Rondeau to MeadowWoods And An Ojibway Visit

 Saturday was a fairly long day, as I started at Rondeau Park early, then went into Elgin County.

I did quite a bit of walking under cloudy skies at Rondeau.  Nothing of note in the way of birds, but I just wanted to go for a long walk.

I first walked down Rondeau Road to Gardiner.  On a sad note, almost every American Beech has been infected with Beech leaf disease, or whatever it is.  Photos not the best, since it was a typically gloomy weekend morning.

I stopped by dog beach to take a look.  I noted quite a bit of erosion along this side of the park.  All those NE winds this spring......!

By the time I left the park, it looked like the skies were going to clear.  That was a good thing, as the main event of the day was a walk at MeadowWoods, a Thames Talbot Land Trust property along Gray Line in Elgin County.

But before the designated arrival time, I stopped at Clear Creek quarry.  There was not much flying in the way of insects.  Too early for Comet Darner, and other things are a bit late.

Azure Bluets were in good numbers, and I did see a couple of Violet Dancers.

Very few dragonflies, but a few Calico Pennants had just emerged.

Hardly any butterflies here, but this Peck's Skipper briefly posed.

I also walked the Bury Cemetery trail to kill a little more time.

I arrived at MeadowWoods just before 13:00h.

It is one of their "closed" properties, so there is no public access.  Only special tours are given from time to time.

It was farmland and pasture back in the day up until about 1980, but it has grown in naturally quite a bit.  It was purchased by Stan and Anita Caveny and enhanced over the years until it was turned over to TTLT.

There are ponds on the property which were constructed early on, and harbour lots of wildlife.  In particular, odonates.

I guarantee there is a Spatterdock Darner flying out there!

There are rare species including the Comet Darner (which will appear at the end of this month), and Spatterdock Darner.  We were lucky enough to see a couple of Spatterdock Darners, which had just arrived perhaps the day before.  Unfortunately, it is a species that rarely sits still, and I was not able to obtain a photo.  I have only seen Spatterdock at Sifton Bog, and up at Ipperwash (dunes and swales).

Some plants near the pond included Interrupted Fern.

And several Swamp Thistle, a native plant.

We took a long walk over to some constructed ponds, walking on the spot where there was once a cheese factory!

At one of the ponds, there were several Amber-winged Spreadwings, an attractive species.

Azure Bluets were there by the hundreds.  I never realized how abundant this species is!

Today I went in the "other" direction down to Ojibway near Windsor.  I only decided at the last minute, since the weather seemed perfect today.  Early Sunday morning is a nice time to drive to Windsor anyway with practically no traffic.

The annual OFO/Essex County Field Naturalists field trip was today.  I joined in last year, and found it a nice change of pace.

It warmed up nicely, and we observed quite a few birds and other things.

At the pond near the nature centre, there were three species of turtles.  Unfortunately, one was Red-eared Slider (actually I saw two).

Along the Titcombe road, we looked at several things, including butterflies.  At one point, I spotted a Zabulon Skipper!  Although more regular in this area, it was the first one I have seen at Ojibway.

There were several of the similar Hobomok Skippers.

Other species included Northern Crescent.

And, Peck's Skipper.

Fox Snakes even made an appearance. How anyone spotted this one, is a mystery, but it was way up in a tree.

Nearby. some Tree Swallows were not happy.  A Fox Snake likely had a deluxe breakfast in a nesting box!

There are lots of rare plants at Ojibway, but our brief walk did not reveal many. Ohio Spiderwort is abundant in the area.

It was an enjoyable morning!

Sifting Through A Bog

In recent weeks, I had the urge to visit Sifton Bog in London.  I was even more envious when Quinten Wiegersma checked out the place just last week!  I had only been there on one occasion before, perhaps 25 years ago!  (I would have to look it up in my notes).
Today was the day that seemed right to go.

It was easy to get to following county road 14 from Newbury all the way to London where it blends into Oxford Road.  The bog is on the south side of Oxford, just before Hyde park Road.  I arrived fairly early, so things were a bit slow at first.  I stayed close to two hours and had the place to myself. I left in time, as a mass of seniors (at least 50) invaded the place!

Sifton Bog is a 41.6 Ha acid peat bog right in the city of London, something you would normally see much farther north.  I felt like I was in Algonquin Park.

It was acquired by the Upper thames River Conservation Authority in 1967,  but earlier attempts to preserve the place were started by the well-known London naturalist Dr. W. Judd in the late 1950's.

Plant life here is what you would find farther north with Black Spruce, Tamarack and various vascular plants.

tamarack

Tuberous Grass Pink

Horned Bladderwort

bog Cranberry

I kept track of birds as well.

Cedar Waxwing

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks

Of interest today, I wanted to see Spatterdock Darner.  I do not recall that I have seen this one before, but there were a few patrolling the pond upon my arrival.  At times they came close to the viewing platform for nice views, but it was difficult to get a photo.  One would have to net one!  I took dozens of photos in vain trying to capture one.  I finally nailed one, even though it is flying away.

The yellow pond lilies here are called Spatterdock, which the darner is akin-to.

There were other odes including these:

Blue Dasher

Dot-tailed whiteface

Eastern Forktail

There was also Common Green Darner and meadowhawk sp. (Ruby?).  At one point I thought I saw an emerald, but I do not know if there are any there.

A bullfrog was in front of the viewing stand the whole time.

I did not see much in the way of butterflies, but on the way out, I found an Appalachian Brown.

Of course, Bog Copper is here.

On the way home, I stopped by Wardsville Woods and Skunk's Misery.  Some Great Fangled Spangled Fritillaries were freshly out.

A Twelve-spotted Skimmer was beside the pond.

Through Skunk's, I found the usual birds including several Hooded Warblers, Chestnut-sided, Blue-winged, Ovenbird, Cerulean Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher, etc.

There was not much in the way of butterflies, so I hope things pick up for next Sunday on the count.  I think we will be good as long as it is warm and sunny.