More Summer Stuff!

 I made my usual rounds not far from home the last few days.  The summer is waning quickly so I take advantage of any time I get to be outdoors looking for things of interest.

Dukes' Skippers have finally showed up in the "usual" spot at Reid.  I saw two in quick order late Thursday.

Friday I had the urge to go to Point Pelee.  I thought maybe I could look for Marine Blue or something of note.  (I have not heard of any sightings of Marine Blue after mine last Sunday.  I know some went to look though).

I did a watch at the Tip for a while before looking for insects.  The "Tip" goes way out right now!

There were hundreds of gulls, but nothing of note caught my eye.  Only one tern...a Caspian.

Some shorebirds included Sanderlings, Semisands, and an early Ruddy Turnstone.

I then slowly walked up west beach trail.  I stopped to read a nice sign recently erected.

There were more butterflies and dragonflies than I had been seeing in previous visits.  Wandering Glider was the most common.  Most were "wandering"!

Around the "serengeti" tree, a large darner caught my eye. It was a Comet Darner!  I was not able to get a photo though.  There have been a few previous records in the past at Pelee and surrounding area, but this was my first for there.

I stopped briefly at De Laurier parking lot, and found a Common Buckeye at the weather station.  A first-of-year!

My next stop was Hillman Marsh shorebird cell, where I thought it was the best chance of seeing some good butterfly.  It was paltry for leps!  I did see another Buckeye, and added a Common Sootywing.

I went home via Blenheim, and stopped by the lagoons.  A good number of shorebirds were in.  Solitary Sandpipers are in big numbers this summer everywhere it seems.

Another member of the glider family was present....a Spot-winged Glider....on the fly.

Saturday, it was up to north Lambton, as Forest Lagoons is a necessary stop at least once a week this time of year. It is the best place for shorebirds!  There were lots to sort through, including over 100 Lesser Yellowlegs. Again, lots of Solitary Sandpipers.  Nothing of note though.

I moved on to Ausable River Cut CA, but as I arrived, word got out that three American Avocets were at Kettle Point.  Since I had not seen any yet this year,and it was not far, back I went!  Jeff Skevington and James Holdsworth were still there when I arrived, and so were the Avocets.  My favourite shorebird!

A worse-for-the-wear Little Gull was also present.

I went back to Ausable River Cut and looked at mussels.  I added Fat Mucket to my list.

Three-ridged mussel seems to be the most common there.

Not much in the way of insects, but some Wild Indigo Duskywings were flying.

Along the way home, I stopped by Marthaville Habitat Management Area, for my once-a year visit.  Good wetland there.

Slaty Skimmer

Viceroy

One last stop was McKeough CA for an attempt at Marine Blue.  Virtually no butterflies!  Only Flag-tailed Spinylegs.

Today, it was a bit overcast after some much-needed rain overnight.  I stopped by Keith McLean C. L. where I spent some time there.  Shorebirds were quite fluid, as they often are.  There was not much at first, but things came in or flew over.

Quite a few dowitchers were eventually seen, including three rather early Long-billed.  Given the lighting, and distance, etc., my photos were no good for them.

I then went as far as Clear Creek and stopped by the old quarry.  One of my favourite spots!

I immediately saw a Comet Darner, but it seemed to take off.  Another eventually appeared, but as usual it was on the fly.

The sun was partially out when I arrived and there was some activity, but then it clouded over making things very quiet.  Very few damsels (bluets and dancers) now.

Azure Bluet

Violet Dancer

Last stop was Blenheim lagoons.  Lots of shorebirds again, but nothing spectacular.

 

Mucking Around

 It has been a busy week, as I roamed around looking for anything of interest, tramping along mucky river banks, looking for odonates, birds, etc.  

A Blue Grosbeak (young male) was found at Tilbury by Paul Pratt, so I had to go and see that on Wednesday!  Lighting was horrible in the evening, so the photo leaves a lot to be desired.  Too many wires as well!  I heard it singing long before I saw it come up and perch on the wire.

It was the same sort of deal as last summer when a young male was on territory near Walsingham in Norfolk County.  I went to see that one, as I had not seen a Blue Grosbeak for a long time.

Thursday, I went for an evening walk at Reid CA.  There does not appear to be any Dukes' Skippers in the usual spot this year (yet), so a bad sign indeed.  There are some in another location farther back in on the property, where I did see one.

The cold and wet spring, and the hot and dry summer has played havoc with butterflies.

Friday, I went to south-east Chatham-Kent and into Elgin County visiting various spots in search for something of interest.  My ultimate goal was to see a Comet Darner for this year, since I missed it last year.  I went as far as John E. Pearce P.P. where I had them a few years ago.  It is so dry there (like all places), and there were hardly any odes!  No Comet.

I headed back and stopped at Clear Creek nature reserve's old quarry.  I lucked out and saw a Comet Darner right away!  Only one though, patrolling the pond.

It is an excellent place for odes, and I saw a number of species.  Some here:

Violet Dancer

Skimming Bluet

Slender Spreadwing

Azure Bluet

Eastern Amberwing

And, a poor photo of a Double-striped Bluet

Beaver at Clear Creek!

After that, I back-tracked and stopped at Wardsville Woods, which was very quiet on all fronts.  I did find a Fawn Darner though.  As usual for the species, it was in a shaded area.

And, I spotted my FOY Common Checkered-Skipper.

Heading down highway 2, I stopped at Tecumseh Monument and checked out the riverbank.  Hardly any odes, but later this summer I will check for Smokey Rubyspots.  I did see a Midland Clubtail.

Of interest here, was the river mussels.  It is a good spot, and there were oodles of them washed up!  Too many to sort through.  I even found some live ones at the edge which I looked at, then placed back.  

Mucket (live)

There were too many to look at, of several species.

Pimpleback

Deertoe

Mucket

Today, I had the urge to head to north Lambton for whatever reason.  I stopped by Forest lagoons, which has perfect habitat for shorebirds.  There were lots!  At least 80 Lesser Yellowlegs, and lots of others including a FOY Stilt Sandpiper.

I then headed up to Ausable River Cut CA where I wanted to look at mussels.  I had never looked there before, but there were lots when one starts looking.  Of interest was Three-ridged, which I may have not seen before.  Lots of them.

It is important to take photos of the inside of the shell for ID purposes.

Some other species:

Giant Floater

Deertoe

Mapleleaf

I stopped by Karner Sanctuary for a walk.  Rather quiet, but I did see an Aphrodite Fritillary which did not co-operate for the camera.

I found a couple of Coral Hairstreaks to add to the year's list.

Before home, I stopped by McKeough CA where a Marine Blue was found yesterday and this morning.  I guess I was a bit late today, as I could not find it!  It is very rare in Ontario, and one I have never seen before. 

Some Flag-tailed Spinylegs were the consolation, although expected.