or "shorbs" as some birders say.  Included were two Wilson's Phalaropes, but my photos did not turn out.

Baird's Sandpiper

A late day walk at Peers Wetland produced a Mottled Darner, which is somewhat uncommon.  Unfortunately, it took off before a got a decent photo.  I did not realize the species until I got home and looked at the photo!  A nice surprise.

Wednesday I did a long walk at Reid CA.  Still a few Dukes' Skippers!  Latest I have seen them there.

Thursday was a somewhat rainy day.  In fact, way too much rain once again!  I was bound and determined to see a Buff-breasted Sandpiper, so I ended up going to Hillman Marsh where two were reported.  With all the rain, the shorebird cell has lots of water, despite a bean crop within.

It took a while, but I did find the two buffies along with many other shorebirds. Too distant for a good photo.

On the way there, it was obvious there was excessive rain overnight.  Almost every field was a lake.  I heard that around 10 cm of rain fell in a few hours overnight.  Other parts of the country are not getting enough!

Friday I went up to Ipperwash on the north wind to do a lakewatch. It was a complete bust!  I checked out various spots on the way home, but nothing of note.  Better days ahead no doubt.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Today, I went to Mitchell's Bay first thing to walk the south shore nature trail.  There were lots of warblers and others to keep me busy.  Nothing noteworthy, but nice to work through a good number of birds.

Before going home, I went for a walk at Peers Wetland.  There were a few things to keep me occupied, including my favourite flycatcher, an Olive-sided Flycatcher.  I always do better with them in the fall migration!

Olive-sided in gloomy weather

A few Lance-tipped Darners were working the grounds, but I did NOT find another Mottled.

Off and on, I look at the garden on sunny days.  It is incredible the diversity of insects, and each week I seem to find something new.  Some of these are extremely small, so difficult to photograph.  (Note, some of these are not confirmed on iNaturalist yet).

Here is one I photographed yesterday, which is apparently an imperiled wasp called a Hidalgo Mason Wasp.

There are a multitude of wasps and bees that visit the garden.  Some are aliens of course.

European Paper Wasp

Ligated Furrow Bee

Silky Striped Sweat Bee

Confusing Furrow Bee

Common Thick-leg Fly

Common Picture-winged Fly

Been Leaf Beetle

European Tube Wasp

Paraprosopis

Small Milkweed Bug (too small for good photo!)

Red-banded Leafhopper

Of course there is a variety of butterflies.  Yesterday, a Common Painted-Lady visited the garden, and was still there today.  Probably first one I have seen this year!

Others:

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Common Checkered-Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

And while looking at the insects today, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird stopped by.