Mainly Insects But Other Things Too!

 As the summer rolls on, I continue go somewhere locally every day.  Birds are migrating through and I have seen a few different warblers recently.  There has not been much variety in insects, but here a few recent finds.  Some butterflies are doing well such as Eastern Tailed Blue and Northern Crescent.  There was an explosion of crescents this past week!

Common Ringlet

Crocus Geometer Moth

Eastern Tailed Blue trio

Peck's Skipper

katydid species

skipper with a silver spot

Comma of the east

Eastern version of tailed-blue

Common Whitetail

Dog Day Cicada exoskeleton

Living cicada, probably Linne's

American Pelecinid Wasp

Eastern Pondhawk (female)

Yesterday, I went to Mitchell's Bay first thing and walked both the south nature trail and the north nature trail.  I rarely get to the north version for various reasons.  The north side is different, with lots of open marsh there.

Looking towards St. Anne's Island

This time of year, Purple Martins have gathered to roost in various locations.  The Walpole Island complex marshes are known for one of the largest gathering/roosting spots around.  I could see several hundred from the north trail.  Here is a view of one of the closer groups.

The north end is good for viewing marsh birds such as Common Gallinule.  There was a family unit in view yesterday.

A few shorebirds were here as well.

Today I went a bit farther afield and visited Strathroy sewage lagoons.  An Eared Grebe was reported (the day after I was there of course!) on Friday.  I took a chance that it was there again this morning, and it was.  I missed Eared Grebe last year, and I was not going to miss it again for this year's list!  A bit too distant for decent photos though.

Still lots of shorebirds there, including the Wilson's Phalarope and a Baird's Sandpiper.

While in the Strathroy area, I checked out Clark Wright CA.  There were a few migrant birds there to keep me interested.

Heading back west, I decided to swing down to Wardsville Woods.  A nice little pocket of birds included Canada Warbler, Black-and-White Warbler, Blue-winged Warbler, Chestnut-sided Warbler and Yellow-bellied Flycatcher.

Warbler without chestnut sides

There were a few butterflies to check out along the trail.

Pearl Crescent

Peck's Skipper

Great Spangled Fritillary

I photographed this wasp, which I think is a Pitted Mason Wasp, new for me.

Very few odonates....again!

Continuing on, I realized it was the time of year that we check for Smoky Rubyspots.  So down the road I went and stopped at the Tecumseh Monument park along the Thames River.

There was not much, but a couple of smokies were along the edge.

Only a few of its cousin, the American Rubyspot, were there as well.

Always a good spot for mussel hunting here too.  Pimpleback is quite common here.

Also found a mucket and a deertoe.

Mucket

Deertoe

I did not spend much time with mussels, so probably missed something good.

Looking Locally

 In the last week, I have just been going to local haunts. Not a lot of ambition in this hot weather!

A couple of visits to Blenheim lagoons revealed the usual stuff.  

Last Friday a Peregrine Falcon was buzzing the shorebirds.  I did not realize until I took photos, that it was a banded bird.  I have not pursued the origin of the bands though.

Also I have been to Mitchell's Bay early mornings a couple of times since it is close to home.  Not producing anything of note there though!  However, it is just nice to sit on the dock for a while with a breeze coming in off the lake.

Sunday morning I went up to Dow Wetlands for a walk. 

Cup Plant

At least one Clay-colored Sparrow was still present among other sparrows.

A couple of Slaty Skimmers were around one of the ponds.

On the way back, I made a quick stop at Wilkesport.  A couple of Royal River Cruisers were cruising!  This one briefly stopped to be photographed.  Since it is my favourite ode, I always attempt a photo.

A few insects have been visiting the garden, but certainly not as many as usual this year.  This mason wasp is one of the less common ones, called Perennial.

Different butterflies included Eastern Giant Swallowtail.

Not many odes of course, but while watching the swallowtail, I noticed this tiny Fragile Forktail.

On Monday, I decided to go to Rondeau as I had not been there in many weeks.  A long walk out marsh trail to the half way point and back did me in for the rest of the day.  The heat and humidity gets to me more than it used to!

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Swamp Rose Mallow decorates the edges of the marsh, and is fairly abundant out the marsh trail.

And wild rice is doing well.

Today I was interested in going to Strathroy lagoons, as many shorebirds had been reported recently.  Although no rarities, there was a lot to sort through.  Habitat is excellent there for shorebirds.

The best bird today was a Wilson's Phalarope.  As in most cases here shorebirds are distant and difficult to photograph as the ponds are large there.

On the way home, I stopped at the Shetland CA boat launch.  As per usual this year, it was disappointing for odonates.  I found a few of the usual things.

Blue-ringed Dancer

Violet Dancer

Eastern Forktail

Flag-tailed Spinyleg

Black-shouldered Spinyleg

A few Blue-fronted Dancers were around, but this one caught my eye due to its bent abdomen.

Anglewings have been scarce this summer, but this Eastern Comma was a beauty.

No Zabulon Skipper this time, but a Peck's Skipper took its place today.

Turtles included Spiny Softshell and Map.  The Map turtles were a bit distance on a usual deadhead.

Of course, Blackstripe Topminnows were ever present.

A couple of Royal River Cruisers were around, but not in any position to be photographed there.

However, some were at Reid Conservation Lands on my last stop today.

Dukes' Skippers may now be done till next year, as I did not see one.

Forgot about the annual Perseid meteor shower last night.  It was cloudy and rainy anyway....lol.

The Old Moon