Middlesex Observations and Pelee Tip Watch

Saturday I decided to go into Middlesex County.  There are some good pastures towards Strathroy where one can find grassland species such as Upland Sandpiper, Eastern Meadowlarks, Grassphopper Sparrows, etc.  I did not find any Dickcissels though!

I stopped by Strathroy Sewage Lagoons which are open to birders and walkers.  As we know, there are other lagoons around open to the public that work well.  Too bad some good spots such as Thedford could not be more open to the public.  I see no reason they could not!

Anyway, one can see a good variety of birds at Strathroy.  The one cell had lots of mud, but too bad it was not a good time of year for shorebird migration!  Some good birds have been found here in the past.
Notable ducks included a Lesser Scaup, a Greater Scaup and a Bufflehead that have decided to spent the early summer here.

Just before I left, I noted a Virginia Rail calling in one corner.


After the lagoon walk, I headed towards Arkona.  I was going to go to Joany's Woods, but stopped by the Ausable River at Hungry Hollow.  A recent visit by Quinten had me interested just to see the place.  I have been here a couple of times before, but only birding in the winter.  In March 2005, a Townsend's Solitaire was found here by my good friend Pete Chapman.  He lived nearby and was out on a walk one day.

Fossil Road is a dead-end road which used to be the main road through here.

One can see the old bridge abutments.  Here is a Google Image of the area.

One can get down to the river's edge and it is a good place to look for odonates.  I found quite a few species here on my short visit.

American Rubyspot

Midland Clubtail

Powdered Dancer

Violet Dancer

Powdered Dancer

Black-shouldered Spinyleg

Green-faced Clubtail

Midland Clubtail

Sunday I headed in the opposite direction down to Point Pelee.  It is now open to the public, but the gates are not open until 10 a.m.  I guess we can at least be thankful it is open now!
Birders like to get to the Tip early, but unfortunately, some tourists who seem to have no interest in birds or nature, get there ahead of time and scare all the birds off the Tip.

We did get there eventually to find some gulls loafing around and swimming off the Tip.

A first cycle Little Gull was hanging around and one or two Lesser Black-backed Gulls among others.

Several American White Pelicans have been seen lately and it was my hope to see some.  This time of year it is normal to find several pelicans wandering around the area, since they now nest on the little islands on the other side of Pelee Island.

It was not long until we spotted some, albeit way in the distance!  Twelve in total were seen.

Pelicans in front of the Cuyahoga which was heading to Kingsville

Butterflies were very few and far between on our walk back.  I decided to leave after this as the park was getting too crowded with tourists.


Today, I made a brief stop to look for Oak Hairstreaks.  I found two right away!

These were the only two hairstreaks I saw and they did not stay long.  Others have been looking this past weekend as well, since I noticed the trampled vegetation.  Hopefully just observing, as there is absolutely no need to use a net.

A Four-spotted Skimmer was nearby, just begging to be photographed.

Pelee Visit and Mosying in Middlesex

Friday I checked out Point Pelee again.  As mentioned before, it is a good time to look for gulls at the Tip.  There were more than last week, especially Bonaparte's.  However, I did not find any rarities!  Once again I had the Tip to myself for over two hours, intently looking at the gulls.

There were lots of bonies to sort through, but nothing popped out in the form of a Black-headed Gull.

I looked for butterflies later, as well.  Not a good year once again.  Seems we have been in a downward spiral since the big year of 2012.  I did get some FOY's during the day including a Common Painted-Lady.

I also walked around the Hillman shorebird cell.  A FOY included a Red-spotted Purple.

And, at "Least" I some some skippers.

There still a bit of moisture in the cell where some Great Egrets and Sandhill Cranes were loafing.

On the way home I (by)passed by Mitchell's Bay.  About the time I went by, six American White Pelicans were on the wing, as recorded by an observer on eBird.  One never knows...


Today I decided on a change in scenery and went into Middlesex County.  I checked the usual spots that I do this time of year.
First stop was Napier Road where Clay-colored Sparrows reside every summer.  I heard one singing in the spruce plantation area.  Up the road is a good pasture that has Grasshopper Sparrows.

