September Stuff and More Rain Events

 Time for another blog post I suppose!  But not much to talk about lately.

Last Friday I went down to Rondeau and dealt with some rain.  There was a fair number of birds, but all expected.  I did a bit of a lakewatch at dog beach first thing, but little was moving.

Quite a few birds were moving through the parking lot.  This Great-crested Flycatcher stopped briefly.

About 18 species of warblers were on south point trail, including Blackpoll which was the most common.  Not chance for photos due to rain and bad lighting!

One of the most common ladies' tresses is showing well now.  Great Plains can be found throughout the park.

On Saturday, a stiff NW wind was forecast, so I headed up to Kettle Point.  Unfortunately, there was relentless rain!  There were brief periods where it stopped, but it kept coming.  

As a result, it was very uncomfortable and soaking wet!  As well, it curtailed the number of birds we saw.

Rainbows showed a couple of times.

However, there were some highlights, including a close Long-tailed Jaeger.  Photos were taken by another birder which can be found on eBird.  This bird was swimming on the water for a while, then eventually got up passing in front of us.

We also saw a Parasitic Jaeger fairly close just before that.  A couple of other distant jaegers remained unidentified.

Red-necked Phalaropes were around, and we caught sight of one as it laboured in the wind in front of us.

It would have been nice to stay there longer, but it was just too miserable and we eventually decided to head out.  There was no rain inland of course!

On the way home, I stopped by Marthaville Habitat Management Area to eat my lunch, and dry out during a walk.

Here are some insects encountered there:

Common Painted-Lady

Slender Spreadwing

White-faced Meadowhawk

It was nice later in the afternoon for a walk at Peers Wetland.  The place is back to "dead" mode!

Yesterday, I ended up at Sarnia.  It was a beautiful day, but no birds to speak of.  The John D. Leitch was downbound after layup.  This ship is likely in its final year, being the last holdout of the old Upper Lakes Shipping.  Not the most attractive design!

Not many insects in the garden lately.  This Hornworm Tachnid Fly was working the garden late yesterday.

Today 'seemed' like a good day to check out Rondeau.  Not really though, as there were very few birds!

Only a handful of warblers and vireos were on south point trail and elsewhere, among other things.

Over at Keith McLean C. L., things are looking better for shorebirds.  Only four Greater Yellowlegs were there today though.  I suspect a Hudsonian Godwit will show soon!

I am still seeing Fiery Skipper there.

As well, lots of Common Checkered-Skippers were out today.

In the history department, the Great Lakes passenger steamer South American burned on this day in 1925 at Holland Michigan.  It was rebuilt and sailed until the 1960's.

I recall seeing this ship and here is the evidence!  Albeit a very poor photo at Seager Park on the St Clair River, late afternoon looking into the sun.

1965

It was eventually towed to Camden, New Jersey on the Delaware River.  I actually saw it in July 1984 when my father and I took a trip to Philadelphia.  It was under the steel structure at Camden, New Jersey as seen near the left of the photo (barely visible).  Note balloon pollution!

KP Lakewatch and September Sightings

 Last Wednesday there was a decent NNW wind, so I decided to head up to Kettle Point (KP).  By the time I arrived, it was stronger than I anticipated!  Unfortunately it was raining, and remained so much of the stay.

A couple of jaegers and a large flock of Hudsonian Godwits has already been seen before my arrival, so it looked promising.  (There are decent photos on other observer's eBird lists if you want to check them out.)

Interestingly, it turned out that not a lot was moving that day, but eventually we did see more jaegers.  A total of seven Parasitic were tallied, and three or four unidentified.  A single Hudsonian Godwit flew by, and a Red-necked Phalarope struggling in the wind topped the list for notables.

I did not take any photos, as it was quite miserable with the rain most of the watch.  I should have taken a photo of the lake off the point, as it differs completely from what it used to be.

KP in better times

KP from the Reef!

The above photos show the reef that was visible in lower water days.  We could walk out about a kilometre.  None of this is visible today!

Thursday morning was quite nice and I checked out the trail at Mitchell's Bay.  I started at the north end for a change!  A fair number of warblers, but American Redstart seemed to be the most dominant.  One was tail-less!

I look at the garden on sunny days, and a new insect for the list included an Oblique Streaktail.

Lots of Peck's Skippers are appearing.

