Many March Meanderings

 To start off the month of March, I went down to Rondeau on Friday.  It was another nice day, but not with many birds.  I walked out marsh trail with Steve, once again going as far as Long Pond.  Northern Pintail was numerous in the duck department. Over 300!

Later, I checked out a bit of Black Oak trail.  It is a good place to look for lichens.  Here are a couple more continuing on that theme.

Star Rosette Lichens

Rough Speckled Lichens

While there, I noticed some very tiny creatures on a tree.  They were a type of springtail, as far as I could tell.  Just like snowfleas, which I have not seen in a long time.  Too difficult to get a good photo though.

Hypogastrura

After heading out of the park, the trusty Red-headed Woodpecker was on its usual tree near the end of Kent Bridge Road.

Saturday started out gloomy as I walked the south shore trail at Mitchell's Bay.  Still lots of duck on the water, most of which seemed to be Canvasback.

At home, the resident Merlin made a stop in the yard.  I took a quickie photo out of the window.

Sunday, I had the urge to check out Hillman Marsh.  I had the notion that a Eurasian Wigeon should be around.  However, there were not a huge number of ducks.  I did the long walk, with scope, but I did not spot the European variety of wigeon.

Trumpeter Swans are a regular sight there.  I saw two pairs.

I also went into Point Pelee for a brief period, but it was extremely quiet.

Strangely, later in the afternoon, a Eurasian Wigeon showed up at Hillman!  Go figure.

Today was quite balmy.  I had to go to Corunna, so took my time going up that way.  An Eastern Bluebird was finally at Nicholl's Memorial Forest and Wetland near Wilkesport.  Some wintered there last year, but this was the first one I came across this winter.

Long-tailed Ducks continue to be the dominant duck on the St. Clair River from Courtright and northward.

Quite a few Common Mergansers were around as well.

This afternoon was so nice, I went up to Reid CA for a long walk.  With temps reaching 22 C, I knew there had to be some butterflies out.  I did see three Eastern Commas, but no Mourning Cloaks.

A visit to Reid is not complete without checking out the riverbank for mussels.  Just the usuals again.  Two of my favourites, easily identified.

Deertoe

Mapleleaf

Not many birds, as usual, but this White-breasted Nuthatch was caching some food.

Here is a scene in the "Lilly Bush"  along the river.

Soon, spring wildflowers will be out.  But this fern stayed out all winter!

Christmas Fern

Insects 'n Things of Late

 I have been checking out various spots lately for anything of interest.  It is certainly not a banner year for butterflies and odonates.  It has been difficult to find much at all.

Saturday, I checked out Wardsville Woods.  It was quite disappointing.  No spiketails and only a couple of Midland Clubtails.

Midland Clubtail with snack

Some butterflies included Silvery Checkerspot and Giant Swallowtail, among singles of others.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Giant Swallowtail

Tawny-edged Skipper

Sunday it was difficult to find anything.  No sign of the Northern Oak Hairstreaks yet at Reid CA.  The river was running high at Moore WMA, so that flushed away any odes!

Blue-fronted dancer

Blue-fronted Dancer

Yesterday I went down Lake St. Clair way.  I spent some time looking at the Bay off the south shore nature trail, then went for a walk at St. Clair NWA.

Caspian Tern

Of note at the NWA, was a pair of Northern Harriers.  I failed to get the action on photos, but I saw a female flying about, then a male came in with some food in hand.  In mid-air, the male transferred the food to the female!  Never witnessed this before.  The female then circled a bit, then went down into the marsh, assumingly to a nest.

female with the food

Also there was an Osprey.

Today, I checked out south Lambton north of Wallaceburg.  No dickcissels that I could find!  I then went for a walk at Reid CA. Again, things were sparse, and no sign of the Oak Hairstreaks.  They are usually out by now, but things are behind this year.  As well their favourite nectaring plant, hemp-dogbane or whatever you want to call it, was not quite in bloom.  More notably, it is almost wiped out at Reid.  Things are getting quite grown-in there which no doubt is a factor.

Some insects at Reid.

Least Skipper

Black-patched Clepsis Moth

Also stopped by Moore WMA where the water level is down enough to check out the causeway.  Very few odes.  Water was a still a bit high to find mussels, but a few were exposed.

Mapleleaf

 

Pink Heelsplitter

Cliff Swallows were late in arriving near Peers Wetland this spring.  They are building nests under the bridge of late.

Balmy Birding and Mo(o)re Mussels

 As this wacky weather continues, I do get out from time to time.  It has not always been enjoyable in the oppressive heat and hoardes of mosquitoes.

Last Sunday afternoon I went back up to Moore WMA to look along the riverbank.  Nothing new in mussels, but they always interest me.

Pink Heelsplitter

Deertoe

Mapleleaf

Wednesday I was having a bad day, so left work at noon and went down to Rondeau.  There was a good selection of warblers to be found.  Black Oak trail, not often birded, was actually quite good.  However, one could not enjoy the stay due to mosquitoes.  Certainly the worst summer I have ever experienced for mosquitoes!

Evening walks at Peers Wetland is something to do after supper.

Slender Spreadwing

Least Skipper

Today, I went down to Rondeau and spent quite a bit of time.  South Point was somewhat quiet, with very few warblers.  Lots of flycatchers and vireos though.

I checked out Tulip tree trail as well.  Several waterthrushes, including one I believe was a Louisiana.  There were lots of waterthrushes today.

I decided to go out marsh trail as well.  I have not been out there since May!  The vegetation has grown in tremendously, and even a couple of spots difficult to walk.  Nature is reclaiming the trail!

Chestnut-marked Pond Moth

It was a good choice, as there were lots of birds compared to SPT.  Cape May Warblers were having a good day, as I saw several of them in certain areas.

My favourite vireo was present as well.  Philadelphia Vireos are quite attractive.

I added several other species to the day's list out the trail.

Scarlet Tanager

It was getting late in the morning by the time I returned to the car, so I headed out towards Thamesville. I wanted to check the river bank at the Tecumseh Monument for Smoky Rubyspots.  A few were there, plus the numerous American Rubyspots.

The river was low enough that I checked a shallow area for mussels.  There were lots there, some rather old.  One can get a few different species here compared to Moore WMA.  Elktoe and Pimpleback were numerous.  Last year I recall finding a Purple Wartyback.

Here are some:

Elktoe

Pimpleback

Flutedshell

Elktoe

Mapleleaf

Elktoe

This one I was not sure: