Dickcissel Season and Another New Lambton Bird

 Time marches on!  I have been making my usual rounds of late, taking advantage of the nice weather.

Friday I headed down to Rondeau for one last walk there until perhaps August.  Mosquitoes were bad!  I walked down Harrison from maintenance to Bennett and back Lakeshore Road.  I encountered quite a few birds, including Hooded Warbler, a couple of Acadian Flycatchers and others.

Little Wood Satyr

It was then off to Wardsville to look for odonates.  Unfortunately they were a bit thin there!  I did get one of my targets, that being an Arrowhead Spiketail.

I did see at least one other spiketail which I thought was a Twin-spotted, but it was flying high and had some sort of prey. It seemed to be looking for a spot to stop and consume the meal.

There were a couple of Midland Clubtails, but no Cobras yet.

Butterflies included Peck's Skippers.

Next day was the annual bird survey at Sydenham River Nature Reserve.  Counters were thin.  Seems interest has waned in this event, as it is difficult to get volunteers anymore.

I found the usual residents on my route, and nothing special.  Although a female Common Merganser on the river was a bit unusual.

Before leaving, I took a look for odonates and managed to find what I was looking for.  An Arrowhead Spiketail!

In the past we have had Rusty Snaketail here, but it has been several years since I have seen one.

It was early in the day and quite windy, so odes were sparse.

Dot-tailed Whiteface

Common Whitetail

Midland Clubtail

The ravines here are impressive.

Yesterday, I had the urge to head up to north Lambton.  Last Thursday evening, James Holdsworth found a White-faced Ibis at the Thedford Lagoons.  This species is good anywhere in Ontario, but it was a first record for Lambton.  Probably way overdue.

I did not really have the chance or ambition to try for it until yesterday.  I went quite early, and basically found it right away.  It was too distant under heavy clouded skies to attempt a photo.

That was my second new bird for Lambton County in less than a week!  One can go years without adding anything, but to get two in short order is satisfying.

I continued on and visited various places including a walk at Ausable River Cut CA.  I looked at mussels there and found the usuals, plus the rarer Wabash Pigtoe. 

Next stop was the Lambton Heritage Forest.  Acadian Flycatchers seem to be having a good year there, as I encountered eleven singing birds.

On the other hand, Hooded Warblers are less plentiful this year.  I noticed that at Skunk's Misery as well.  I wonder what is going on with them?

I did get two Cerulean Warblers to add to the list.

Some Hobomok Skippers were flying in the sunny spots.

I also came across another Cherry Scallop Shell Moth.  Very attractive!

(cell phone pic!)

Next stop was nearby Karner Blue Sanctuary. Insects were very scarce there it seemed.  

I did encounter a Blue-winged Warbler singing an almost perfect Northern Parula Song.  The Merlin app was registering it as a parula.  It took a long time to spot the bird, as I wanted to make sure! Yep, it was the Blue-winged!

I also walked the Sandrin Tract Woods trail nearby.  The "bowl" is almost dried up showing the lack of rain we have had in the last year.

A couple of duskywings there were Juvenal's.

Not many odes, even though this has been a hotspot.

Midland Clubtail

Four-spotted Skimmer

Twelve-spotted Skimmer

One last stop was Reid C. L. before getting home.  Things not looking good there either for insects. Some Four-spotted Skimmers were flying.

Today, I knew that Dickcissels were around.  They obviously just arrived.  I went down to SW Chatham-Kent to a couple usual spots and had no problem finding some.

singing up a storm!

I am sure some will be arriving elsewhere including Lambton County soon, if not already.

New Bird for Lambton, Point Pelee Sightings and a Visit to the Misery

 After spending a few more days at Rondeau and area, Saturday was more of a day of relaxation.  However, I was out in the morning albeit quite foggy and damp.  Highlight was listening to the Western Meadowlark at Sombra (solar farm).  It was found a few days previous by Brandon Holden as he was making his rounds in the area.

It was quite pleasant to listen to it sing, a much more unique and pleasing song than its eastern counterpart.  I never got a photo, but in retrospect, could have obtained a recording.

The Western Meadowlark was a bird I really wanted to see for Lambton County.  Oddly, in all my years of birding the area, I never listed one for Lambton!  Apparently, they used to be more regular in the 1970's and before, but have fallen off the map in recent times.

There is always the occasional sighting in southern Ontario each year.  I have seen them in Middlesex, Essex, and a couple in Chatham-Kent, not to mention Rainy River District.  The Essex one was a bonus, as I photographed a bird a few years ago (2 June 2018) at Point Pelee, unknowingly that it was a Western.  My excuse is that it never vocalized!

Sunday I headed down to Point Pelee.  I first stopped at the Hillman shorebird cell to see if anything of interest was in.  Nothing new!  However, I had to satisfy my curiosity.

I then slid over to Point Pelee.  Even arriving later in the morning, the park was not all that busy despite the holiday weekend.  It was later though when I left.....the lineup to the gate was about a kilometre long, and growing.  Apparently they had to close the park for a while!

Anyway, I parked at the VC and walked towards the Tip on the road.  I cut in to west beach trail at the half way stop.  There were actually quite a few birds along the way, not to mention birders farther down.

