Lambton Leps: Elfins, Duskywings and a Marble!

I had a window of opportunity to head up to North Lambton today before the usual weekend weather set in.  It was a bit hazy, but enough sun and warmth to bring out some butterflies.  It was a tiring day, as I checked as many areas as possible and probably walked 30 km!  I was not able to leave Wallaceburg until about 09:15, so it worked out well for what I wanted to see.
It was not a birding trip, so my targets were to find elfins and duskwings, and especially Olympia Marble. I did watch for birds of course and did come across a Prairie Warbler at Pinery, for example.

I headed straight for the beach accesses at Pinery.

I came across quite a few elfins, but all appeared to be Hoary this time.

I do not see many elfins, as there are none in Chatham-Kent and south Lambton!  As well, we are usually along Lake Erie looking for rare birds in May.

Some duskywings appeared to be only Juvenal's.  I even looked for Dusted Skipper to no avail.  However, I did not check one key area for Dusted.  Perhaps another time!

There were many Hoary Elfins.

I did not come across Olympia Marble in Pinery, which was my main target for the day.

After Pinery, I went over to Port Franks and visited the Karner Blue Sanctuary.

Wild Lupine

Here, there were dozens of duskywings!  I think it was the best day I had there for this family of skippers.  I saw three or four species.
Duskywings are notoriously difficult to ID sometimes, so I hope I got them right.
Sleepy was quite abundant, and I saw probably a dozen of these.

Juvenal's was there of course, with some well-marked.

I may have seen Columbine's as well.  These are very similar to Wild Indigo, but a bit smaller.  Red Columbine, foodplant, was fairly abundant.  Wild Indigo Duskywings can be found here as well.

I am not sure I saw a Dreamy Duskywing which is quite similar to Sleepy.  At least I did not photograph one.  I have seen them there in the past though.
This one is a bit dicey.

At one point, I saw a small white butterfly in the distance.  I knew right away what I had, but it took some time to get close and finally see it perched.

Olympia Marble it was!  😊👍

It has been a very long time since I have seen one, and in fact I could not tell you when that was.  They fly in mid spring and usually I am not up to north Lambton much at that time.  Same for the elfins which fly only a short time.

Also at Port Franks, I came across an Eastern Pine Elfin.  It was a beauty!

Later, I checked one area at Ipperwash Beach.  I saw a couple more Eastern Pine Elfins.

There is Western Pine Elfin, but one has to go farther north in the province.

No Olympia Marbles there either.

It was getting later in the afternoon, so I did not check the one trail at Ipperwash Dunes and Swales, which could have revealed more things such as Roadside Skipper.
I wanted to stop at some other areas on the way home, including Dow Wetlands, where we can find Upland Sandpiper.

I went home via St. Clair Parkway, as I needed to stop by to see some friends.  Along the way, a tardy Common Loon was off the CF Industries outflow.  Not unusal, as the odd ones can be found into summer around here.

Get ready for weekend weather......!  I am beat.

Bearberry at Pinery

North Lambton Tour and Rondeau Rarities

I did some touring around this weekend.  Friday I went up to north Lambton County to check out Pinery, Port Franks and Ipperwash.  I was hoping to see some butterflies such as Olympia Marble and some elfins.
I first checked out the Heritage Forest at Port Franks for some birds.  It started out nice and sunny, but by the time I was done there, typical weekend weather rolled in.  It killed my chances for seeing many butterflies later!
I had a good variety of birds in the forest, including standard birds such as Acadian Flycatcher (4) and Hooded Warbler (4).  In the forest, I had no luck in taking photos, as usual.

Acadian Flycatcher

Several species of warblers including Mourning and Blue-winged.  No Cerulean this time though, although they do nest there.

I then moved into Pinery Provincial Park.  It was somewhat on the quiet side, but I did see a variety of birds. No doubt the crappy weather was a factor.

It looks like Prairie Warbler is there once again for the season.  I found one singing along the first dune ridge at P9.  They are always found in the first dune ridge somewhere along the Pinery beach.

At one point I saw a Common Raven fly over.  Seems they are quite regular in north Lambton anymore.

I checked for Dusted Skipper, but the cool overcast weather kept them at bay.

I then moved to Karner Blue Sanctuary where duskywings can be found in numbers.  Usually you can get four species this time of year.  I only saw two Sleepy Duskywings.

