More Insects and Rondeau Butterfly Count

Saturday I did quite a bit of running around, but had little luck in finding things!  Just one of those days.
I stopped by the old Clear Creek quarry which is good for dragonflies.  Although it was late morning, I saw little!  Here the Comet Darner flies, but I find it is better in the afternoon to see these.  Still some time to see this rare Ontario dragonfly.

A couple of Calico Pennants had just emerged.

Some damselflies had just emerged as well.  No colour to these!

This one had some colour, but not sure of species.

Before going home, I went up to Reid CA anticipating that Dukes' Skippers would be flying.  I managed to see two some distance apart.

I heard that one was seen in another known location in south Lambton County today.

Hairstreaks are quickly waning. The ones I saw this day were worn.

Today was the Rondeau butterfly count.  The weather started out nice, but got quite hazy and somewhat overcast later on, which did not help.  I did my usual area of south point trail, and had my worst showing.  I only managed 14 species, when I usually get over twenty!  No doubt the recent hot and dry weather had bearing on the results.
I have done this count since 1999 (with the exception of two years) and we have had some good years, but the last few have been less than par.
Weather has everything to do with it and timing of broods.

The trail on the east side was just as flooded as it was in May.  Usually by this time it is dry enough to walk with shoes, so that tells you something.

I found Appalachian Brown in good numbers--the most I have tallied at 57.

Quite a few Northern Pearly-eye were along Harrison Trail as usual.

Monarch was in decent numbers at 43.

The "ladies" have been absent of late, and the brushfoots (Comma and Question Mark) must be in between broods.  I only had two Eastern Commas.

The only Question Mark I saw was quite questionable!

Practically no skippers.  A couple of Delaware and a few Northern Broken-Dash were in my area.

I found only one hairstreak this year--a sad looking Banded.

I had no swallowtails at all!  In between broods obviously.  Recently the Eastern Tiger Swallowtail has been under consideration by authorities that there is another species involved.  So, your tiger swallowtail will go under tiger swallowtail species.  I had a nice one in the yard yesterday, but as far as I am concerned it is still Eastern!

My hotspot of the old Dillon Dump was a bust.  The milkweed was past its prime and there was hardly any butterfly activity. 
The only interesting thing there was coyotes!  Two were resting in the weeds and I almost stepped on one since it was well hidden!  A bit later, they started howling, and two other joined in the howl.  Quite the experience!

Dragonflies were in good numbers today, but most were Blue Dasher, numbering many hundreds.

Blue Dasher (f)

Some others were seen as well.

Twelve-spotted Skimmer (f)

White-faced Meadowhawk

Tule Bluet

AS for birds, I always keep track, but nothing earth-shattering today.  The White-winged Dove was still holding on.  A Pine Warbler, uncommon breeder in Rondeau, was near the south end of  Harrison.

Here at home, the garden is coming along nicely, attracting various insects. 

Today, I spotted a Slaty Skimmer!  It was new for the yard, and it is not too common around here.

Next butterfly count is Clear Creek on July 26.

Early November Novelties

The weather has been much too nice this week and not too many birds have been around or on the move as a result.
I checked out Rondeau and area and beyond, today and the list was rather low.

It was almost a year ago that we had several late or record late warblers at Rondeau, but this year even Yellow-rumped are scarce!

Blackburnian Warbler 7 Nov 2015

There was an Orange-crowned on south point this morning among a couple of Yellow-rumped.

Lots of ducks are around though.  The lakewatch at Dog Beach this morning revealed good numbers of many species.  It was apparently the most active day this week. Seven Common Loons were seen in one hour also.

Of course, Rondeau Bay is full of ducks.  At least two Eurasian Wigeons are around and possibly more given the number of wigeon. I did not look for them today.
Two Cattle Egrets were at Blenheim this week, but only one this morning.

Steve and I checked out part of McGeachy Pond dike as well.  At the parking lot, 2 Eastern Commas were flitting about.  One was extremely fresh!

