Some Duskywings and Showing Some Mussel(s)

 Monday it was up to north Lambton for me.  

To kill time early in the day, I stopped by the old Blackwell Landfill at Sarnia.  Of interest, this little weasel was in the parking lot carrying breakfast when I got back from my walk!

 

I wanted to look for duskywings or whatever else popped up later in the morning.  It was early when I arrived, so checked out the Heritage Forest at Port Franks.

The forest is a large tract of land that is interesting to look for breeding birds.  I had already checked out the L-Lake area a few days ago, but this day I checked out the larger portion on the other side of Mud Creek.

I took no photos (not much opportunity!), but Acadian Flycatcher and Hooded Warblers are numerous here.  I found multiples of each.

There are other warblers that breed here, but oddly I did not come across a Cerulean as I often do.

By the time I was done here, I moved a short distance over to the Karner Blue Sanctuary where one can find lots of duskywings.  It was a bit sparse though, for them.  

I did see the Juvenal's, Sleepy, Wild Indigo and possibly Columbine.  My photos revealed several Sleepy, but I did not get on any Dreamy with the camera...apparently!

Sleepy and Dreamy are quite similar, so sometimes difficult to differentiate if one does not get a good look.

Worn Sleepy

perhaps Wild Indigo?

another Sleeper

Juvenal's

I met up with a friend and we walked around.  He mentioned that the injured Ferruginous Hawk from Cedar Springs (early May) had been released after rehab a couple of days previous.  It was fitted with a radio collar.

Interestingly today, a Ferruginous Hawk was sighted at Erieau late this afternoon and we suspect it is the same bird!

Yesterday I went down to Rondeau Park and walked out south beach.  It can be interesting this time of year with shorebirds and gulls.  However, it was rather disappointing!  There were lots of common little shorebirds of various types, but practically no gulls.  Where are the gulls and terns we usually see this time year?  Perhaps yet to come.  I was hoping to see Red Knots.  

There were still lots of warblers, etc. along the south point trail (west).  However, they were difficult to spot in the treetops, especially the ones that were not singing.

After Rondeau, I slid over to the Erieau Marsh trail (aka rail trail) and spent lots of time.  A number of warblers were working the area, including a Connecticut Warbler that was found previously.

It took some time before I heard it singing, and we eventually managed good looks at it. Of course, I was not quick enough with the camera when it popped out in plain view.  Later, I only got this  embarrassing photo!

A Least Bittern made an appearance off the viewing stand at one point.

Also of interest was a Fox Snake along the trail.

Today, I stuck closer to home and checked out Reid CA for breeding birds.  The wind picked up while I was there, and it was stiff out of the north all day.  I used the opportunity in the afternoon to do some yard work!

After Reid, I went up to Moore WMA to check for mussels since my quick visit the other day was not satisfactory.  With water level a bit lower, I found some included below.

Pink Heelsplitter

Paper Pondshell

Fragile Papershell

The visit a couple days ago on the way home from north Lambton revealed the largest White Heelsplitter I have ever seen.  Must have been an oldtimer!  The shell was perhaps 20 cm.

It is an interesting time of year, so some rare birds are in the midst.

Many Meanderings

Saturday started out a bit gloomy.  There was sun in Wallaceburg first thing, but clouds to the north and south as I headed down to Rondeau.  I walked around the park a bit, but nothing of note appeared.  The Prothonotary Warblers were on Tulip Tree trail as usual.  One was preening.

I stopped by Keith McLean C.L.  We are in the midst of fall migration for shorebirds..already!  Some fall migrants have shown up recently.  I did not brave walking out on the mud though.  A Lesser Yellowlegs got up at one point.

Along the causeway, I noticed a bird carcass (actually two!) as I headed north.  As usual, somone was  tailgating me, so I had to go ahead and turn back.  I thought it looked like a Least Bittern and sure enough it was.  It had been freshly hit as it was still breathing, but would not last much longer.  A horrible sight!

Another dead one was nearby.  Difficult to say what happened, as accidents do happen, but the way so many people drive these days who knows.