At one point I thought I had something unique, but it was just an azure.  However, it was the "marginata" form which is heavily marked and brighter blue on the upper side.  Actually a very attractive insect!

I briefly checked Ipperwash Forested Dunes and Swales, but it was deathly quiet.  From other's eBird lists there, it has been rather quiet  compared to what it should be.

Just before getting home, I stopped by Peers Wetland and found a good variety of warblers including Canada, Mourning and Wilson's among others.

As well, I spotted a Common Nighthawk sleeping in typical fashion.

Saturday I went down to Rondeau Park and sloshed through the water on south point trail.  I just did this trail since I wanted to get over to Erieau and try for the Neotropic Cormorant.

Several Northern Waterthrushes were still around, and lots of Tennessee and Blackpoll Warblers.

Warbling Vireo

A good number of shorebirds were along the east beach, including lots of Ruddy Turnstones.

Over near Erieau, I tried for the recent Laughing and Franklin's Gulls.  They were just too far out and heat haze was a factor.
The Neoptropic Cormorant was perched in a willow at the Erieau pier with its ugly cousins.  It was a new Rondeau bird for me, so nice to check off.  Now that I have seen it, and most others have, it can leave!  lol.  I did not even attempt a photo due to lighting issues.

I did a quick check of the gulls again with no luck so eventually ended up at Hillman Marsh.  Nothing special there, but one has to take the chance!

I had heard that the gulls were being seen again near Erieau, so went back.  I tried in vain, but the heat haze was even worse.  There are practically no places to pull off in the that area since roads are poorly designed.  As well, traffic was ridiculous with people in a hurry to go nowhere.
I gave up in disgust!

Today I went back to Rondeau under cooler conditions.  South point trail was not bad, but the interior of the park was very quiet for migrants.  More Alder Flycatchers were in, as well as Red-eyed Vireos.
Various warblers included a few Mourning.
World's worst photo:

The shorebirds were still along the east beach, but no rarities.

I came across a couple of Olive-sided Flycatcher.  One was silent but the other revealed itself by calling.

A few thrushes were still lurking in the woods.  Gray-cheeked seemed to outnumber Swainson's today.

With overcast conditions, I checked for the gulls again near Erieau.  I managed to find a spot to set up a scope along Erieau Road.  I was just in time, as I quickly picked out an adult Franklin's Gull. I just got on the second cycle Laughing Gull when everything took off to the lake.  I was there less than ten minutes, so I lucked out!

Middle gull is a Franklin's

I find mid June good for gulls, especially at Point Pelee, so who knows what else there will be to see this spring.  Last year I found a Black-headed Gull at Point Pelee!

Blenheim lagoons had about 70 Semipalmated Sandpipers and one Least.  Nothing else of note.

Now that we are near the end of May, time to fly off to other things such as breeding birds and butterflies.

Getting Dusted at Pinery and Skunked at Joany's Woods

Today was the annual Pinery/Port Franks butterfly count.  I have attended most since 2000.  I was in company with Pete Chapman, Paul Carter and Ann White.  Usually I stay within Pinery, but decided today to join Pete Chapman in his usual area.

We found butterflies to be extremely scarce today, but we persevered.  

Great Spangled Fritillery

Milbert's Tortoiseshell

One of the main stops was Joany's Woods north of Sylvan just into Middlesex County.  Usually there are lots of things to see, but it was not to be today.

Joany's Woods

Just into our walk, a momma skunk greeted us along the trail.

Silvery Checkerspots were the most numerous there it seemed.

There was not much else of interest to report.  Birds can be interesting, but even they were scarce today.  Often we see Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.  Blue-winged Warblers are common in the area, and we encountered two.  Red-breasted Nuthatch was heard.

Bobolinks were common in the countryside.

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Near Sylvan, we went into an interesting meadow area, but did not see much.  Our only hairstreak of the day was a fresh Banded at this stop.

An American Woodcock was flushed at one point, but of course too fast for the camera.

Near Sylvan

Since we had to go to the Pinery VC to turn in results, we allowed time to look for Dusted Skipper in a traditional location.  In short order we found two, then another.

It is the only area in Ontario that Dusted Skipper can be found fairly regularly.  By this date, they are nearly done their cycle and rather worn.

It was a hot day!