Earlier this week, Jim Burk had a Yellow Warbler along the dike, but it was rather quiet today for birds in the wind.
Perhaps things will change if the weather ever gets more seasonal!

Being only mid-day at this point, I wandered west and looked at the Cattle Egret along Mersea Rd. 21.  It had smudging on its right face, but not on the left.

I recall seeing one here a couple of years ago.  It is always worthwhile to check any paddock or pasture where horses or cattle are present.
Four, discovered by Sharon Nethercott, were at Lucasville east of Sarnia earlier this week as well!

I checked out Hillman Marsh shorebird cell while in the area.  A total of 18 Wilson's Snipe were in the weeds.  A Killdeer, 6 Dunlin  and a Greater Yellowlegs rounded out the shorebird numbers.

During the day, there were lots of Orange Sulphurs, a couple of Clouded Sulpurs and Cabbage White, as well as a couple of Monarchs.  One Monarch was at Hillman, while the other was at Rondeau.

TGIF: Afternoon Walks

I took off mid afternoon today to look around.  Hardly any butterflies or dragonflies right now, but I looked anyway!

I first stopped at Moore WMA.  Near the parking lot is a good site for prairie/wildflower plantings.  The burgamot is quite prolific this year.  Some Purple Coneflower is here.

I have finally seen lots of Monarchs in this past week.

I got down to the river crossing where usually one can find lots of odes.  A Common Whitetail and a Widow Skimmer were the only dragons! Some damselflies and Ebony Jewelwings were there, but not like they should be.

old oxbow at Moore WMA

Next stop was Nicholl's at Wilkesport.  I did see a Royal River Cruiser there among a few common odes.  I walked through the prairie planting area which is always nice.

Compass Plant point east

A brief stop at Reid (more mosquitoes than anything!) revealed the same Edwards' Hairstreaks.  I found one dead one on Swamp Milkweed though--a sure sign of the times.

This Dukes' Skipper co-operated nicely for the G16.

I find that Reid is the best spot for Royal River Cruisers.  Many were patrolling the trails on my brief visit. A few mosaic darners, possibly Lance-tipped, were around as well.

Has anyone seen a Mocha Emerald this year?  Some are looking!

Wednesday Wanderings

butterfly of the spring!

I had to take advantage of the warm weather late today.  The crazy invasion of butterflies continues!
Hundreds more of Red Admirals all over today.  Probably more than that of a week and a half ago.
I thought the best place to observe both birds and butterflies this evening was the McKeough CA and diversion channel north of here.
FOY birds included flycatchers of Eastern Kingbird and Great-crested.  Not many warblers to see except Yellow-rumped, Nashville, Black-throated Green, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow.

There were a lot of Question Marks.

Of note, I saw my first Monarch of the year.  Later I saw another!  Both quite fresh, but undoubtedly from farther south.  Mourning Cloaks were plentiful today.

Mourning Cloak

Along the causeway, I noted Common Painted Lady butterflies.  Never got a good photo of one though!

Painted Lady

As well, I was tickled to see a Common Buckeye.  Earliest I have seen one.  An idividual was reported today at Point Pelee by Henrietta O'Neill.  According to Alan Wormington, that one was record early for Ontario!  I had it in the back of mind today that the floodway would be a good spot to get an early Buckeye.  Sometimes hunches come true!

 Common Buckeye!

At Brander Park today, a Blue-winged Warbler was new for there for this year.  I found it again later in the day.

Blue-winged Warbler

Not as many birds as yesterday, but more Nashville Warblers.  Warbling Vireos were in various places today, and more Baltimore Orioles were around.

Nashville Warbler

Just as I got in this evening, Steve Charbonneau reported 3 American Avocets at McGeachy Pond, Erieau.  There is now exposed mud and finally after many years it looks like a good spot for shorebirds.  It was looking that way this past weekend, and I expected some Avocets to show up there at some point.

Swimming Pigeon!