More Dickcissels and Things Here and There

I have been out and about, but not as much as I usually do. For the most part, I have not gone far.  Trying to cut down on driving, no ambition, no place to go, busy.  Those are my excuses!

Walked Nicholl's Memorial Forest and wetland on Tuesday. I photographed this dragonfly beside the pond.  Not even sure what it was at the time.

I think it is just a teneral Blue Dasher female.

Last Tuesday I checked out some traditional spots around south Lambton County for Dickcissels.  The first stop was a pasture area on Stanley Line just west of Kimball Road.  Success!  There was one male singing way back, and certainly too far for a photo attempt.

The only other spot was at a communications tower beside the Sombra solar farm.  Although this one was close, it did not co-operate for a photo like most things lately!

By the way, Ospreys nested on this tower this year.  Strangely, I did not know they were there until later.  This is a very tall tower, so I did not look high enough (that is my excuse!).

The next day, I did a similar tour.  The Dickcissel was still beside the solar farm.  There was also one at the barn and pasture on Holt Line just east of Baseline Road.  It too did not want its photo taken.  This is an annual spot as well.

June 11 was museum day, so I did not do any amount of looking around.

Friday, I wanted to go some place completely different.  Komoka Provincial Park on the west side of London was the destination.

It is actually a fairly large park with several access points.  I went to two of them.  I had not been there in several years, other than a stop at the parking lot off Gideon Drive a couple of years ago for the Blue Grosbeak.

I first went to the entrance off Komoka Road.

Great Egret on the pond

Some butterflies:

Common Ringlet

Hackberry Emperor

Then went to the entrance on Gideon Drive.  A whole system of trails are here going into various habitats including mature forest.  I only stayed on the outside.  Nothing special encountered.  Some Long Dash Skippers were along the trails off Gideon Drive.

I headed back via highway 2.  I stopped at Wardsville Woods for a look.  Yet again it was disappointing for odes.  Not sure what is going on this year, but there is certainly a lack of odes and leps in many places.

I did spot a Racket-tailed Emerald at one point.

Just before leaving, an Arrowhead Spiketail made an appearance.

Saturday was yard sale day, so no travelling!  It was a perfect weather day, good for a yard sale, but difficult to pass on being out and about.

Sunday was a rather glum day, but I toured locally.  I did finally see an Osprey at the Sombra solar farm.

A Dickcissel was singing near the Baseline bridge north of Holt Line.  Likely the same bird from a couple of days previous.

I went for a long walk at Reid C. L.  Slim pickings, but it was somewhat cloudy and early in the day.

Eastern Calligrapher

Yesterday I went down Rondeau and Erieau way.  Weather was perfect for being out.  I first checked out Keith McLean C. L.  A pelican had been there a couple days previous, and I was not expecting it to still be there.  But it was!  Fast asleep at first.  One would hardly know that white blob was a pelican.

It did poke its head up a little later to reveal its tell-tale head and beak.

Also went for a walk at McGeachy Pond and the Erieau Marsh trail. Nothing of note.

Today was one of those days I had no place to go.  Just did some yard work and things on the house.

Blue Dasher

Insects 'n Things of Late

 I have been checking out various spots lately for anything of interest.  It is certainly not a banner year for butterflies and odonates.  It has been difficult to find much at all.

Saturday, I checked out Wardsville Woods.  It was quite disappointing.  No spiketails and only a couple of Midland Clubtails.

Midland Clubtail with snack

Some butterflies included Silvery Checkerspot and Giant Swallowtail, among singles of others.

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail

Giant Swallowtail

Tawny-edged Skipper

Sunday it was difficult to find anything.  No sign of the Northern Oak Hairstreaks yet at Reid CA.  The river was running high at Moore WMA, so that flushed away any odes!

Blue-fronted dancer

Blue-fronted Dancer

Yesterday I went down Lake St. Clair way.  I spent some time looking at the Bay off the south shore nature trail, then went for a walk at St. Clair NWA.

Caspian Tern

Of note at the NWA, was a pair of Northern Harriers.  I failed to get the action on photos, but I saw a female flying about, then a male came in with some food in hand.  In mid-air, the male transferred the food to the female!  Never witnessed this before.  The female then circled a bit, then went down into the marsh, assumingly to a nest.

female with the food

Also there was an Osprey.

