End of August Report!

 Here we are at the last day of August....already.  I have been out as much as possible, except yesterday when it rained off and on all day.  Taking advantage of every hour.

Each evening I sit on the back porch watching for birds.  The odd warbler has gone through.  One of my favourite things to see are Common Nighthawks.  I have seen about seven so far, but I can only see a small amount of sky.

Some butterflies recently include those what I have seen in the garden.  Common Checkered-Skippers are almost a daily occurence.

Other common things have shown up as well.

Silver-spotted Skipper

Orange Sulphur

This past Friday I walked out Rondeau's marsh trail to the half way point.  A few birds kept me interested, including the aptly-named Black-and-White Warbler.

Another Olive-sided Flycatcher caught my eye.  I have seen lots in this year's fall migration!

There is some good matting along the shoreline that attracts shorebirds.

Least and Semipalmated Sandpipers

Yellowlegs of the lesser variety

Solitary Sandpipers were in good numbers (at least seven).

I stopped at Keith Mclean C. L. before heading home.  There was finally some mud showing.  I half-expected a Hudsonian Godwit, but I could not turn the lone dowitcher into one.

Early Saturday morning I toured locally.  Yet another two Olive-sided Flycatchers were at Peers Wetland.

I then decided to head to the Thamesville area and check for rubyspots.  It did not turn out well.  The river was running a little high, and the bank was too steep and grown-in to see much.  I was particularly interested in Smoky Rubyspot.  I may have seen one, but anything I could photograph was its common counterpart. (note:  photos uploaded here are not reproducing well for some reason).

I then moved on to Wardsville Woods. There was not much there to photograph.  A few warblers and such were moving through the woods.

Today, I decided to give Rondeau a try.  Big mistake!  Hardly any birds. Oh well, last couple of visits were decent.

The iconic concrete structure is getting further out into the lake it seems.

I walked back the beach from "trail's end".

I could see a small sailing vessel coming from Erieau.

I thought it looked familiar.  It was the Playfair out of Toronto.  Every summer teenagers get training on this and its sister the Pathfinder .  These brigantines have been around for decades.  I have seen them on the St. Clair River as well.

At one point I noticed about 15 Eastern Kingbirds. along the treeline.  

Leaving Rondeau somewhat disappointed, I headed over to Erieau to walk the marsh trail. I was not expecting much, but there were more birds here than at Rondeau!  Quite a few warblers, including a dozen Cape May.  They certainly have been plentiful this year.  In any case, it is my favourite warbler

And indeed, yet another Olive-sided Flycatcher working the dead trees past the viewing stand.  Heavily back-lit, I took a photo anyway.

On to another week.......

September: Spined Creatures, Insects and Scenes

 This week has been very calm until today.  Not a breath of wind most of the time!  I have been making my usual rounds this week seeing what is around.

One thing of note is that I have been seeing quite a few Spined Macrathena spiders.  These are unique tiny spiders that can easily be overlooked and difficult to photograph.  They are considered vulnerable by the NHIC.

Here is one at Peers Wetland in a usual spot.  Looks daunting on the trail!

I have seen several at Reid C. L., and today I managed a decent photo.

Not much in the yard of interest lately, but this Common Checkered-Skipper spent a day fluttering around.

Goldenrod is blooming now and attracting a myriad of insects.  This Fraternal Potter Wasp was one of them.  Another species considered vulnerable in Ontario.

Here are some various insects during my travels this week.

Eastern Carpenter Bee (lots in the yard!)

Hackberry Emperor (Wilkesport)

A rather Slender Spreadwing

Northern Paper Wasp

Common Wood Nymph (late)

Large Green Stinkbug (neat!)

Ruby-tailed Cuckoo Wasp sp. (non-native)

American Dagger Moth caterpillar

Common Ringlet

On the first day of this month, I figured a walk out Rondeau's marsh trail was a good bet.  Winds have been light out of the east lately, so that was helpful.  

Turned out to be good with lots of warblers, etc.  My favourite flycatcher had at least three representatives.

Stopped by Keith McLean C. L. on the way back home.  Same shorebirds have been there for quite some time!  The bonus Hudsonian Godwit was still present, but too far for my camera gear.

Today, I walked Peers Wetland first thing.  It was finally birdy for a change with several warblers.  Nothing unusual, but enough to keep me interested.  

Red-breasted Nuthatches are plentiful everywhere right now.  Obviously getting out of Dodge up north!

