Mainly Insects But Other Things Too!

 As the summer rolls on, I continue go somewhere locally every day.  Birds are migrating through and I have seen a few different warblers recently.  There has not been much variety in insects, but here a few recent finds.  Some butterflies are doing well such as Eastern Tailed Blue and Northern Crescent.  There was an explosion of crescents this past week!

Common Ringlet

Crocus Geometer Moth

Eastern Tailed Blue trio

Peck's Skipper

katydid species

skipper with a silver spot

Comma of the east

Eastern version of tailed-blue

Common Whitetail

Dog Day Cicada exoskeleton

Living cicada, probably Linne's

American Pelecinid Wasp

Eastern Pondhawk (female)

Yesterday, I went to Mitchell's Bay first thing and walked both the south nature trail and the north nature trail.  I rarely get to the north version for various reasons.  The north side is different, with lots of open marsh there.

Looking towards St. Anne's Island

This time of year, Purple Martins have gathered to roost in various locations.  The Walpole Island complex marshes are known for one of the largest gathering/roosting spots around.  I could see several hundred from the north trail.  Here is a view of one of the closer groups.

The north end is good for viewing marsh birds such as Common Gallinule.  There was a family unit in view yesterday.

A few shorebirds were here as well.

Today I went a bit farther afield and visited Strathroy sewage lagoons.  An Eared Grebe was reported (the day after I was there of course!) on Friday.  I took a chance that it was there again this morning, and it was.  I missed Eared Grebe last year, and I was not going to miss it again for this year's list!  A bit too distant for decent photos though.

Still lots of shorebirds there, including the Wilson's Phalarope and a Baird's Sandpiper.

While in the Strathroy area, I checked out Clark Wright CA.  There were a few migrant birds there to keep me interested.

Heading back west, I decided to swing down to Wardsville Woods.  A nice little pocket of birds included Canada Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.

Warbler without chestnut sides

There were a few butterflies to check out along the trail.

Pearl Crescent

Peck's Skipper

Great Spangled Fritillary

I photographed this wasp, which I think is a Pitted Mason Wasp, new for me.

Very few odonates....again!

Continuing on, I realized it was the time of year that we check for Smoky Rubyspots.  So down the road I went and stopped at the Tecumseh Monument park along the Thames River.

There was not much, but a couple of smokies were along the edge.

Only a few of its cousin, the American Rubyspot, were there as well.

Always a good spot for mussel hunting here too.  Pimpleback is quite common here.

Also found a mucket and a deertoe.

Mucket

Deertoe

I did not spend much time with mussels, so probably missed something good.

Mussel Mania Along the Thames and Other Observations

 The last couple of days we have seen stellar weather.  Cloudless skies, very calm and just the right temperature!  At least things are finally getting drier with the lack of rain.  There are still some puddles or ponds that have not dried up all summer though.

Yesterday afternoon, I went for a long walk at Reid CA.  It was deathly quiet for birds, and with no wind, it was interesting walking through the quiet woods.  Finally, there are very few mosquitoes! However, on the way back, I encountered a few warblers and vireos to liven things up.

I did see a couple of Royal River Cruisers, but soon they will be no more for another year.  I like photographing them since they are my favourite!

Today, I had no idea what to do, but went for a walk at Peers Wetland first thing. I finally saw some migrant passerines there!  Included were Nashville (4), Tennessee (2), Cape May, Magnolia and Black-throated Green Warblers.

I then had the notion to head down to Keith McLean C. L.  The only shorebirds were a pair of Semi-plovers flying through.  Lots of Bobolinks flying over.  Highlight was a Least Bittern which flew right in front of us.

Some butterflies included an unco-operative Fiery Skipper and Common Checkered-Skipper, but a couple of Common Painted-Lady posed briefly.  They are the more common lady of late.

I wanted to get another look along the Thames River, so went to the Tecumseh Monument park east of Thamesville.  Water level was low enough for a decent look.

Winter Scene of the Area

Quite a few Smoky Rubyspots as expected.

As well as American Rubyspots.

I saw no dragonflies whatsoever!  I had Elusive Clubtail on my mind, but there is still lots of chance for to find one of them.

In one section, I found a multitude of mussels!  No doubt one of the flooding events washed them up.

small portion!

There were too many to sort through, but from what I saw, most were Pimpleback, an imperiled species.  Not imperiled at this spot apparently!

But, I found some others that stood out.  I do not think I have had Black Sandshell (near threatened) here, but there were some today.

Others:

Pink Heelsplitter (Vulnerable)

Deertoe (vulnerable)

Mucket (as opposed to Fatmucket!)

Along the Thames, one can find various plants of interest.  Right away, I noticed some as Wingstem, which is in the rarer category.  I am sure there is a lot more along the Thames than we realize.  It is also found along the Sydenham.

Cup Plant, well past its prime is here as well.

This is an interesting spot honouring Chief Tecumseh, which I have talked about before.  I stop here at various times during the year!

Interpretive signs along the old road allowance promote history in the area.

Late Winter Scene!

Winter Scene!

(Photos from a previous visit).

At home this afternoon, I noticed a peculiar insect on the concrete. It certainly has a weird name, called a Pigeon Horntail!  Never have seen this one before.