End of May Report: Some Long Walks and Tours

 This past Monday I took a long walk at Rondeau, going out the south beach.  It was not overly productive, but at least it was a calm day for a change.  I went out via the south point trail (west).

It was cloudy for the first part of the morning, but visibility was good.

Shorebirds are the main target this time of year.  There was not a huge number, but I did see a couple of Red Knots.  Dunlin were plentiful.

I was hoping to see Hudsonian Whimbrel, but for some reason they never show up on the days I am at Rondeau!

A lone Long-tailed Duck was sitting on the beach.  Looked the one I saw the previous week near dog beach!

There were not many ducks, but an odd duo included a Blue-winged Teal a nd a Redhead.

Along the trail, I noticed this Yellow Warbler nest.

During my travels in the park, I noted a multitude of Red-eyed Vireos. I counted a record-breaking 139, so just imagine how many were actually in the park.

Here are some scenes along Bennett Road. It is quite scenic this time of year, especially now the the birding rush has passed.

I also walked from maintenance to pony barn.  Along the way, a singing Connecticut Warbler was heard.  Seems we have done well with them this spring.  Some years we do not encounter any!

After leaving the park, I scooted over to Erieau to walk the trails there.  McGeachy Pond was good for birds, but I only did the west end.  My target was Olive-sided Flycatcher.

This Scarlet Tanager was showing nicely.  Not very scarlet-looking!

Next day I checked out the Lake St. Clair area, but it was not too productive.  But in the afternoon I decided to go for a walk at Reid C. L. I had not been there in some time, so wanted to see how things were doing. There was certainly a lack of insect life.  I think these cold weather days this month killed off a lot of things.

There were only about three species of butterflies.

Silver-spotted Skipper

Giant Swallowtail

I did see a dragonfly.

Springtime Darner

Wednesday I made a big tour.  I started at Skunk's Misery.  Sitler Woods and Dogwood Road is one of the best spots to start your day.

There was a multitude of singing birds, including a Cerulean Warbler.  I did a video recording, as well as a recording of the Cerulean Warbler..

Acadian Flycatchers and Hooded Warblers among others are here.

After finishing up in the Mosa Forest, I headed up to Pinery Provincial Park.  I do not get there much anymore, but this seemed to be a good opportunity.

I started on Riverside Trail, my favourite for birds, in the park.

Eastern Bluebird

Along the trail, I noticed this moth, which is a new one for me.

Cherry Scallop Shell Moth

A number of birds were here including a pair of Yellow-billed cuckoos putting on a show across the channel.

Olive-sided Flycatcher was here, which seems to be  ausual spot to find them.

An American Redstart was singing, but it was more like a Prothonotary Warbler.  Not quite identical to Prothonatary, but it was fooling some people.  Especially those relying on the Merlin app.

I also checked on the resident Prairie Warbler while there.

After having a nice morning in the park, I headed over to Ipperwash Beach. I found some Dusted Skippers, but not as many as one might usually find this time of year.  It was a rather cold day, so the cold no doubt had some bearing.

Very few dragonflies, but some included Lance-tipped Darner.

And, Common Baskettail.

On friday, I went back to Rondeau and walked out the marsh trail.  I had originally intended to go only to Long Pond, but once I got out there, I kept going.  It was too nice of a day.

Along the way, I kept flushing up a woodcock.

Marsh Wrens were quite numerous at Rondeau.  In fact the number trips the eBird filter by a longshot!

I walked all the way to the end.  By coincidence, I met Steve Charbonneau out there, who was on the south beach.  This was not the first time we have done this!  At least three times this has happened.

Another Scene farther out looking towards Erieau

There was not anything unusual encountered on this walk.

Later in the day at home, I was out tending to the garden, and noticed a small dragonfly.  I ran for my camera, and managed to get a photo of a Racket-tailed Emerald.  Although quite common, I missed them last year.  A nice one for the yard.

