Activity was limited last week due to the extreme heat. Canada Day (July 1) was the hottest while I spent most of it outdoors at the Wallaceburg Museum. Each year, the museum puts on a celebration with displays, games for the kids, live music, barbeque and an assembly of vendors selling their goods.
Attendance was down obviously due to the heat, but a number of people came out.
The next morning, I went out to Mitchell's Bay early before the heat of the day set in. Mainly just for a walk!
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| Eastern Kingbird |
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| Chestnut-marked Pondmoth |
Tule Bluets are the most common there, with hundreds.
Friday was little better, but not by much. I went farther afield and ended up at Strathroy lagoons. Black-necked Stilts once again nested there, and the four young were out and about. The ponds are quite large, so photos were taken from a distance.
Farther west, Dickcissels were frequenting a field along Winter Drive. Up to six singing males have been seen. I saw at least three, including one on a wire along the road.
Down Sexton Road, there are some pastures. I finally found a Grasshopper Sparrow singing in one of them. It was too distant for a photo, but at least there is one in the area!
On the way home, I stopped at the Shetland Conservation Area boat launch which is a traditional spot to look for good odonates. There were not many! A continuing theme this year.
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| Powdered Dancer |
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| Blue-tipped Dancer |
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| Blue-fronted Dancer |
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| Stream Bluet duo |
Some butterflies were around as well.
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| Tawny Emperor |
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| American Painted-Lady |
One last stop was at Reid C. L. No hairstreaks yet again, but I did find a Bronze Copper which is good for there. In fact, I think it is the first one I have ever seen there.
Brings my total of butterflies there to 56 species.
This young White-tailed Deer was walking down the laneway at one point.
Yesterday was a bit rainy in the morning, so I just drove along the St. Clair River.
The afternoon turned out sunny, so after attending the Sombra Museum blueberry social, back I went to Reid.
Some moths caught my attention.
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| Saw-wing |
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| Grape Leaf Skeletonizer |
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| Hummingbird Clearwing |
I was hoping for Dukes' Skippers, as they should be out at this date. I was informed the site near Brigden had one in the morning.
Just before I left, I finally caught sight of one!
A couple other butterflies:
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| Dun Skipper |
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| Eastern tailed-Blue |
Plus a Monarch.
Today was a write-off as it rained most of it.