Uplands, Midlands, Lowlands = More Running Around!

 A couple of days ago my car headed in the direction of Strathroy.  I was hoping to see Upland Sandpiper in a usual spot, but again no luck.  I did hear one though!

I continued on to the Strathroy lagoon site, where once again, Black-necked Stilt is likely nesting.

It is an excellent birding location with Sora and Virginia Rail, Common Gallinule, and various ducks nesting.  And passerines!

After an hour there in early morning, I headed back to the Upland Sandpiper site with no luck yet again.  I knew there were some in the Glencoe area, so that was the next spot.  Bingo!  Right at roadside I saw a pair, and I did not even get out of the car.

What to do next?  I got the notion to check out Wardsville Woods as I headed out of Glencoe.  It is getting that time of year to look for odonates.

Lots of Midland Clubtails were out, but nothing looked  like a Cobra Clubtail.

After milling about the little pond at the back, I caught sight of something I knew right away as an Arrowhead Spiketail.  They have a distinctive shape, flight and perching habit that gives them away, at least to my eyes.

After getting photos of this one, I went back to the car for refreshments. I headed back the trail and saw another one, but was unable to get on it with the camera.

It is early in the season, so hopefully more to come at Wardsville Woods!

Regarding butterflies, they are a bit scarce, but I have already seen several Common Sootywings in various locations.  

Common Sootywing at Wardsville Woods

Monday, I did not do much and stayed close to home.

Common Whitetail (F)

Today was the annual bird survey at Sydenham River Nature Reserve (SRNR).  It is always an opportunity to check out the place, since there is no public access on the Lambton side (you would have to cross private property).  You can get into the Middlesex side off Buttonwood Road, which is on the east side of the Sydenham.

Great-crested Flycatcher

There were not many participants this year, but we got it covered.  I did my usual area on the Lambton side.  Nothing new really.  Song Sparrows were really abundant!

The trusty Blue-winged Warbler was in its usual area.

Towards the "lowland" parts of the reserve, I heard Cerulean Warbler singing along the river, as well as Mourning and American Redstart (plus Yellow, Common Yellowthroat) in the warbler department.

While near the river, I decided to do a quick check for mussels.  It is very shallow and fast moving in this location.  This is a prime spot to look for mussels.

I found some along the edge, but most notably was a Round Hickorynut.  It is a critically imperiled species which I had never encountered before.

Here is a more common species:

Spike

Not much in the way of odes today.  Lots of Midland Clubtails and Common Whitetails, a few Ebony Jewelwings.  No Arrowhead Spiketails!  I had one dancer sp., then this Azure Bluet.

There are some impressive deep ravines here which are something to behold.

 

Middlesex Meanderings June 10

Today I headed into Middlesex County to visit some familiar spots.   I found it generally quiet compared to previous years at this time.
First stop was Napier Road where Clay-colored Sparrows have nested the last several years.  One can see/hear these from the car.  A couple of them were singing their monotone buzz song atop spruce trees.
Just north of that spot is a good pasture for the usual types such as Bobolink, Eastern Meadowlark and Grasshopper Sparrow.  I saw/heard all of these.

One of the sought-after birds is Upland Sandpiper, found in the many pastures in the area.  This species has declined over the years due to loss of habitat.  They were regularly found north of Wallaceburg, but I now I have to travel some distance to see one!
I drove several roads, and strangely came up empty for them in spots I have had them before.  So, it was on to Clark Wright CA southwest of Strathroy.
This cozy little natural area is a good place for birds and butterflies.

Hobomok Skipper

Common Painted-Lady

Ebony Jewelwings are now out.

Last year, a Blue-headed Vireo was singing in the woods, and the years previous to that, White-eyed Vireo was present.  None today!
There is usually a Pine Warbler at the back among the Pines, but I even struck out on that.
A Blue-winged Warbler was singing here though, but remained a bit elusive for the camera.

Strathroy Lagoons is not far away, so that was the next stop.  Water levels were very high, so no shorebirds except Spotted Sandpiper.  I did get a bonus bird, an American Woodcock.

The lagoons have been productive in the past at times for shorebirds.  I once found an American Avocet here.  There was even a Snowy Plover once!
Butterflies can be found here, but even those were few and far between today.  Last year, I had several Milbert's Tortoiseshells and Wild Indigo Duskywings.
Some European Skippers were out today though.

Heading back west, I checked many roads again in vain for an Upland Sandpiper.  Good grief!  Not even any Dickcissels in spots they have been in the past.  I did come across this Red-headed Woodpecker along Walker's Line.

I was about to give up in disgust, but made one more pass down McArthur Road.  Finally, there was an Upland Sandpiper.  Not just one, but three in close proximity!