To kick off September, I went to Erieau on Friday.  Starting at the marsh trail, I found it a bit quiet.  A distant American Golden Plover was in the adjacent field.  Always nice to see.  We seem to find fewer and fewer of these anymore.

It was then on to the lagoons, where there was a good number of shorebirds in the sprinkler cell.  A couple of Pectoral Sandpipers had orange at the base of the bill, which made one look twice.

There were four Baird's, four Stilt and about seven White-rumped Sandpipers among others.

In the middle pond, we spotted two Red-necked Phalaropes doing their thing.  They seem to be having a good year, as many have been seen in several locations.

It was still early in the day, so I headed over to Hillman Marsh for a long walk.  I found it a bit quiet though!  I had no luck in finding notables.  I drove right by a Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (again!). Common Checkered-skippers seemed to be more abundant.

Also saw a Red-spotted Purple.

Other birders were out and about around Hillman as well.

At home, an American Painted-Lady was in the garden.

Yesterday was a rather quiet day, checking local spots.  Mosquitoes kept visits short! (way too much rain this summer!).

Lance-tipped Darner at Peers

This Bi-lobed Looper Moth hid well on Evening Primose at Peers Wetland.

Today, I headed down to Rondeau Park for a lakewatch and a walk at south point trail.  With the balmy weather, things were rather quiet.

I came across this little Fox Snake at one point.

I headed home by mid morning, but took a detour over to Thamesville for a quick look at the riverbank.  I found about three Smoky Rubyspots right away in the small area I could access.  River is still running high, so there was not much access.

A nice Shadow Darner was nearby, but it did not pose long enough to get photographed.

Not much happening in the garden today, but a European Drone Fly was new. It was windy, so difficult to get sharp photos.

Here is another bee.

Pugnacious Leafcutter Bee

With southwest winds forecast till the end of the week, there will be little movement from the north.  Perhaps something from the south will appear as a result of the recent hurricane!

🌀

Here And There and More Garden Critters

 This past Thursday I went to Mitchell's Bay quite early.  The south shore trail is nice in the morning for lighting.  There were quite a few warblers along the trail to keep things interesting.  Too active to pose for photos!

An Osprey made a close pass along the shoreline.

Some blackbirds were going over first thing, and among them was a Yellow-headed.  Not too surprising at that locale!

Later on I went for a walk at Reid CA.  I was still seeing Dukes' Skippers.

A couple of Royal River Cruisers stopped briefly.

Nearby, a Lance-tipped Darner posed nicely.

In the woods, I came across this wood aster.  Not entirely certain what species.  Even though I put it on iNaturalist nobody wants to ID it.  It could be Schreber's Wood Aster, which is rare. But then, Large-leaved Aster is similar. I had hoped someone would help me out.

Friday, I fumbled around quite a bit first thing, but then decided to head up to Ipperwash and Kettle Point.  Turns out I should have went to Kettle Point first thing!  The wind was howling out of the NW, making for a good lakewatch.

I went to Ipperwash Beach first thing, but there was not a lot of activity, although a couple of very distant jeagers were visible.

After that, I walked Dunes and Swales.  It was birdless!  I came across this insect which I though was interesting.  Only known by its latin name.

Panorpa subfurcata

I always like seeing Cardinal Flower this time of year.

I then went to Kettle Point, where Sean Macey had been watching the lake for a few hours.  He had already had several jaegers and three Sabine's Gulls!

Again, much of the stuff was way out, but we did see four Parasitic Jaegers (two and then two).

It is early in the season, and interesting that many of the jaegers already seen this summer are Parasitic.  Usually, Long-tailed is the dominant species!

At one point, I was pretty sure I had two Sabine's, but they were just too distant to be certain.

Saturday I checked out Keith McLean C. L. and Blenheim lagoons.  A few shorebirds were at McLean's, and lots at the lagoons.

At one point, a Peregrine Falcon came in and flushed all the shorebirds!

Also I have been looking at insects in the garden.

Snowberry Clearwing Moth

Ithaca Clearwing Moth

European Tube Wasp

Peck's Skipper

Today I checked out local CA's.  Pretty dead for migrants!

I did find two Dukes' Skippers at Reid.  Latest I have had them I think.  This one is showing its age.

It will be interesting to see how late I can see these.  Perhaps this was the last day!

I looked at the asters again, and found more.