Dickcissel Season and Another New Lambton Bird

 Time marches on!  I have been making my usual rounds of late, taking advantage of the nice weather.

Friday I headed down to Rondeau for one last walk there until perhaps August.  Mosquitoes were bad!  I walked down Harrison from maintenance to Bennett and back Lakeshore Road.  I encountered quite a few birds, including Hooded Warbler, a couple of Acadian Flycatchers and others.

Little Wood Satyr

It was then off to Wardsville to look for odonates.  Unfortunately they were a bit thin there!  I did get one of my targets, that being an Arrowhead Spiketail.

I did see at least one other spiketail which I thought was a Twin-spotted, but it was flying high and had some sort of prey. It seemed to be looking for a spot to stop and consume the meal.

There were a couple of Midland Clubtails, but no Cobras yet.

Butterflies included Peck's Skippers.

Next day was the annual bird survey at Sydenham River Nature Reserve.  Counters were thin.  Seems interest has waned in this event, as it is difficult to get volunteers anymore.

I found the usual residents on my route, and nothing special.  Although a female Common Merganser on the river was a bit unusual.

Before leaving, I took a look for odonates and managed to find what I was looking for.  An Arrowhead Spiketail!

In the past we have had Rusty Snaketail here, but it has been several years since I have seen one.

It was early in the day and quite windy, so odes were sparse.

Dot-tailed Whiteface

Common Whitetail

Midland Clubtail

The ravines here are impressive.

Yesterday, I had the urge to head up to north Lambton.  Last Thursday evening, James Holdsworth found a White-faced Ibis at the Thedford Lagoons.  This species is good anywhere in Ontario, but it was a first record for Lambton.  Probably way overdue.

I did not really have the chance or ambition to try for it until yesterday.  I went quite early, and basically found it right away.  It was too distant under heavy clouded skies to attempt a photo.

That was my second new bird for Lambton County in less than a week!  One can go years without adding anything, but to get two in short order is satisfying.

I continued on and visited various places including a walk at Ausable River Cut CA.  I looked at mussels there and found the usuals, plus the rarer Wabash Pigtoe. 

Next stop was the Lambton Heritage Forest.  Acadian Flycatchers seem to be having a good year there, as I encountered eleven singing birds.

On the other hand, Hooded Warblers are less plentiful this year.  I noticed that at Skunk's Misery as well.  I wonder what is going on with them?

I did get two Cerulean Warblers to add to the list.

Some Hobomok Skippers were flying in the sunny spots.

I also came across another Cherry Scallop Shell Moth.  Very attractive!

(cell phone pic!)

Next stop was nearby Karner Blue Sanctuary. Insects were very scarce there it seemed.  

I did encounter a Blue-winged Warbler singing an almost perfect Northern Parula Song.  The Merlin app was registering it as a parula.  It took a long time to spot the bird, as I wanted to make sure! Yep, it was the Blue-winged!

I also walked the Sandrin Tract Woods trail nearby.  The "bowl" is almost dried up showing the lack of rain we have had in the last year.

A couple of duskywings there were Juvenal's.

Not many odes, even though this has been a hotspot.

Midland Clubtail

Four-spotted Skimmer

Twelve-spotted Skimmer

One last stop was Reid C. L. before getting home.  Things not looking good there either for insects. Some Four-spotted Skimmers were flying.

Today, I knew that Dickcissels were around.  They obviously just arrived.  I went down to SW Chatham-Kent to a couple usual spots and had no problem finding some.

singing up a storm!

I am sure some will be arriving elsewhere including Lambton County soon, if not already.

A Visit to Bruce County

 This past Sunday I had a small window of opportunity to get away for a couple of days during this hectic year. My choice was Bruce County!  As per usual, I camped for two nights at MacGregor Point Provincial Park.  Weather was decent for the most part, but Sunday there was a stiff wind coming in directly off the lake making things a bit cool. As well, an unexpected rain around midnight Sunday night caused a little concern in an old tent!

The drive north Sunday morning was nice and leisurely.  I stopped at Port Franks to walk the Sandrin Tract Woods trail.  Quite a few birds were along the way, including two Hooded Warblers at the start.