As often is the case this time of year, there are many familiar faces along the way, and May birding is very much a social event as well.  Some, we only see this time of year, but you get to know these people and it is nice to share bird sightings and other news.

At the Tip parking lot, I was talking to Ross and Sandy (long time friends) when word came about a Neotropic Cormorant at the Tip.  We rushed to the good 'ole Tip and the the subject bird was pointed out to us.  It flew around a bit, swam a bit, and stuck around for many to see.  

Unsatisfactory photos were obtained.

That was a nice 'bonus' bird for my visit!  Not new for my Essex list, but certainly a rarity to my eyes.

While there, a couple of American White Pelicans were way out on the lake, and came a bit closer to view.

The pelicans are a regular there anymore at this time of year, so it was not surprising to see them.

As well, a couple of Whimbrel were resting on the Tip.

I walked back west beach trail looking for insects.  Nothing of note, but I had hopes of seeing a Juniper (or Olive) Hairstreak, a critically imperiled species at Point Pelee nowadays.  Ironically, one was found today!

(photo from the past)

After a quick check at Northwest Beach area, I left the park before it became overcrowded.

Silver-spotted Skipper

Long-nosed Marsh Fly

Today, I needed to go in a different direction, and headed up towards the county line of Middlesex and Lambton.  There are still lots of decent pastures in that area where one can find Upland Sandpiper, Grasshopper Sparrow, etc.  In the scrubby area, Clay-colored Sparrow can be found buzzing away.

I found all of them!  But, could not get good photos....again.

Shy Clay-colored Sparrow

Eastern Meadowlarks (no Western) too.

Heading back, I checked out Skunk's Misery.  Indeed, the mosquitoes were horrific with all the rain we have had this spring.

One of my go-to places is Sitler Woods, one of the more recent acquisitions by Thames Talbot Land Trust (TTLT).

As expected, I got Acadian Flycatcher there, among other things like Hooded Warbler.

It is a place one may still find some American Chestnut.

In other areas several Hooded Warblers were singing, and a large number of Ovenbirds among other things.

Juvenal's Duskywing

While in the area, a stop at Wardsville Woods (another TTLT property) is always a necessity.  I go there more for insects, as readers of this blog know quite well.  It is a haven for rare odonates, but right now it is a bit early for some.

I found Midland Clubtails, Common Whitetails, and Twelve-spotted Skimmers today.

Midland Clubtail

Twelve-spotted Skimmer

Butterflies searching can be good here as well.

A FOY Common Ringlet

Still some bird migrants still to come. Flycatchers had not really come in numbers yet, but a few arrived today finally.  Cuckoos have not arrived to any degree yet either.

And, indeed, some rarities will be popping up to make things interesting!

Uplands, Midlands, Lowlands = More Running Around!

 A couple of days ago my car headed in the direction of Strathroy.  I was hoping to see Upland Sandpiper in a usual spot, but again no luck.  I did hear one though!

I continued on to the Strathroy lagoon site, where once again, Black-necked Stilt is likely nesting.

It is an excellent birding location with Sora and Virginia Rail, Common Gallinule, and various ducks nesting.  And passerines!

After an hour there in early morning, I headed back to the Upland Sandpiper site with no luck yet again.  I knew there were some in the Glencoe area, so that was the next spot.  Bingo!  Right at roadside I saw a pair, and I did not even get out of the car.

What to do next?  I got the notion to check out Wardsville Woods as I headed out of Glencoe.  It is getting that time of year to look for odonates.

Lots of Midland Clubtails were out, but nothing looked  like a Cobra Clubtail.

After milling about the little pond at the back, I caught sight of something I knew right away as an Arrowhead Spiketail.  They have a distinctive shape, flight and perching habit that gives them away, at least to my eyes.

After getting photos of this one, I went back to the car for refreshments. I headed back the trail and saw another one, but was unable to get on it with the camera.

It is early in the season, so hopefully more to come at Wardsville Woods!

Regarding butterflies, they are a bit scarce, but I have already seen several Common Sootywings in various locations.  

Common Sootywing at Wardsville Woods

Monday, I did not do much and stayed close to home.

Common Whitetail (F)

Today was the annual bird survey at Sydenham River Nature Reserve (SRNR).  It is always an opportunity to check out the place, since there is no public access on the Lambton side (you would have to cross private property).  You can get into the Middlesex side off Buttonwood Road, which is on the east side of the Sydenham.

Great-crested Flycatcher

There were not many participants this year, but we got it covered.  I did my usual area on the Lambton side.  Nothing new really.  Song Sparrows were really abundant!

The trusty Blue-winged Warbler was in its usual area.

Towards the "lowland" parts of the reserve, I heard Cerulean Warbler singing along the river, as well as Mourning and American Redstart (plus Yellow, Common Yellowthroat) in the warbler department.

While near the river, I decided to do a quick check for mussels.  It is very shallow and fast moving in this location.  This is a prime spot to look for mussels.

I found some along the edge, but most notably was a Round Hickorynut.  It is a critically imperiled species which I had never encountered before.

Here is a more common species:

Spike

Not much in the way of odes today.  Lots of Midland Clubtails and Common Whitetails, a few Ebony Jewelwings.  No Arrowhead Spiketails!  I had one dancer sp., then this Azure Bluet.

There are some impressive deep ravines here which are something to behold.