Splashdown to Marbled Godwits

 We finally have had some nice warm days, although yesterday morning was miserably cold at first.

This past Friday morning I was out to Mitchell's Bay.  A lone Tundra Swan has been hanging around, and I do not think it is entirely well.  It was still there yesterday.

A bit of a surprise was a flyover of six Snow Geese.

In the evening, likely many of us watched the historic and picture-perfect splashdown of the space capsule Artemis II.  Humans got to circle the moon for the first time since the early 1970's during the Apollo program!  I remember the Apollo program (now I am aging myself!) and found that fascinating at the time.

I watched the recent event live on the NASA YouTube channel.  I just took some screen shots with my phone.

Next day, I headed down to Rondeau Park quite early.  Target was a Louisiana Waterthrush that had been sighted the day before.  I found it right away in the early morning light singing away in a slough.  It was really too early for photos, as it was not very light, but I tried anyway.

I did a lot of walking that day as it was a nice sunny and calm day for a change.  Later, I walked out the marsh trail to the half way point.

I saw three species of butterflies, including a Mourning Cloak, Red Admiral and an American Painted-Lady.

I stopped by Keith McLean C. L. before going home to see both yellowlegs, and first-of-year Pectoral Sandpipers.

They finally got a burn done on the property.  They have been trying for two years!

Yesterday, as alluded to above, it was terribly cold and windy at Mitchell's Bay first thing.  There were not many birds in the uncomfortable weather.  The Tundra Swan was in close.

In the afternoon, it warmed up considerably as the sun was out, so I went for a drive along the St. Clair River.  Loons are heading north this time of year, and one can see many.

Today, I headed down to Rondeau Park in anticipation of some good birding.  Overnight, there was a brisk southwest wind with rain, and the temperature rose dramatically.  Surprisingly, it was rather quiet for birds.

I did get the first Purple Martins finally, as they arrived yesterday.

The park was full of Red Admirals.

Some plants are just emerging from the leaf litter, and I noticed this Bloodroot at one point.

While there, I got word that some early Marbled Godwits had set down in the Hillman Marsh shorebird cell.  They were found by the "morning shift", which used to be the "afternoon shift"!  LOL.

I headed in that direction since there was not much else to do.

They were still present upon my arrival.

Several birders came by to see the godwits.  It was nice to talk to some long-time fellow birders after a long winter.

While there, I caught sight of a Variegated Meadowhawk. First time I have seen one in a few years.  They are not all that common at times.

As well, a Blanding's Turtle was lurking in the weeds.

Now that we are in mid-April, we will see lot of birds coming in.  The excitement of spring migration has now begun!

Hillman Sandhills

Heated Hairstreaks to Devious Dragonflies

(Had to think of some sort of title!)
Friday was a scorcher, but today was a little better temperature for being out in the field.  By noon Friday, I was cooked!  Leps and odes must have been too as they retreated by then.

Just to start things off on Friday, I took a walk at Perch Creek Habitat east of Sarnia.  I noticed lots of hairstreaks (all Banded) which was an indication it was going to be a good day for that family.

Skipper from Deleware

From there, I headed back south and first stopped at Moore WMA.  I spent quite a bit of time there and actually walked way back like I used to in years past.  Things sure have grown in.
Starting off, hairstreaks were all over the place with dozens perched on various plants.  A good percentage were Hickory, but some Banded and some Striped.

This is a good spot for Silvery Checkerspot, and some were out.

At the river crossing, I noticed my FOY Royal River Cruiser.  Many dead mussels collect here and I saw various species.

Maple Leaf

Even hockey pucks sometimes show up.

Back a little further, I looked for Mocha Emerald, but did not see one.  Another Royal River Cruiser never perched for a photo!

Stream Bluet

Going further back, I was hoping to find Coral Hairstreak, but never did.  Not even Edwards'.  There are trails going way back, and perhaps they are on private property, but I used to go back there many years ago.  There always used to be tons of hairstreaks.

It was getting hotter as time went by, and when I left Moore, hairstreaks were difficult to find.

My next stop was McKeough where I wanted to look for Flag-tailed Spinyleg.  I was about to give up when something caught my eye.  I chased it down and sure enough it was a freshly-emerged Flag-tailed.

The heat was getting to me by this time, but I still stopped at Reid CA for a quick look.  No Dukes' yet, but I got a new species for my list there.

This Baltimore Checkerspot was nice to see!  I have had them at McKeough, but I do not think I have seen one at Reid.

There were lots of hairstreaks out at Reid as well, and I spotted one Northern Oak.

The Northern Oak will soon be done for another year.

It was noon by this time, and I was done for the day!


Today, I went as far as Ipperwash.  I like the Dunes and Swales area, so checked it out.

Common Roadside Skipper

The Cedar Trail is nice this time of year as it skirts the wetland.  I was looking for odes, but not too many out today.  One area looked good for Spatterdock Darner, and perhaps I may have seen one in the distance.

Birds were not too noteworthy, but a resident Black-and-White Warbler was nice to hear.  Veery is common here and one was singing atop a dead tree!

I stopped by Forest Lagoons on the way back.  Hardly a bird in sight, but water levels are dropping in time for shorebird migration.
I walked around the one cell, and some dragonflies caught my eye.  Two or three Variegated Meadowhawks were noted.

It has been a few years since I have seen this species, as it is sometime not too common.

I stopped by Moore WMA once again, but not many hairstreaks were visible. 

Bronze Copper

Banded Hairstreak

"Moore" mussels....

Tomorrow is the first butterfly count.  Hopefully we will not be "skunked".

Pelee: Ode to Joy

Common Painted-Lady (very common!)

I skimmed down to Point Pelee today to look for insects.  Turned out to be a decent day with lots flying.  For something different, I started on Marsh Boardwalk.  I heard that Lilypad Forktails appear there among other things.  Some were seen yesterday by Bruce Ripley.  Not sure if I saw any since many of those damn selflies look so much alike.
A family of Eastern Kingbirds was working the rails.

Least Skipper (numerous today)

I walked around De Laurier trail next hoping to find some birds.  No such luck.  In fact there were very few birds today.
By this time, it was sunny enough on west beach trail to look for leps and odes.  Actually there were lots of butterflies and dragonflies flying, so I was kept busy.  Flies were plentiful as well, so it was uncomfortable at times.  I expected this with the recent northerly wind.  I walked twice, with a break in between.

Variegated Meadowhawk

Highlight butterfly was a female Horace's Duskywing.  This creature was very mobile as I chased it around and I only managed one half decent photo.

Horace's Duskywing!

Highlight dragonfly was an immature female Great Blue Skimmer. This large dragonfly caught my eye and I managed one decent photograph.  After capturing it with the camera, I thought about it for a few minutes and concluded it was a Great Blue Skimmer.  After finding one a month ago in Middlesex county and researching them, it was an easy fit.  Only a couple of Point Pelee records previously.

Great Blue Skimmer!

Here is a list of butterflies that I posted this afternoon:

Silver-spotted Skipper (1)

Horace's Duskywing (1 female)

Fiery Skipper (8)

Dun Skipper (1)

Giant Swallowtail (~15)

Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (4)

Spicebush Swallowtail (2)

Gray Hairstreak (2)

Variegated Fritillary (1)

Common Painted-Lady (100+)

Common Buckeye (~35)

+ other common ones

Variegated Fritillary

Gray Hairstreaks

Dickcissels were still singing away in the traditional spots.  One at concession C, and the few at Hillman Marsh CA.

noisy Dickcissel

All in all, a good day after sleeping in a bit and heading home by 2 p.m.!