At dusk, I heard the buzzy call of a Common Nighthawk.  Not often I get them here in the spring, but they are showing up in good numbers everywhere this spring on their journey north.

At the same time, the local Merlin was on its "sunset perch", while an Eastern Screech-owl was calling nearby.

Things have certainly calmed down now, and only a few migrants are trickling through.  It was a quiet day so I just took it easy now that May is coming to an end.

Time to look sor insects!

New Bird for Lambton, Point Pelee Sightings and a Visit to the Misery

 After spending a few more days at Rondeau and area, Saturday was more of a day of relaxation.  However, I was out in the morning albeit quite foggy and damp.  Highlight was listening to the Western Meadowlark at Sombra (solar farm).  It was found a few days previous by Brandon Holden as he was making his rounds in the area.

It was quite pleasant to listen to it sing, a much more unique and pleasing song than its eastern counterpart.  I never got a photo, but in retrospect, could have obtained a recording.

The Western Meadowlark was a bird I really wanted to see for Lambton County.  Oddly, in all my years of birding the area, I never listed one for Lambton!  Apparently, they used to be more regular in the 1970's and before, but have fallen off the map in recent times.

There is always the occasional sighting in southern Ontario each year.  I have seen them in Middlesex, Essex, and a couple in Chatham-Kent, not to mention Rainy River District.  The Essex one was a bonus, as I photographed a bird a few years ago (2 June 2018) at Point Pelee, unknowingly that it was a Western.  My excuse is that it never vocalized!

Sunday I headed down to Point Pelee.  I first stopped at the Hillman shorebird cell to see if anything of interest was in.  Nothing new!  However, I had to satisfy my curiosity.

I then slid over to Point Pelee.  Even arriving later in the morning, the park was not all that busy despite the holiday weekend.  It was later though when I left.....the lineup to the gate was about a kilometre long, and growing.  Apparently they had to close the park for a while!

Anyway, I parked at the VC and walked towards the Tip on the road.  I cut in to west beach trail at the half way stop.  There were actually quite a few birds along the way, not to mention birders farther down.

As often is the case this time of year, there are many familiar faces along the way, and May birding is very much a social event as well.  Some, we only see this time of year, but you get to know these people and it is nice to share bird sightings and other news.

At the Tip parking lot, I was talking to Ross and Sandy (long time friends) when word came about a Neotropic Cormorant at the Tip.  We rushed to the good 'ole Tip and the the subject bird was pointed out to us.  It flew around a bit, swam a bit, and stuck around for many to see.  

Unsatisfactory photos were obtained.

That was a nice 'bonus' bird for my visit!  Not new for my Essex list, but certainly a rarity to my eyes.

While there, a couple of American White Pelicans were way out on the lake, and came a bit closer to view.

The pelicans are a regular there anymore at this time of year, so it was not surprising to see them.

As well, a couple of Whimbrel were resting on the Tip.

I walked back west beach trail looking for insects.  Nothing of note, but I had hopes of seeing a Juniper (or Olive) Hairstreak, a critically imperiled species at Point Pelee nowadays.  Ironically, one was found today!

(photo from the past)

After a quick check at Northwest Beach area, I left the park before it became overcrowded.

Silver-spotted Skipper

Long-nosed Marsh Fly

Today, I needed to go in a different direction, and headed up towards the county line of Middlesex and Lambton.  There are still lots of decent pastures in that area where one can find Upland Sandpiper, Grasshopper Sparrow, etc.  In the scrubby area, Clay-colored Sparrow can be found buzzing away.

I found all of them!  But, could not get good photos....again.

Shy Clay-colored Sparrow

Eastern Meadowlarks (no Western) too.

Heading back, I checked out Skunk's Misery.  Indeed, the mosquitoes were horrific with all the rain we have had this spring.

One of my go-to places is Sitler Woods, one of the more recent acquisitions by Thames Talbot Land Trust (TTLT).

As expected, I got Acadian Flycatcher there, among other things like Hooded Warbler.

It is a place one may still find some American Chestnut.

