A Visit to Bruce County

 This past Sunday I had a small window of opportunity to get away for a couple of days during this hectic year. My choice was Bruce County!  As per usual, I camped for two nights at MacGregor Point Provincial Park.  Weather was decent for the most part, but Sunday there was a stiff wind coming in directly off the lake making things a bit cool. As well, an unexpected rain around midnight Sunday night caused a little concern in an old tent!

The drive north Sunday morning was nice and leisurely.  I stopped at Port Franks to walk the Sandrin Tract Woods trail.  Quite a few birds were along the way, including two Hooded Warblers at the start.

Next stop was a favourite place south of Goderich.  Naftel's Creek Conservation Area is a neat place for birding if one wants a break in driving.

Making good time, I decided to drive straight up to Oliphant to look at the fen.  The stiff west wind did not help matters with regards to insects, but I found a few.  Mainly meadowhawks.

White-faced Meadowhawk

Band-winged Meadowhawk

Black Meadowhawk

Although late in the season, a few plants found in this type of habitat were evident.

Lesser Fringed Gentian

Sticky False Asphodel

Kalm's Lobelia

The above is Sphinx Ladies Tresses, although I did not take time for a proper photo!

I then headed back to MacGregor Point to check in to the campsite and walk some trails.

The Lake Ridges Trail is a decent but rugged birding trail, although I did not see too many things on my walk there.

Near the visitor centre, I saw some darners.  Not sure what species as they were not close.  Possibly Canada Darner.

Other than stopping at the campsite for supper, I was on the go all the time checking out various parts of the park.  A distant view of Chantry Island is always a familiar sight from the north end of the park.

As per tradition, I go for a walk along the lakeshore in the evening.  

Par for the course, I stopped at Watersnake Pond.

In the evening, just before going to sleep, an Eastern Whip-poor-will sang briefly just after 10:00.

Monday morning dawned clear and cool as I headed north out of the park.  Although one could spend a week checking out places on the Bruce, I wanted to visit some familiar locations on the peninsula.  

I drove straight to Petrel Point, a  favourite Ontario Nature property.  I first visited this place about 1991.  It has been a must-visit place every time I am up that way!  Uncommon to rare plants can be found here on the fen.

We used to be able to walk both sides of the road, but just the south side is available now.  Just as well in this very sensitive habitat.

It can be a good birding spot as well.

Continuing on, I next drove The Bury Road, where there are lots of pastures.  It is an excellent birding road with its open-ness and some wooded areas along the way.  Birds of interest this day included a Peregrine Falcon, Brewer's Blackbirds, and lots of Savannah Sparrows.  I should have spent more time along the road....one never knows what may turn up there!  I drove about 10 km of it.

Next stop farther north was the Lindsay Tract Trails.  An extensive system of trails is here and one could spend hours!  I walked a portion of it.

Blue Cohosh along the trail

This is a far north as I went on the peninsula, so I headed back down highway 6 to Mar where I took Red Bay Road back over to the main road south.

After a lunch in Port Elgin, I headed back to the park to walk the Tower Trail, another good birding trail that skirts a wetland.

One of several Belted Kingfishers

Farther along, I did find  some pockets of warblers, etc.  Highlight was a Blue-winged Warbler, somewhat unexpected on this trip.  Came up "rare" on eBird in any case.

An Eastern Comma posed nicely in the warm sun at one point.

Later, I walked near the visitor centre and out sunset point, and area.  One of the butterflies I hoped to encounter this trip was Leonard's Skipper.  There were very few butterflies, but I looked intently and managed to find one!

Seiche Pond area is a nice spot not too many know about.   Good for insects, but not this day.  Better earlier in the summer. 

Nearby was Painted-Cup Paintbrush.  Renamed a number of years ago from a less politically-correct name!

It was a nice calm evening for a leisurely walk and to relax at the campsite.  I noticed a Common Nighthawk fly over at one point, and after 8 p.m. a Whip-poor-will sang.

Tuesday morning was calm but cool and I checked out the lakeshore areas on my way out of the park.  It was evident there was a good movement of warblers along the lake.  Most went unidentified!

It was then time to head back south homeward.  There was likely a good movement of birds along the lakeshore this particular morning.  The "Bluff" north of Grand Bend might have been a good spot!  In any case, I noticed a lot of Turkey Vultures moving on the way south.

One final stop was Ausable River Cut CA.  I did find a decent pocket of birds, included was a Mourning Warbler.

As usual, I looked for mussels.  This large Wabash Pigtoe caught my eye.  In the vulnerable class.

Three-ridge is common here, and pretty obvious!

Arriving home, this walking stick insect was on the back door to greet me!

A nice little trip indeed, but winter is coming....

Winterberry Holly

Lambton Leps/Rondeau Rambles/Thames Tidbits

 Touring around this weekend, I ended up in north Lambton on Saturday morning.  I walked the Ipperwash Forested Dunes and Swales.  It was a pleasant walk, but there were few migrant birds.  Red-breasted Nuthatches were more plentiful, as they are elsewhere right now.