There are still lots of pastures in this area and perhaps the last stronghold of Upland Sandpipers in SW Ontario around here.  I checked a bit of McArthur Road but did not see any.
Just up Calvert Drive, I came across an Upland Sandpiper in a typical pose.

Towards Strathroy, I always stop at Clark Wright CA on Walker's Line.

There are usually some decent birds here.  In the past, White-eyed Vireo has been here, as well as Blue-headed Vireo.  Blue-winged Warbler often here, but not today (I did hear one down the road).
It is good for butterflies as well, but of course not this year and not on weekends.  It was once again cloudy and drizzly today, right on cue for a weekend.

Next stop was Strathroy Lagoons on Pike Road.  It is open to walkers where one can circle two large ponds.  A variety of birds can be found here.  I always find a large number of swallows (all the usual species) and today was no exception.
It can be good for ducks.  Today, ten Ruddy Ducks were visible.

When the water is low (not reccently of course), it can be good for shorebirds.  Back in the nineties, a Snowy Plover was here!  A number of years ago I found an American Avocet here.

I headed back from here, but went down to Skunk's Misery and Mosa Forest complex.  It was rather quiet, but the usual weekend weather did not help matters.  Hooded Warblers are common ( I did manage five today) and other warblers such as Cerulean (one today) can be found.  Acadian Flycatchers are reliable (a pair today).
I only walked one trail due to the weather and mosquitoes!  A quiet Blue-winged Warbler was the only thing of note there.

Not far away, I checked out Wardsville Woods, a favourite stop of mine.

Foxglove Beardtongue

Blue-winged Warbler is always here each year, but I did not find it until I was at the very back.  Usually it is not that far back on the property.

But wait, something else caught my eye.  With it was a "Lawrence's" Warbler, the rarer hybrid of Blue-winged X Golden-winged!  I managed to get a quick record photo before it disappeared.

It was noon by this time, but I had to get back to Port Lambton for some important business.

A Visit to Middlesex County

On Sunday I took a tour of SW Middlesex County.  There are lots of pastures, unlike Chatham-Kent, that one can see some grassland birds.
Dickcissels were reported West of Strathroy over a week ago.  Unfortunately these birds picked a hay field that was due to be cut along Winter Drive.  One field to the north had already been cut, but a couple of birds were still singing.

I also came across another singing bird near the corner of McDougall and Sexton.
Grasshopper Sparrows are still fairly plentiful and I came across quite a few.

Upland Sandpipers can be found  as well.

After seeing the Dickcissels, I headed down Napier Road where singing Clay-colored Sparrows can be found.  They like a spruce plantation and are there every year.  I was not able to get any photos.

My first walk was at Clark Wright CA just SW of Strathroy.  It is a neat little place with a good variety of birds and butterflies.

The past few years a White-eyed Vireo has frequented the place, but this year, or at least recently, a Blue-headed Vireo has been there.

Breakfast!

Pine Warblers nest here as well, and American Redstarts are present.  I also came across a Blue-winged Warbler yesterday, but the lens of my camera could not find it!

Not far away is Strathroy Lagoons.  It is easily accessible to the public off Pike Street.  At times, it can be good for shorebirds.  A couple of years ago I found an American Avocet there, and it seems to me a Snowy Plover was there once in the past.
This day, a late Semipalmated Plover was there with 4 Semipalmated Sandpipers.

Very Distant!

After this stop, I zig-zagged back to the county line at Argyll and Watterworth Roads.  A piece of Crown Land here hosts Hooded Warbler and Acadian Flycatcher among other warblers of interest.
It was extremely windy, so I could not hear much.  A couple of years ago a Magnolia Warbler was here in the breeding season.

Red-spotted Purple, more or less!

I drove through Skunk's Misery as well and walked one trail.  The Mourning Warbler was still stuck singing a Common Yellowthroat song along Sassafras Road.

My last walk was at Wardsville Woods.  I like this place!

A nice butterfly in the form of a Baltimore Checkerspot was present.  In fact, I saw two of them.

I was home by noon, and in the afternoon took a walk through the woods at Reid CA where you can find some impressive trees.

Red Oaks

Bur Oak

Black Walnut