In the afternoon it turned out nice so I headed up to hairstreak headquarters.  I found four Oak Hairstreaks in short order.  One was very beaten up.

I also saw my first Wood Nymph and Appalachian Brown of the year.

Today, I had no idea what to do, but ended up going to Skunk's Misery. I spent more time there than I usually do (over three hours) looking for birds, then butterflies.
I came up with 13 Hooded Warblers, among other things.
There was not much diversity in butterflies, but Tawny Emperor stole the show today.  There were hundreds!  It was incredible to see "flocks" of them.

I saw easily close to 400--certainly the most I have ever seen.

A few Hackberry Emperors were around too.

Some Banded Hairstreaks were out and about as well.

I stopped by the Florence bridge since it was on the way home.  The river was running high so it was disappointing for odes.  Last year I saw the Dusky Dancer there among other things.  Other odes were dancing around though.

Blue-tipped Dancer

Blue-fronted Dancer

Before heading home, I stopped again at hairstreak headquarters and met up with Bill Lamond.  Bill had never seen the Oak Hairstreak before, so we got on some of them.

I also found one dead one attached to an Indian Hemp flower head.

Quite a few Banded Hairstreaks were also out and about.  I even had one stop by the yard this afternoon.

A number of odes were flying.  It is actually a good place for odonates!  Racket-tailed Emerald was still around, and at one point we noticed another, but different, emerald.  It got away, but I headed off at that point.
Bill later caught it and it turned out to be a Mocha Emerald!  Although not entirely surprising, I had never identified one there before.  In the past I have seen emerald-like odes flying around, but never got on them.  I have seen them at McKeough CA a couple of concessions north from there.
I am sure Bill will not mind his photo being posted here of the Mocha Emerald.

photo by Bill Lamond 28 June 2020

It is a great time of year to be out, especially looking for insects.  Next Sunday is the Skunk's Misery butterfly count.  It will go ahead under different circumstances as one would expect.

Blue Dasher

Wheatley/Hillman/Point Pelee Today

With the nice weather, unusual for a weekend, I headed southwest.  First stop was the end of Zion Road  east of Wheatley.  It is one of the better spots (if not the best) to get a look at the lake and see things migrating along the shore.  Also, there is a Dickcissel colony to boot!
I saw a pair of Dickcissels right away.

I did not spend much time there, but the view of the lake was inviting.  I did see at least one Common Loon on the water.

Near Hillman Marsh, 3 Sandhill Cranes were in a field along Mersea Rd. 21.  This is a good spot for shorebirds as well.

Over at Hillman Marsh, I met up with Rick Mayos, who pointed out a couple of Least Bitterns at the bridge on Mersea Road 2.  One was right beside the bridge, giving crippling views!

There were several birds here including Marsh Wrens and a multitude of Bank Swallows.  This weekend has see a big influx of Bank Swallows.

The other bittern was across the open water.

On to Point Pelee, I was interested in looking for butterflies and dragonflies.  The numbers were not there, but there was enough to keep one interested.  Giant Swallowtails were quite numerous today.
I concentrated on the west beach footpath from West Beach to the Tip.

Common Buckeye

Highlight was an Olive Hairstreak.  They seem to be more and more difficult to find anymore.

They have two broods during the year, so this would be the second.

The only two skippers were a Northern Broken-Dash and a Dun Skipper.

Dun Skipper

No photos of odes, but Common Green Darner was most plentiful.  There were lots of Twelve-spotted Skimmers, some Blue Dashers, Common Whitetails, and a couple of Wandering Gliders among others like Black Saddlebags and Ruby Meadowhawk.

On the way back, I stopped to walk around the shorebird cell at Hillman.  No Dickcissels!  Many have gone quiet or dispersed by now, yet some are still nesting elsewhere.
Leps were few, but I did see a couple of Common Checkered-Skippers.

Common Checkered-Skipper on clover

Bank Swallows were plentiful here as well.  The wires beside the cell were laden with them.  Perhaps 400+!

Here we are at the end of July already......soon it will be time to see lots of warblers, etc.

Common Painted-Lady on burgemot