Near the end of my walk, a butterfly landed rather high in a tree.  I was not sure what it was at first, but turned out to be a Compton Tortoiseshell.  As mentioned previously, they are having a banner year.  First time I have seen one here!

I then moved up to Karner Blue Sanctuary at Port Franks.  It was terribly quiet for birds, but a family of Eastern Bluebirds kept me occupied in that department.

Here is a reliable spot to see Leonard's Skippers around the Rough and Cylindrical Blazing Star plants.  

This is a later-summer skipper that we see in August and September.

Other skippers included Silver-spotted, Peck's and Northern Broken-Dash.

A plant I remembered from a year ago on the bioblitz was Ebony Spleenwort.

I stopped by Forest Lagoons on the way back.  A few shorebirds there, but not much.  This place has not been producing of late!

Nearer home, a stop at McKeough revealed very little, as it was getting way too hot!

Eastern Amberwing

Today, was a toss-up so I went down to McLean Conservation Lands.  It is certainly the best spot around for shorebirds and lots of other birds.  Nothing new though....we need a change in weather!

The Red Knot was still kicking around, but it was right close to the road today.

The summering Dunlin need not be mentioned, and only one Baird's Sandpiper today.

I then went into the park.  Practically no warblers on south point, but vireos were plentiful.  I had five vireo species, including the White-eyed still singing away.

There were even more gulls and terns on the east beach today.  At least 1000 Ring-billed, plus several hundred Common Terns, Bonaparte's etc., but no rarities.

I was so intrigued by the stop along the Thames east of Thamesville on Friday, that I went back today.  Several Smoky Rubyspots were there, but were rather skittish and I only got a photo of one today.

Here is a photo of both a Smoky and an American Rubyspot on the same rock.

There is a shallow spot where I found many mussels.  Several species there, which I still have problems ID'ing.

Pimpleback

Deertoe

Pimpleback

possible Elktoe

Another checkered skipper in the yard this afternoon....

North Lambton Shorebirds to Insects

Heading northward today, I first stopped at Forest Lagoons.  Shorebirds are getting a bit fewer and the the cells are drying up and getting covered in vegetation.

There were still lots of Lesser Yellowlegs and Semipalmated Plovers plus some others.

The last couple of days, two Red-necked Phalaropes have been seen at Forest.  I was there for a good hour and did not see one today.  I thought since it was the weekend, a bird of this calibre had decided to leave.  I was just about to leave, and spotted a Red-necked Phalarope in the distance!  Where it came from I have no idea since it certainly was not in view for an hour.

Quite distant, but I attempted a photo.

I next walked at Ausable River Cut CA looking for anything with wings.  I saw only one dragonfly along the river,  perhaps something like a basket-tail.
Near the end of the trail, I found a decent flock of birds including Blackburnian, Black-and-white, Bay-breasted, Nashville, Chestnut-sided and Blue-winged Warblers.

Blackburnian Warbler

Black-and-white Warbler

There was a good spot for butterflies here, but perhaps it was too early in the morning.  Both Cylindrical and Rough Blazing Star is here--a good spot for Leonard's Skipper.

Rough

Cylindrical

Moving on, I decided to try Karner Blue Sanctuary in Port Franks.  I found a couple of migrant warblers here plus several other species.  There was a large flock of orioles moving through at one point.

Here, we have my go-to place for Leonard's Skippers.  A section where Rough and Cylindrical Blazing Star blooms is a good bet for Leonard's.  Sure enough, I saw two of the creatures.

A lingering Wild Indigo Duskywing was present as well.

Some other leps included a late Common Wood Nymph, and a Hackberry which I though was uncommon for here.

I only got a quick look at the Hackberry.

Later on, I saw a darner fly by and perch on a tree.  Turns out it landed right beside a cicada!  I think it had no idea.  It appeared to be a Shadow Darner.

I saw no Royal River Cruisers in the area like a couple of weeks ago on the blitz.  Recently, James Holdsworth found one on the Ausable at the River Cut CA.  They are certainly uncommon this far north.

With such nice weather (was it really the weekend?), I stopped by L-Lake trail.

It was terribly quiet for birds, but I did come across a lingering Hooded Warbler.
Near the turn of the trail, I saw this fresh female Slaty Skimmer.

At the turn one can go onto the Nature Conservancy property and follow a long trail.  I have never gone all the way.  One used to be able to access at the end, but a bridge had been removed many years ago there.

Along the trail, I found a Northern Pearly-eye.  It is very late in the season for this species.

Northern Pearly-eye is single brooded and usually done by later in August.  I recall a number of years ago I found a very fresh one at the end of August at Moore WMA.  Alan Wormington told me it was a rare second brood!

It was nice here, so I ate my lunch while sitting on a bench!


Since I was driving by Marthaville Habitat Management Area near Petrolia, I stopped in.  I had not been here in a few years.  I think the last time was when I found a White-eyed Vireo here in June.

Compass Plant

Near home, I stopped by Nicholl's at Wilkesport.  I saw one Royal River Cruiser here, so I got my cruiser fix for the day!

At home in the garden, several Peck's Skippers were flitting about.

As well, tiny Fragile Forktails were in the garden.  They are so tiny, hence their name, I guess!