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.

Various Visits and Even More Garden Critters!

 Moving along with the waning summer, I visited Rondeau and Erieau last Monday.  I started with a lakewatch at dog beach, the first of many to come!  It was not too productive, but the long-staying Piping Plover flew right in front of myself and Steve.  It landed further up the beach, but good scope views were obtained.  This bird is unbanded, so it would be interesting to know of its origin.  Good photos can be found on various eBird lists.

I checked out south point trail after the lakewatch.  A few warblers and the like, kept me busy.

Cape May Warbler

Along the beach I looked at a couple of worn and bleached mussels.  Here is an Eastern Pondmussel, which is now imperiled thanks to the alien Zebra Mussel.  Rather broken up and bleached though!

Keith McLean C. L. was next on the docket.  Not much happening!  A good place to find the common Bronze Copper.

Next was the Erieau marsh trail.  Of note, there was a male Redhead acting like a dabbler.  It is missing its lower bill, so it looks like it is panting!

Blenheim lagoons has some shorebirds, or "shorbs" as some birders say.  Included were two Wilson's Phalaropes, but my photos did not turn out.

Baird's Sandpiper

A late day walk at Peers Wetland produced a Mottled Darner, which is somewhat uncommon.  Unfortunately, it took off before a got a decent photo.  I did not realize the species until I got home and looked at the photo!  A nice surprise.

Wednesday I did a long walk at Reid CA.  Still a few Dukes' Skippers!  Latest I have seen them there.

Thursday was a somewhat rainy day.  In fact, way too much rain once again!  I was bound and determined to see a Buff-breasted Sandpiper, so I ended up going to Hillman Marsh where two were reported.  With all the rain, the shorebird cell has lots of water, despite a bean crop within.

It took a while, but I did find the two buffies along with many other shorebirds. Too distant for a good photo.

On the way there, it was obvious there was excessive rain overnight.  Almost every field was a lake.  I heard that around 10 cm of rain fell in a few hours overnight.  Other parts of the country are not getting enough!

Friday I went up to Ipperwash on the north wind to do a lakewatch. It was a complete bust!  I checked out various spots on the way home, but nothing of note.  Better days ahead no doubt.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Today, I went to Mitchell's Bay first thing to walk the south shore nature trail.  There were lots of warblers and others to keep me busy.  Nothing noteworthy, but nice to work through a good number of birds.

Before going home, I went for a walk at Peers Wetland.  There were a few things to keep me occupied, including my favourite flycatcher, an Olive-sided Flycatcher.  I always do better with them in the fall migration!

Olive-sided in gloomy weather

A few Lance-tipped Darners were working the grounds, but I did NOT find another Mottled.

Off and on, I look at the garden on sunny days.  It is incredible the diversity of insects, and each week I seem to find something new.  Some of these are extremely small, so difficult to photograph.  (Note, some of these are not confirmed on iNaturalist yet).

Here is one I photographed yesterday, which is apparently an imperiled wasp called a Hidalgo Mason Wasp.

There are a multitude of wasps and bees that visit the garden.  Some are aliens of course.

European Paper Wasp

Ligated Furrow Bee

Silky Striped Sweat Bee

Confusing Furrow Bee

Common Thick-leg Fly

Common Picture-winged Fly

Been Leaf Beetle

European Tube Wasp

Paraprosopis

Small Milkweed Bug (too small for good photo!)

Red-banded Leafhopper

Of course there is a variety of butterflies.  Yesterday, a Common Painted-Lady visited the garden, and was still there today.  Probably first one I have seen this year!

Others:

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Common Checkered-Skipper

Silver-spotted Skipper

And while looking at the insects today, a Ruby-throated Hummingbird stopped by.