#1

#2

#3

After this, I headed towards Skunk's Misery and started down Watterworth Road.  I briefly stopped at the Crown Land at Argyll Road where I heard a usual Hooded Warbler.  I did not hear an Acadian Flycatcher, but some American Crows were making a ruckus over perhaps an owl.

Into the Mosa Forest area, I walked a couple of trails but found it rather quiet.  It was mid-day, so that was one factor.  I found several Hooded Warblers, but no Cerulean in a usual location.

Great-crested Flycatcher

I came across some Black-shouldered Spinylegs.

I did hear a Magnolia Warbler singing at one point though, not too unusual for the area at this time.

Last walk was Wardsville Woods, west of the village of Wardsville.  I like this little spot and stop there any time in the area.  As mentioned in the past, it was once a golf course (more natural one). It is good for butterflies, but again, I did not see many today.
Blue-winged Warbler is here, and there is more than one.

I heard one singing an odd song, but never saw it, so who knows if it was a pure bird.
I will probably stop by here in about a month to check for more butterflies.

Black-shouldered Spinyleg

A Visit to Middlesex County

On Sunday I took a tour of SW Middlesex County.  There are lots of pastures, unlike Chatham-Kent, that one can see some grassland birds.
Dickcissels were reported West of Strathroy over a week ago.  Unfortunately these birds picked a hay field that was due to be cut along Winter Drive.  One field to the north had already been cut, but a couple of birds were still singing.

I also came across another singing bird near the corner of McDougall and Sexton.
Grasshopper Sparrows are still fairly plentiful and I came across quite a few.

Upland Sandpipers can be found  as well.

After seeing the Dickcissels, I headed down Napier Road where singing Clay-colored Sparrows can be found.  They like a spruce plantation and are there every year.  I was not able to get any photos.

My first walk was at Clark Wright CA just SW of Strathroy.  It is a neat little place with a good variety of birds and butterflies.

The past few years a White-eyed Vireo has frequented the place, but this year, or at least recently, a Blue-headed Vireo has been there.

Breakfast!

Pine Warblers nest here as well, and American Redstarts are present.  I also came across a Blue-winged Warbler yesterday, but the lens of my camera could not find it!

Not far away is Strathroy Lagoons.  It is easily accessible to the public off Pike Street.  At times, it can be good for shorebirds.  A couple of years ago I found an American Avocet there, and it seems to me a Snowy Plover was there once in the past.
This day, a late Semipalmated Plover was there with 4 Semipalmated Sandpipers.

Very Distant!

After this stop, I zig-zagged back to the county line at Argyll and Watterworth Roads.  A piece of Crown Land here hosts Hooded Warbler and Acadian Flycatcher among other warblers of interest.
It was extremely windy, so I could not hear much.  A couple of years ago a Magnolia Warbler was here in the breeding season.

Red-spotted Purple, more or less!

I drove through Skunk's Misery as well and walked one trail.  The Mourning Warbler was still stuck singing a Common Yellowthroat song along Sassafras Road.

My last walk was at Wardsville Woods.  I like this place!

A nice butterfly in the form of a Baltimore Checkerspot was present.  In fact, I saw two of them.

I was home by noon, and in the afternoon took a walk through the woods at Reid CA where you can find some impressive trees.

Red Oaks

Bur Oak

Black Walnut

Monday Crop Tour

On the Monday holiday I did a bit of a tour north of Wallaceburg into Lambton county.  First thing of note was a group of 14 Sandhill Cranes at the west end of Langstaff Line near Wallaceburg.

It was the first group I had seen in the area this summer.  They tend to congregate in this area by mid summer and can be seen in varying numbers to later in the fall.  Tuesday, I only saw four, and none today.

Bobolink

I drove north along the St. Clair River, noting several southbound Bonaparte's Gulls. My first walk was at Dow Wetlands along LaSalle Line.  A flock of ten Bobolinks was in the field on the 'hill'.  A single Upland Sandpiper was constantly flying around.  It was the only one I saw, so likely some have already moved out.

The only migrant shorebird at Doug's Pond was a Lesser Yellowlegs.  A Green Heron was flying around being harassed by a Belted Kingfisher.

I did check out Perch Creek briefly, but only went so far back since the mosquitoes were quite annoying!  One section has quite a bit of Spiked blazing Star and Culver's Root, which is rather nice.

Another section has quite a bit of the non-native Elecampane, but it was well past its prime.

The next stop was McKellar Tract.  The weeds and wildflowers were thick, but I walked around a bit.

This is one place to see lots of dragonflies, but not this year!
The one pond has a few Cardinal Flowers around it, rather uncommon in these parts.

A walk at McKeough CA revealed several Flag-tailed Spinylegs, but hardly any other dragonfly, let alone butterflies.

I decided to skip Reid on this day since I had a good walk the day before.

I have seen a couple of rather fresh European Skippers, probably of a second brood.

A change in pace is scheduled for the next few days......!