Today, I checked out south Lambton north of Wallaceburg.  No dickcissels that I could find!  I then went for a walk at Reid CA. Again, things were sparse, and no sign of the Oak Hairstreaks.  They are usually out by now, but things are behind this year.  As well their favourite nectaring plant, hemp-dogbane or whatever you want to call it, was not quite in bloom.  More notably, it is almost wiped out at Reid.  Things are getting quite grown-in there which no doubt is a factor.

Some insects at Reid.

Least Skipper

Black-patched Clepsis Moth

Also stopped by Moore WMA where the water level is down enough to check out the causeway.  Very few odes.  Water was a still a bit high to find mussels, but a few were exposed.

Mapleleaf

 

Pink Heelsplitter

Cliff Swallows were late in arriving near Peers Wetland this spring.  They are building nests under the bridge of late.

Sulphurs on a Cloudless Day

 Friday I opted to go to Point Pelee.  The wind was not good for a Tip Watch but that is where I started!  You never know what may appear, so it was worth a try.  The skies were clear and it was one of the nicer days we have had lately.

I had butterflies on my mind as well since an Ocola Skipper showed up in a yard in Sarnia this week!  After the Tip watch, I had plans to check out some areas for butterflies.

There was not too much movement at the Tip.  A number of Sanderlings were scurrying around, and the only other shorebird type was Semipalmated Plover.

A couple of Ospreys showed up, with one offering a good photo op.

At one point I caught sight of a Prothonotary Warbler coming back in, probably the best bird of the day.

Later I headed up west beach trail.  Hackberry Emperors were very numerous, and during the course of the morning I saw over 200!

Several Orange Sulphurs were flitting about plus Red-spotted Purple and the odd crescent.

There was not much variety in butterflies, as has been the case this summer, but at one point I caught sight of a large yellow one.  I immediately recognized it as a Cloudless Sulphur.  As plain as it is, I find it attractive.

This species is usually on a mission and never stops, but luckily it did at one point as seen above.  I have seen a few of these at Point Pelee over the years.  I even had one pass through my yard in Wallaceburg a number of years ago!

Common Painted-Lady has been showing up all over lately.  Earlier this year there were hardly any!

There were virtually no birds along the west side, so later I walked De Laurier and Anders Footpath and Cactus Field.  I encountered a good flock of birds along Anders that kept me busy for a while.

flycatcher with a Great Crest

Today I went down to Rondeau Park and found a decent fallout of birds along south point trail.  I found about 17 species of warblers and lots of vireos.  Blackpoll seemed to be the dominant warbler today.

The White-eyed Vireo was still singing in the same spot today.  I even saw it this time!

Others have looked for this bird to no avail.  Seems to be an early morning creature of habit, as I have no problem finding it!

Later in the walk, the best warbler of the day was a Golden-winged.

After finishing in the park, I went over to McLean's.  A number of shorebirds were near the road, including a Wilson's Phalarope.

A total of seven Stilt Sandpipers were visible at one point, plus a couple of dowitcher and others.

A bout of sun at home brought out some butterflies.  This tattered Giant Swallowtail stopped by.

Another Common Checkered-Skipper briefly stopped in.  Seems I get several of these coming through.

The rest of the day was rather cloudy and a bit of rain, certainly not expected!  And depressing.

Muggy Monday Meanderings

I did not go far on holiday Monday.  By noon the heat and humidity did me in!  We had some thunderstorms by mid afternoon anyway.
I headed up to Dow Wetlands south of Sarnia first thing.  A few Boblinks were moving around in the grasslands.

There were several dragonflies in the ponds, including Slaty Skimmers.

I then decided to walk at Perch Creek.  I went to look for Broad-winged Skippers, and did find one that never stayed still.  I was hoping for some early Leonard's Skippers, but that may have to wait until next week.
There were few butterflies (the trend this summer), but I did come across a lingering Striped Hairstreak.

There is lots of Culvers Root and Spiked Blazing Star in one area.

Some non-native species such as Elecampane are present as well.

Some common tiny moths that are easily overlooked include the White-striped Black.  I have seen many of these lately.

On the way home, I stopped by Wilkesport and a Royal River Cruiser decided to pose nicely.

Royal Rivers are actually quite common along the north branch of the Sydenham.

Over the pond, an Osprey was making some rounds.

A female Mallard seemed to be taking over duties of looking after the young Hooded Mergansers.