Friday Rambles

After work today I dodged the rain (felt like the weekend was coming!) and stopped at Nicholl's Memorial Forest at Wilkesport.  The prairie plants and wildflowers are in bloom.

Compass Plant

Culvers Root

ironweed

Gray-headed Coneflower

Virginia Mountain Mint

Densse Blazing Star is not as plentiful this year.

Hooded Mergansers nested at the pond this year and a few were swimming.

I also stopped at Reid CA and came across a couple of American Woodcock.

Dukes' Skippers were numerous and easy to find.

I found one at the Broad-winged Skipper spot--the first time I have had one there.

I have not come across Broad-winged there yet this year!

Sandhill Cranes are on the move and are now regularly being seen west of Wallaceburg.  A few were near the Walpole bridge this morning.

Rondeau/Blenheim/Wilkesport Sightings

I headed down to Rondeau Park early this morning in fine weather. It was pleasant with a northerly breeze.
Yellow Warblers were in bunches, soon to depart in a southerly direction.

After a walk on south point trail, I went over to Marsh trail and walked to the half way point.  I was hoping to see more butterflies along the way, but par for the course this year, there were very few. It was certainly good exercise!

Over at Blenheim Lagoons, things were more interesting with lots of shorebirds present.  However, they were very skittish and one could not get very close to them.

I did see a Stilt Sandpiper (FOY) and the continuing Short-billed Dowitcher.  Lesser Yellowlegs were numerous as were Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers.

Some Semipalmated Plover were present, including this nice looking one in the sprinkler cells.

The summering male Ring-necked Duck was still swimming around, along with several Pied-billed Grebes.

A few Common Buckeye were fluttering around in the stiff breeze.

After getting home, I headed up to McKeough CA knowing the Flag-tailed Spinylegs would be out.  Several were easily found along the riverbank.

Many Eastern Amberwings were along the bank as well.

One last stop was to check out the prairie planting at Nicholl's Memorial Forest, Wilkesport.  In the wooded area, I spotted a large darner which turned out to be a Fawn Darner.  I could not get in a good position to photograph it, but it is one that I rarely see.

The prairie area is coming along nicely and has a fair number of Spiked Blazing Star, among other plants.  They were gently swaying in the breeze today.

There is lots of Virginia Mountain Mint, Ironweed and several other species.

Weekend-North and South

Saturday morning I headed to north Lambton County.  The weather was not too desirable for being out, but at least we got some much-needed rain.
I first stopped at Wawanosh Wetlands at the east end of Sarnia.  Some shorebirds were near the parking lot.

Wawanosh used to be a premier spot for shorebirds until the phragmites took over. It could be again if only we could remove the phrag!

SBD

I checked a bit of Howard Watson Trail as well.  Recently, some Comet Darners were just west of Modeland Road, but I did not see any.  Not the greatest weather (Oh, it is the weekend!).  They are rare in Ontario and can frequent borrow pits.  The ones at Sarnia were along an old quarry at Blackwell Trails.

I then headed up to Port Franks. I walked the County Forest.  It was rather quiet, but I did come across a lingering Hooded Warbler.  As well, an Acadian Flycatcher made an appearance.  It was too dark for trying to photograph anything in the woods.

Rough Blazing Star

On the way home, I stopped at Nicholl's Memorial Forest near Wilkesport.  Lots of butterflies were out while we had some sun.

Common Wood-Nymph

Eastern Tailed-Blue

The planting area is always nice to walk through.  Spiked Blazing Star was past its prime.  Lots of Ironweed was out among some other plants.

Culver's Root

Sunday I decided to go to Point Pelee.  Things were quiet at the Tip first thing, but soon picked up.  Nothing too noteworthy.  A Common Loon was noted flying south at one point in the distance.

I checked out Sparrow Field and quite a few birds were milling about.  Mostly Yellow Warblers, but I did see a Nashville among them.

I walked back west beach trail hoping for some butterflies.  Not too many were around.....again!
I saw my second-only Common Buckeye of the year.

Lots of Wandering Gliders were flying about.

After a quick lunch, I stopped at Wheatley.  The lake was very calm and littered with gulls and terns.  Well over 1000 were there.  Of note was was an all-white large gull.  It looked a bit larger than Herring, but I hesitated in calling it a Glaucous due to the distance and heat haze.

It is in the centre!

It was quite impressive to see so many gulls.

Feeding Frenzy

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!