Some September Sightings

 Last Tuesday, I stopped by McKeough CA for a morning walk.  Highlight was a Zabulon Skipper!  It was a first record for that place.

One can only wonder how many are really out there.  They are certainly expanding.

Eastern Tailed-Blues are plentiful right now, especially at McKeough.

Wild Indigo Duskywings are popping up as well.

A couple of insect/arachnid sightings in the next couple of days:

Lance-tipped Darner

Yellow Garden Spider

On Friday, I went down to Rondeau to walk the marsh trail. I was hoping to spend quite a bit of time there, but we were mislead by the weather forecast.  The evening before I am pretty sure it said some sun and very little chance of rain.  Dead wrong!  It was threatening rain.

That was unfortunate because there were hundreds of birds, most moving south.  I only could spend two hours on the trail.  Here is  a link to my eBird list:  https://ebird.org/checklist/S389630415

I did notice two Common Nighthawks flying as well.  Sometimes they fly during the day!

I only managed this photo of an Osprey.

It rained the rest of the day!

Not to be detered, I went back the next day to tackle the marsh trail.  Luckily, it was much the same deal with birds, but with sunny skies.  I walked to the half way point, seeing more species than the previous day.

Common Yellowthroat

Red-eyed Vireo with meal (earwig?)

A couple of butterflies along the way.

Question Mark

Common Painted-Lady

Common Checkered-Skipper (at home)

Yesterday, I drove along the St. Clair River first thing.

barge Ashtabula

For my morning walk, I went to McKeough CA.  It was quite enjoyable with picture-perfect weather.

Holt Line Bridge

  As well, there were lots of birds.  Included was a Purple Finch.  They seem to be moving through in small numbers now.

Cedar Waxwing

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Common Painted-Lady seems to be popping up everywhere lately.

Later in the afternoon, I saw quite a few bees and wasps in the garden.  Included was an oddity called a Louisiana Painted-Dark Bee.  I had one of these in the past here.

Today I headed down towards Rondeau and Erieau.  I checked a harvested tomato field and saw a Buff-breasted Sandpiper east of New Scotland.

I then headed over to Erieau to walk the marsh trail.  There were a few warblers and other birds, plus some hummingbirds.

This afternoon, it was too nice to pass up an opportunity to check out McKeough and Reid.

There were a few birds, including this Philadelphia Vireo having a meal.

Came a cross a Grey Comma at McKeough, something I have have not seen since early summer.

Some Wild Indigo Duskywings were flying nearby.

A Reid, a couple of Royal River Cruisers were flying. Soon, they will be done until next June!

A few warblers were flitting through the woods.  Included was an Ovenbird, which was in a shaded area.  I did not have time to put the correct settings on the camera, so it is blurry.

Been watching for birds in the evening at home.  The odd warblers are moving through, but not much passing over lately.

Latest Travels: Some Birds, Low Water, Fiery Skipper

 Another week has passed already!  Some fine weather, but this week looks more autumn-like with cool temps and rain.

Making my rounds, I stopped by W. Darcy McKeough CA on Monday.  

This Palm Warbler was soaking up some early morning sun.

Water level very low due to the lack of rain the past few months.  May be the lowest I have seen it there.

Among some Killdeer, a Least Sandpiper was on the mudflat.

Purple Finches seem to be everywhere now.  A few Pine Siskins here and there.  We will see if other finches show up this fall!

I visited Rondeau on Wednesday.  Not much of note.

Northern Parula

I walked back the beach off south point trail.  Lots of beach showing now.

Sanderling

On the way out, I stopped at Keith McLean C. L.  There were a lot of birds there, so I spent quite a bit of time.  I did catch a glimpse of a Nelson's Sparrow.  As usual, it did not stay up long enough for a photo!

As usual, been to Mitchell's Bay a couple of times.

Thursday was very calm.  It was nice looking onto Lake St. Clair even though there was not much activity.

Lots of blackbirds moving around.  One tree had three male Yellow-headed Blackbirds!

 I have seen quite a few this fall.

Friday I went up to Dow Wetlands.  It was not as birdy as I had hoped.  Near the end of the walk close to the parking lot, a couple of Eastern Bluebirds were flying around.  Was not able to make one into a Mountain....

Today, I had the urge to go to Rondeau Park and start with a lakewatch.  It was the first good south wind for a lakewatch.  However, not much was moving!  Lake watching has been the pits so far this fall.

Checked out south point trail (east) afterwards, then went to McLean's.  Lots of sparrows there, but not much else.  It was devoid of shorebirds, except for four Dunlin which took off as soon as I approached.

It was quite warm today, so some butterflies were out.  Caught sight of this Fiery Skipper at McLean's.  I am sure it will be the last one for this year!

The change in weather this coming week should stir things up.  We sure need some rain!

More Rambling...What Else?

 Things have been fairly boring lately, not to mention depressing weather as I write this (very cold and snowing!  However, I am not one to stay in.

Yesterday afternoon I went for a walk at Reid CA before the weather deteriorated.  There were few birds, but I was looking more for butterflies and plants.  (only brought the point and shoot camera).

Wet area in the old oxbow

Highlight was another Compton Tortoiseshell.

There were numerous Eastern Commas.

One anglewing turned out to be a Question Mark, fairly early.  Usually we see the dark form, but this one was light which possibly suggests it overwintered.

distant photo

A few Mourning Cloaks were flying.

I did find the Twinleaf plants where I had them last year.  Easy to walk by it seems!  I think it is a neat plant.

Today was very cool, but I got out to McKeough before the weather deteriorated even more.  I walked through some areas I will be checking thoroughly for the bird atlas.

There is Twinleaf here too!

The area also has an old oxbow.  Will be checking this further into the breeding season.

I drove around a bit afterwards, especially along Smith Line which is the north boundary of my atlas square.  Good thing there is a bridge over the Sydenham.  This is what is used to be like (before my time, of course).

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