I had things to take care of the rest of the morning, but in the afternoon, I went for a walk at Reid C. L.  Been deathly quiet for birds there lately.  Even the usual breeding birds were scarce there this year.  Most of the time, not a bird could be heard at all.

It was just nice walking through the woods this afternoon.  Here are some random scenes.

Love those old oaks!

Friday looks good for a lakewatch along Lake Erie, so I will likely head there!

Birds and Butterflies This Week

 Things started to pick up finally with bird migration on Wednesday.  I stopped by the south shore nature trail at Mitchell's Bay and found numerous warblers and other things.  Of the nine species in the warbler department, many were Blackburnian.  But, the highlight was a Prairie Warbler.  I was not able to get photos of any warblers, as they were moving quite a bit.  I seem to to do better in the fall migration with Prairie Warblers!

I did, however, get a photo of an Olive-sided Flycatcher.  They too, seem more plentiful in autumn migration.  It is my favourite regular flycatcher!

Later, being optimistic, I checked out Peers Wetland and Reid CA, but found no warblers!

Prairie plantings are showing their flowers this time of year.  At Peers, here are some yellow things.

Cup Plant

Prairie Dock

Tall Coreopsis

Unfortunately, there is a lot of Purple Loosestrife this year mixed in.  You can seen some in the Prairie Dock photo.

Common Buckeye seems regular this summer.  Here is another at Reid CA.

Thursday, I decided to give Point Pelee a shot.  A Zabulon Skipper had been photographed at Blue Heron the day before, so I thought maybe I could see one there.

To let things warm up, I checked out De Laurier trail for birds first thing.  It was a good choice, as it was loaded with warblers at the back side!  Blackburnian was the most numerous, and I only got one poor photo.

Others were moving too quickly on their quest for food to get photos.

I tallied about thirteen species of warblers.  Tennessee came in second place!

I walked west beach trail south of VC.  Not many butterflies though.

American Painted-Lady

I did see a Swamp Darner, but it was too impatient to be photographed.

I then headed back north, and checked out the trail south of NW beach.  While there, I received a text from Rick Mayos that the Zabulon had been refound.  Luckily, I was not far away!

Upon arrival, I saw it right away.  It had similar behaviour to the ones at Reid CA, so I knew what to look for.  Another male, no less.

Ironically, it was first time this was recorded at Point Pelee.  Of the incredible butterfly list at Point Pelee, it was certainly overdue.

After this event, I headed over to Hillman marsh and walked around the shorebird cell.  I did not see much in the way of butterflies though.  A couple more Buckeye.

Crescents were quite numerous, but quite a few Common Checkered-Skippers were flitting around as well.

Before finishing up, I caught sight of this Common Sooty-Wing.

Friday seemed like a boring day, but I headed down to Erieau an Blenheim.  I walked the rail trail, but did not see much at all (except blackbirds!).

Then, headed over to Keith McLean C. L.  Several Bobolinks were on the move there, but not much else.

I headed into Rondeau Park, but then quickly decided I would go over to Blenheim lagoons instead, since some shorebirds were reported.

Upon arrival, some Canada Geese flew overhead and kept going.  Among them was a white one!

Shorebirds were extremely skittish, and I had difficulty keeping on them.  A Wilson's Phalarope was nice to see, but it was too far out, and rather elusive to get photos.

I guess the highlight was a Baird's Sandpiper, which was new for the year, even though expected.  I only had a brief view of it though.  Seemed impossible to get any photographs this day!

The lonely Canvasback was still swimming around endlessly, as it has been all summer.

Today, I stayed fairly close to home.  Mitchell's Bay was a complete bust first thing, so I headed back to Peers and Reid CA.

Reid was terribly wet, as we had another dumping of rain yesterday and last night.  However, one of the Zabulon Skippers was still present!

I thought they were gone, as on my last visit a few days ago, I could not find one.

Not much else, but this Transverse-banded Flower Fly caught my eye.  Although quite common, it is a neat insect.

Some Peck's Skippers finally arrived in the yard yesterday.

But honestly, I am hoping for a Zabulon!  Certainly not out of the question.

In the garden today, I captured in photo a Hidalgo Mason Wasp.  I saw a couple here last year, and found out they are imperiled in Canada.

Nearby was a Mexican Grass-carrying Wasp.  Quite common in the USA and southern Ontario.