From Darners and Skimmers, To a Phalarope and a Pelee Prairie

 Have not done too much lately, as the summer wanes.  This past Sunday was a nice day as I checked out Port Lambton.  This classic laker was downbound, a favourite of many!

Wilfred Sykes

Went for an early morning walk at Reid CA again. Darners are more plentiful right now, especially Lance-tipped and Common Green.

I almost thought I had a Comet Darner, but the immature female Common Green can be a look-alike!  The main difference is that the green darner has an "bulls-eye" above and in between the eyes.  Comet is a bit larger as well.

Dukes' Skippers have done well this year, unlike many other skippers.  I still had a couple fairly fresh-looking ones this week.  Probably latest I have seen them.

Monday, I checked out Keith McLean C. L.  Although the place always has potential there was nothing of note on this particular visit.  Very little shorebird habitat this year, unfortunately. If it does not stop raining we will not have any.

Then, it was on to Blenheim lagoons.  Goal was to see the Red-necked Phalarope that had arrived the previous day. It was there, among many other shorebirds.  Better than it has been.

Two Baird's Sandpipers were still present.

Checked out Erieau marsh trail as well.  A few warblers in the tangles.

In the afternoon it was still too nice to be home, so I went up to walk Nicholl's Memorial Forest and Wetland at Wilkesport.  The usual insects were there.

Twelve-spotted Skimmer

Slender Spreadwing

Less common, were two Slaty Skimmers.

Eastern-tailed Blue has done well this year.  There were dozens at Nicholl's.

Monday night we had heavy rain, something we did not need!  Most of Tuesday was rainy, so there was not much to do or see.

Today, it was down to Point Pelee.  I needed a good filling of warblers, so I thought that was the best option!

I started at the Tip, but nothing was moving on the lake.  

However, the trees at the Tip were being worked by lots of warblers and flycatchers.  Of note, a Prairie Warbler was among them!

This bird spent the whole time in the area while I was there.  I heard that it was still there in mid afternoon.

At one point, I noticed something hanging high in a tree.  I did not pay much attention at first, but then realized it was a bat!  It appeared to be a Silver-haired. I have seen this and several other species at Pelee before.

(highly cropped!)

I walked back west beach trail.  Butterflies and dragonflies were in better numbers that previous visits, but nothing outstanding.

Tawny Emperor

Common Green Darners were quite plentiful there, and all the way home!  Here is one.  Note the "bulls-eye" that I mentioned previously.

Spot-winged Gliders are numerous right now.

I checked out De Laurier next.  There were a few warblers, but highlight was the sighting of two Olive-sided Flycatcher. The first one even sang once, getting my attention.  It is my favourite flycatcher.

Sleepy Hollow had a lot of warblers as well.  Numerous were Blackburnian, Cape May and Bay-breasted, tripping the eBird filter!

I could have spent more time in the park, but decided to head home after a quick check of northwest beach area.

August Anecdotes: Bugs and Birds!

 The summer is certainly passing by very quickly it seems!  Taking advantage of every day, I always go somewhere in search of interesting things.

Wednesday I stayed in the local area.  An early morning walk at Peers Wetland revealed some resident birds.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Naturally, I went to Reid CA as well!  No migrant birds that I could find, but the usual insects were easily found.

Dukes' Skipper

Broad-winged Skipper

Lance-tipped Darner

Royal River Cruisers were too busy "cruising", so no photos this day!

In the afternoon, I stopped at the old work shop at Port Lambton to see how things were going.  Nearby at Brander Park, I came across this Orange Mint Moth.  They are very tiny, but an attractive creature that I always liked.

Thursday, I headed Rondeau way, first stopping at Keith McLean C. L.  There is little shorebird habitat there this year, but a puddle beside the field had a few birds, including Gimpy, the Short-billed Dowitcher.

Lesser Yellowlegs

In a last minute decision, I went into the Park.  Actually I had not been there since around the first of June!  I opted to walk out marsh trail, which was easy walking since they had gone through with a Bush Hog in the not too distant past.

It took a while before I came across some migrant warblers, but the first one I looked at was a Prairie!  Unfortunately, I was looking into the sun, and there were too many branches in the way to get a photo. Nice to see them in fall migration.

Also saw a few Cape May, a Bay-breasted, Tennessee, and a redstart.

Like many places, things have really grown in.  This rainy summer certainly has helped in that regard.

Dock at the old half-way parking lot

Some butterflies were seen, including three species on part of a dead fish.

Viceroy, Spicebush Swallowtail, Tiger Swallowtail

Friday, it was down to Hillman Marsh for the long walk, which I always enjoy.  Potential for something good is always there....but not when I am it seems!