Next stop was a favourite place south of Goderich.  Naftel's Creek Conservation Area is a neat place for birding if one wants a break in driving.

Making good time, I decided to drive straight up to Oliphant to look at the fen.  The stiff west wind did not help matters with regards to insects, but I found a few.  Mainly meadowhawks.

White-faced Meadowhawk

Band-winged Meadowhawk

Black Meadowhawk

Although late in the season, a few plants found in this type of habitat were evident.

Lesser Fringed Gentian

Sticky False Asphodel

Kalm's Lobelia

The above is Sphinx Ladies Tresses, although I did not take time for a proper photo!

I then headed back to MacGregor Point to check in to the campsite and walk some trails.

The Lake Ridges Trail is a decent but rugged birding trail, although I did not see too many things on my walk there.

Near the visitor centre, I saw some darners.  Not sure what species as they were not close.  Possibly Canada Darner.

Other than stopping at the campsite for supper, I was on the go all the time checking out various parts of the park.  A distant view of Chantry Island is always a familiar sight from the north end of the park.

As per tradition, I go for a walk along the lakeshore in the evening.  

Par for the course, I stopped at Watersnake Pond.

In the evening, just before going to sleep, an Eastern Whip-poor-will sang briefly just after 10:00.

Monday morning dawned clear and cool as I headed north out of the park.  Although one could spend a week checking out places on the Bruce, I wanted to visit some familiar locations on the peninsula.  

I drove straight to Petrel Point, a  favourite Ontario Nature property.  I first visited this place about 1991.  It has been a must-visit place every time I am up that way!  Uncommon to rare plants can be found here on the fen.

We used to be able to walk both sides of the road, but just the south side is available now.  Just as well in this very sensitive habitat.

It can be a good birding spot as well.

Continuing on, I next drove The Bury Road, where there are lots of pastures.  It is an excellent birding road with its open-ness and some wooded areas along the way.  Birds of interest this day included a Peregrine Falcon, Brewer's Blackbirds, and lots of Savannah Sparrows.  I should have spent more time along the road....one never knows what may turn up there!  I drove about 10 km of it.

Next stop farther north was the Lindsay Tract Trails.  An extensive system of trails is here and one could spend hours!  I walked a portion of it.

Blue Cohosh along the trail

This is a far north as I went on the peninsula, so I headed back down highway 6 to Mar where I took Red Bay Road back over to the main road south.

After a lunch in Port Elgin, I headed back to the park to walk the Tower Trail, another good birding trail that skirts a wetland.

One of several Belted Kingfishers

Farther along, I did find  some pockets of warblers, etc.  Highlight was a Blue-winged Warbler, somewhat unexpected on this trip.  Came up "rare" on eBird in any case.

An Eastern Comma posed nicely in the warm sun at one point.

Later, I walked near the visitor centre and out sunset point, and area.  One of the butterflies I hoped to encounter this trip was Leonard's Skipper.  There were very few butterflies, but I looked intently and managed to find one!

Seiche Pond area is a nice spot not too many know about.   Good for insects, but not this day.  Better earlier in the summer. 

Nearby was Painted-Cup Paintbrush.  Renamed a number of years ago from a less politically-correct name!

It was a nice calm evening for a leisurely walk and to relax at the campsite.  I noticed a Common Nighthawk fly over at one point, and after 8 p.m. a Whip-poor-will sang.

Tuesday morning was calm but cool and I checked out the lakeshore areas on my way out of the park.  It was evident there was a good movement of warblers along the lake.  Most went unidentified!

It was then time to head back south homeward.  There was likely a good movement of birds along the lakeshore this particular morning.  The "Bluff" north of Grand Bend might have been a good spot!  In any case, I noticed a lot of Turkey Vultures moving on the way south.

One final stop was Ausable River Cut CA.  I did find a decent pocket of birds, included was a Mourning Warbler.

As usual, I looked for mussels.  This large Wabash Pigtoe caught my eye.  In the vulnerable class.

Three-ridge is common here, and pretty obvious!

Arriving home, this walking stick insect was on the back door to greet me!

A nice little trip indeed, but winter is coming....

Winterberry Holly