In other areas several Hooded Warblers were singing, and a large number of Ovenbirds among other things.

Juvenal's Duskywing

While in the area, a stop at Wardsville Woods (another TTLT property) is always a necessity.  I go there more for insects, as readers of this blog know quite well.  It is a haven for rare odonates, but right now it is a bit early for some.

I found Midland Clubtails, Common Whitetails, and Twelve-spotted Skimmers today.

Midland Clubtail

Twelve-spotted Skimmer

Butterflies searching can be good here as well.

A FOY Common Ringlet

Still some bird migrants still to come. Flycatchers had not really come in numbers yet, but a few arrived today finally.  Cuckoos have not arrived to any degree yet either.

And, indeed, some rarities will be popping up to make things interesting!

Things With Wings and Ode to Joy

We have had some good weather recently, despite some heavy rains.  I thought it was finally going to be a drier year, but NOT!  Boots have been a necessity for walks in the woods this week.

It has been an intersting spring.  I have found that there are fewer birds in most locations than in the past.  Butterflies have been scarce as well, perhaps due to the cold spring.  Odonates have done well though!

Late Thursday, I went for a walk at Reid CA.  Still lots of dragonflies, and as I mentioned before, Racket-tailed Emeralds and Four-spotted Skimmers are in big numbers this year.

Friday, I decided to do some bird records for the atlas.  I did not find anything spectacular, but a Mourning Warbler at Port Lambton was a decent find for the area.

Late morning I got the urge to go to Mitchell's Bay south shore nature trail. Surprises can be had there on occasion!  Nothing unusual, but some turtles were putting themselves on the map.  

Map Turtles

There were oodles of them!

A nice Black-crowned Night-Heron was in the same ditch.

Halloween Pennant

The afternoon was so nice, I could not pass up a long walk at Reid CA.  The woods were rather quiet (again!).  

Still lots of Racket-tailed Emeralds and Four-spotted Skimmers.  I have never seen so many as in this year.  

A couple of Juvenal's Duskywings were still hanging around.

A Grey Comma was nearby.

On the road I found a Fox Snake. Not often I seen them anymore.  This is one I remember when I was kid, where we found lots of them.  Unfortunately, many of them were roadkill.

Today, I thought it was a nice time to go to Skunk's Misery.  I first walked Sitler Woods, a Thames Talbot Land Trust property recently acquired. 

Acadian Flycatchers have alway been at this location, and today was no exception.  They remained unseen though!

I toured the rest of the Misery for the next two hours.  Hooded Warblers do not seem to be as numerous as in the past.  I did find two or three Cerulean Warblers singing away.

An American Woodcock got in my way at one point.

Some odes along the way:

female Twelve-spotted Skimmer

male

Leps were few and far between.

Eight-spotted Forester moth

Not far away, Wardsville Woods was my next stop.  I have always liked this place.  It can be good for leps and odes.  Again, not many butterfllies, but some odes were flying.

A year ago, I had a large dragonfly go past me that I was certain a Twin-spotted Spiketail.  It got away and I never saw it again.  Today, I went to the spot, and immediately saw a suspicious ode perched.  I knew it had to be what I was looking for, and as I got closer, there was my target!  Just like it was waiting for me!

Twin-spotted Spiketails are certainly rare in the area, but I do not know the status of them in Middlesex.  It was a first for me!

During my stay, I saw a couple others flying around.  One for sure was a Twin-spotted, but the last one I took a photo. It was a side view, and not thinking, I assumed it was a Twin-spotted.

I got home and brought it up on the computer screen, and duh!, it looked like an Arrowhead Spiketail.  This is even rarer!

This species is uncommon to rare in Ontario, and to see one this far south in Ontario is unique.  I have seen the Arrowhead at Sydenham River Nature Reserve the last couple of years where they are known.

It was not even on my radar today, but certainly an excellent find for Middlesex.

Perhaps next weekend I will seen some Arrowhead Spiketails at SRNR when we do an ode survey......