At the boardwalk area, I decided to make a quick check for Dukes' Skipper in a certain spot.  Well, that did not take long!

During the long walk, the Dukes' cousin, Broad-winged Skippers, were indeed plentiful.  I saw at least 25!

Some other leps:

Bronze Copper

Common Checkered-Skipper

Couture Dyke is not part of this walk, but one can look over that way in the distance.  I could see lots of egrets.  Too bad I did not go there after my walk, as on my way home, there was word of a Snowy Egret!  In fact, a second one was seen that evening.  Cannot get 'em all!

Always looking for anything interesting, I photographed these flower flies.  Turns out they were Long-nosed Swamp Flies, which I had never looked at before.

Today.....you guessed it, I had to go back to Hillman Marsh to try and see a Snowy Egret.  I checked Couture Dyke first, but there were no egrets in the marsh.  Several were on the sand spit though, with hundreds of gulls, terns and cormorants.

While there, I got word that one of the Snowy Egrets was near Hillman bridge.  Next stop was the bridge, where I could see the Snowy Egret in the distance.  Mission accomplished.

small white spot is a Snowy Egret!

I took the long way home, and stopped at Blenheim Lagoons.  A good number of shorebirds were present, including two Wilson's Phalaropes in the sprinkler cells.

LEYE !

The Baird's Sandpiper was still present, and in fact there may have been two.  The birds moved around quite a bit.

That was it for running around today.  WAMBO is this weekend in Wallaceburg, so I visited with many people along the waterfront.  Many of my "projects" were in the show!

Noticed this tiny insect in the garden today:

Pennsylvania Ambush Bug

Migrants/Mussels and More

 The summer is rolling by....probably too quickly!  Migrant birds are increasing in number now and moving quickly south.  

On Friday I went to north Lambton in hopes of seeing some of the reported birds.  The weather forecast was depressing, but as usual it was wrong and it turned out mostly sunny.

Essentially it was a waste of time for birds and insects, as I found virtually nothing and it was very quiet.  The shorebirds of Thursday such as Avocets and Willets had moved on!  Forest lagoons was rather quiet compared to the previous day.  Better days ahead I hope.

On the way home, I stopped by Moore WMA again as I find it an interesting place.  Once one gets through the "Ragweed Forest" (you never saw such a thick patch of tall ragweed here!), you are at the river crossing.  Here I spend much time.

The odes have decreased in numbers, but a few Blue-tipped Dancers were seen.

I always look at the mussel shells in hopes of finding something different.  I did find a Fluted Shell, a nice-looking creature.  Note the fluted ridges at bottom right.

Deertoe is very common here, as well as Mapleleaf.

weathered Mapleleaf

Fragile Papershell can be very large, and is the most common one found here.

I have found other species in the past including Pink Heelsplitter among others.

Later in the afternoon, I was desperate to see a decent bird, so I went near St. Clair NWA to see the Willet.

The north winds kicked in late yesterday, which was a good indication that migrants would be brought in overnight.  There had not been much in the way of passerines lately.  I went down to Rondeau in pleasant weather and indeed found some fresh migrants.  It was nice not to be in hot and humid air!

Best find was a Prairie Warbler, sometimes difficult to find in fall migration.  Luckily this fellow was right in front of me.

I had other warblers such as muliples of Blackburnian and Black-and-White.

The lake was  very active for a change with hundreds of gulls and terns.  Nothing of note though!  There were even some Common Loons on the move, totalling eight on my watch.

I also stopped by Blenheim Lagoons to look at shorebirds.  Most were Lesser Yellowlegs.  No Wilson's Phalarope or White-rumped Sandpiper which keep being reported any time I am not there(!).

The Redhead ducks are still present.

It was so nice, I went for a long walk at Reid CA this afternoon.  It was such a relief to be out in cooler air and with less mosquitoes.  It has been so uncomfortable all summer fighting mosquitoes.  Worst I have ever seen them!

I had doubts any Dukes' Skippers were still flying, but lo and behold I found one right away.  My latest for there.

I took the long walk around the back field, which I like doing.  My friends, Royal River Cruisers, were out and about and I even saw a pair in the "wheel" position.  Never got a photo of that though.

I often get out for late day walks at Reid during the week.  There is one spot I find Cardinal Flower, which certainly catches your eye..

I finally added Common Sootywing to my Reid lep list this week!

I am now at 55 species of butterflies for the property.

I got to McKeough as well on evening.  Very quiet for odes this year.

Twelve-spotted Skimmer

Orange Bluet

Amberwings did well this year though.

Another Reid Royal...

On to another day...........