Recent Tidbits

I have not had much to report in the last week here on this forum.  Since I am posting daily on Facebook, there is some overlap there!

I have been to Mitchell's Bay a few times, Rondeau a couple of times, and the usual local places several times.  Not much to photograph on the those visits!  I mainly look for things of interest.

Last Friday, I went for a long walk out Rondeau's marsh trail to Long Pond.  It was more for exercise than anything.  There were about eight species of migrant warblers, and a few flycatchers.

The only shorebird other than Killdeer was a Solitary Sandpiper at the end of my walk right by the start of the trail.

Here are a couple of butterflies seen (or parts thereof).

Spicebush Swallowtail

Red Admiral

Saturday morning it threatened rain, and eventually it did rain!

View from Peers Wetland of incoming storm

Sunday I went down Blenheim and Erieau way.  The lagoons had basically the same shorebirds, plus a pair of Red-necked Phalaropes.  Seems to be a good year so far for them.  Last year I completely missed the species!  This year I have seen six so far.

In the afternoon, I went for a walk through the woods at Reid Conservation Lands.  I kept an eye out for anything of interest.

This bright red fungus caught my eye.  It is Red Raspberry Slime Mold.  Needed the macro setting to get this photo.

The Twinleaf plants are still showing, soon to disappear until next spring.

Other things seen:

Red-tailed Hawk feather

Ghost Pipe

Leopard Frog

Common Checkered-Skipper

Monday was cloudy off and on, so I did not do much.  Did a lot of driving around!  But of course I did not see much.

Green Cone-headed Planthopper

Monarch

Prairie Dock at Peers Wetland

Today was quite nice as I headed down to Rondeau Park.  I suspected it would be a good day for birds.....and it was!  I spent most of the time on south point trail.  There were lots of warblers, vireos and flycatchers.  

I tallied 12 species of warblers.  Cape May Warblers were bountiful, as I counted 24.  Highlight was a Connecticut Warbler just before getting back to the parking lot.  Although it was quite co-opreative, I could not get a clear shot with the camera.  Here is the best photo:

In the spring, we may hear them singing, but they remain unseen.  That was the case this past spring!

South point trail has a new sign.  There is no maintenance beyond the "S-curve".  Beyond that, it is extremely grown-in, now hardly recognizable.

All for now.....

More Running Around and Some Bonuses

 I have been visiting various places in the last week.  Seems like a lot of running around and not finding much of note (until today)!

Last Friday I headed up to north Lambton and checked out the entire Ipperwash Forested Dunes and Swales trails.  Once again it was almost devoid of birds.  Not sure what is going on with that place!  I was looking more for insects though.

Cardinal Flower

Of note, I found this Huron Shore Bee Fly.

Perhaps I have unknowingly seen it before, but it is rather uncommon.  Seen in dune habitats, I suppose it got its name from this area.  However, it can be seen elsewhere.  There is a Rondeau record, Long Point, and it is seen in the NE United States.

In any case, the walk gave me some much-needed exercise!

Next day it was fairly local.  I took a walk at Reid C. L. and found some insects.

Common Painted-Lady

Greene's Giant Ichneumonid Wasp

Fraternal Potter WAsp

Later, a brief walk at McKeough revealed my first Common Buckeye of the year.

A single Flag-tailed Spinyleg was along the river's edge.

Sunday I checked out Blenheim lagoons.  Lots of shorebirds, but nothing of note.  Quite a few Stilt Sandpipers, and Lesser Yellowlegs continue to be in big numbers.

Yesterday I was due for more exercise, so I walked out Rondeau's marsh trail to the half way point.  Not much in the way of birds, and actually I was disappointed. I was hoping to see some southbound warblers!  I had seen zero as of yesterday.

Lance-tipped Darner

Eastern Pondhawk

A Common-checkered Skipper was in the yard in the afternoon.

Today was a different story with a perfect weather day.  I went to the south shore trail at Mitchell's Bay.  There were lots of birds, including warblers! (10 species).  Lots of vireos as well.

An added bonus was a flock of at least six Yellow-headed Blackbirds flying over.  Too quick for a photo, but there might have been more as I had just caught the tail end of the flyover flock.

This afternoon I could not resist going for a walk at Reid C. L.  Took a different route today and actually walked through the woods, which I rarely do during the summer.

Great-spangled fritillary

On the way back, I cut out to the laneway. At one point I caught sight of a dark skipper.  It turned out to be a female Zabulon!  I have only seen one before down at Ojibway.  All others have been males in this area.  

It was a pleasant surprise indeed.

I was just getting home, when I got word of a decent bird not too far away.  So, off I went to near Port Lambton.  Since it is a restricted access place, location will not be revealed here until later.

A Snowy Egret was a nice addition to such a nice day.

But wait, there was a bonus.  Two Red-necked Phalaropes were nearby.

One of the better days for this summer!

Soras to Sulphurs

 Tuesday morning I went for a long walk at Rondeau Park.  Marsh trail was the best option this day, and I needed the exercise anyway!  Out to Long Pond is a 11 km round trip.

There were quite a few birds, but nothing unexpected.  Even the 45 Soras I heard or saw was not unusual.  Dozens gather in the marshes here in late summer.

An American Mink scooted across the trail at one point.

I stopped by Keith McLean C. L. afterwards.  Looks inviting for shorebirds, but nothing new!

Greater Yellowlegs and Short-billed Dowitcher

In the afternoon I went for long walk at Reid CA.  

My usual walk is around the back field.

Shadow Darners keep popping up!

Lots of Common Buckeyes were flitting about and a few more Common Checkered-Skippers have arrived.

Question Mark

Wednesday I stayed fairly local, going for a walk at Mitchell's Bay.  A few birds kept me busy.  Along the shoreline various plants can be seen, including Marsh Tickseed.

In the afternoon I had the urge to go the Tecumseh Monument park along the Thames.  Nothing new, but I wanted to check it out!

Smoky Rubyspot

American Rubyspot

Pimpleback

Mucket

I also went over to Wardsville Woods for a walk.  Nothing unusual caught my eye though.  You never know until you look!

Wild Indigo Duskywing

Broad-leaved Goldenrod

Thursday I went down to Keith McLean C. L. hoping for something different.  However, with this stagnant weather, not much change.  A few shorebirds were there, including one peep that had Steve and I stumped.  We had fairly good scope views, but it did not fit anything familiar. Oh well.

In the ponds and around the edges, other flowers are very similar to Marsh Tickseed.  These beggar ticks are in the same family.  Only going by what comes up on iNaturalist!

Nodding Beggarticks

Smooth Beggarticks

The one pond is full of those!

I later stopped by the Blenheim lagoons.  Some shorebirds were in, including a pair of Red-necked Phalaropes.  A bit too distant in harsh lighting for my camera.

This Black-bellied Plover kept flying around and landing on the dike.

At home, I keep checking the garden for insects.  This very tiny one was new, which I inadvertently photographed.

Insidious Flower Bug

Today, after birding the shore trail at Mitchell's Bay, I went down to Point Pelee.  I wanted to get more looks at Dogface Sulphurs.  I found four.

At one point, an individual was competing with an Orange Sulphur for a knapweed flower.

At least I got some better flight shots to show the characteristic pattern.

There were lots of Orange Sulphurs as well.  Some were really orange!

I found only one Fiery Skipper, and a fleeting glimpse of a Grey Hairstreak.

Fiery Skipper