Travels This Week: Insects and Other Things

 Monday was a clear day as I headed to the Strathroy area.  I walked the conservation area within the town.  It was a bit early in the day for insects, however it was a place I wanted to walk.

Quite a few Appalachian Browns were flying, which appeared to be the most numerous butterfly.

 

This bluet was all too familiar along the river.

A pair of Red-headed Woodpeckers is nesting in the area.

Next stop was the sewage lagoon, where I walked around the north pond.

Common Gallinules nest in the south pond, and one was visible.

There were not as many insects as I had hoped, but a few Widow Skimmers were flying.

Since Shetland was on the way home, I made a quick stop at the boat launch where we can find a good variety of odonates, among other things.  There was not much flying, as has been the case in most locations this season.

Stream Bluets were the more numerous damsel.

Dancers included Violet, Blue-tipped and a single Powdered.  Too early in the season for the rarities.

Just before getting home, I stopped by Reid Conservation Lands, but not surprisingly there were no hairstreaks.

Tuesday, I was fairly close to home, checking out some local areas and listing for the bird atlas.  I found a family of Pied-billed Grebes at Stewart Wetland.

I made another stop at Reid for a longer walk.  A female Slaty Skimmer posed nicely at one point.

Wednesday I was fairly busy with various things, but later in the morning I ventured over to Wardsville Woods.  It was rather dismal for odonates, but early on I found this pair of Cobra Clubtails in the wheel position.  This was the best I could do for photos.

This unit stuck together, but then flew off out of sight!

At the pond, there was very little activity, but this Rainbow Bluet was nice to see.

I had hoped for Double-striped Bluets, but I have not come across any yet this year.

Violet Dancer is here as well.

There were a few Twelve-spotted Skimmers around the pond.

Very few butterflies....

Northern Pearly-eye

At home, another Slaty Skimmer stopped by.  Not often I see them at home.

Today, I had to go somewhere for a long walk, and Rondeau's marsh trail was the best option for a sunny morning.

Nothing special appeared though!

Swamp Spreadwing

American Lady

Hobomok Skipper

Eastern Bluebird

Tule Bluet

Later on, I came across this fairly large Eastern Foxsnake.

While down that way, I decided to go to Clear Creek and check out the quarry.  Upon arrival, the clouds had rolled in and a sudden unscheduled rain came in.  As a result, my visit was cut very short.  There was not much flying anyway.  A familiar sign this season.

I did catch a photo of a Westfall's Slender Bluet.  I had no time to look closely though as the rain came down very suddenly.

Better days ahead....as long as the weather co-operates!

Insects Here And There

 Every day I have to go somewhere!  Life is passing by very quickly, so one needs to get out as much as possible.  Some days I have no idea where to go, but I just get in the car and see where it leads me.  Lately, it has been all about insects.

Tuesday, I ended up down at Rondeau.  I went for a walk at McLean's first thing to kill some time, before heading into the park to walk out marsh trail.

I had the idea to look for sedge skippers, especially Mulberry Wing.  Just like every place else anymore, things have really grown in and not much marsh type vegetation is visible close to the trail.  However, I lucked out with one of my targets.

Early on, I photographed this skipper.  Turns out it was a Mulberry Wing!

There were quite a few Appalachian Browns along the way.

Usually one will see its cousin the Eyed Brown here as well.  These like wetter areas compared to the Appalachian.  However, I could not detect one.

Later on, I encountered a few Mulberry Wings but they were difficult to keep track of, not to mention photograph..

There was not much in the way of odes, but some Tule Bluets were along the way.

As well, a White-faced Meadowhawk made an appearance.

Before getting home, I had the notion to check for Dukes' Skippers at Reid CA.  It was no problem finding a couple, but I never obtained a good photo.

Wednesday, I wanted to check Shetland CA for Blue-ringed Dancers and whatever else was around.  I killed some time first thing at Wilkesport.  A couple of Banded Hairstreaks were out and about.

Note the photo above a bit of the upperwing side is showing.  The upperside is very plain and nothing to look at!  You will always see hairstreaks with wings closed.  I once saw a hairstreak that kept its wings open, and it was non-descript.

At Shetland, the water level had receded to a reasonable level after the excessive rains.  It was not problem finding some Blue-ringed Dancers.  They had likely just come out.

This species is critically imperiled in Ontario and is only found in certain spots along the east branch of the Sydenham River (like Florence, Shetland and at the Mosside boat launch), and along the Ausable near Rock Glen.

I found the other dancers and bluets except Blue-tipped.  It was a bit early in the season for Dusky Dancer though I think.

Powdered Dancer

Blue-fronted Dancers

Rainbow Bluet

Violet Dancer

There were many Stream Bluets as always, but I did not try to photograph any.

After finishing here, I made another visit to Reid CA since it was not too much out of the way.  I found Dukes' again, but could never get a photo.

Another target was to get a photo of a Royal River Cruiser.  I caught sight of one, and it disappeared to the side where I knew it had gone to perch.  However, something else caught my eye at that very spot.  A Flag-tailed Spinyleg!

This is the first one I have seen at Reid CA.  Being another critically imperiled species, it is found at a couple of spots on the north Sydenham, a few spots on the east branch.  There is even a record at Komoka near London and one on the Thames near Chatham.  I am only going by iNaturalist records though for these.

I then looked for the cruiser with my trained eye and found it perched!

Thursday, I headed to the Lake St. Clair area and walked the south shore nature trail at Mitchell's Bay.  Lots of Tule Bluets are here.

I then went over to St. Clair NWA.  I never see much here anymore, but checked it out anyway.  Marsh Wrens are doing well here.

Later in the morning, I went up to McKeough CA and found some Flag-tailed Spinylegs.  Not much else though.

Today, I ended up at Hillman Marsh and Point Pelee.  Seems I have no luck at Pelee anymore and is usually a waste of time.

Snowberry Clearwing

At Hillman, I looked for sedge skippers at the boardwalk area.  Several Broad-winged were flying.

I have seen Dukes' here as well, but not today.  However, seems I photographed a possible Dion Skipper.  I never saw the underwing, so that made things difficult.

The upper side is remarkably similar to Black Dash, which I thought at first.  However, this one seemed large, which Dion is compared to Black Dash.  Oh well, it made things interesting!

There was also a multitude of Eyed Browns here.  As mentioned above, they like wetter areas compared to Appalachian, but I did see both.