Some June Jaunts and Lodes of Odes

This past week I have not gone far, but have been keeping busy out in the field.  On Sunday I toured along Lake St. Clair down to Wheatley and over to Blenheim.  Nothing spectacular but one always hopes to find something of interest, but you have to get out there and try!

I checked out the shore trail at Mitchell's Bay, then went down to St. Clair NWA.  I thought this sign was neat with the physical distancing issue at hand.

Dickcissels are once again at the field east of Wheatley at Camper's Cove Road.  No photos, but always neat to hear them.

Blenheim lagoons had a male Canvasback and Ring-necked Duck, the only notables there.

Ring-necked always seems to show up in summer at Blenheim.

During the week, I went to Reid CA a couple of times to get a feels for when the hairstreaks might show.  I predicted Friday would be the day.  More on that later!

One evening, I just got in past the gate and noticed some dragonflies cruising about.  Emeralds!  Although I suspected I had a couple there a year ago, I never confirmed.  But this day, I managed to get a good look to confirm Racket-tailed Emerald.  It is a first for me there!

I usually have to go to Ipperwash to seem them at this time of year.  Not sure how significant this Reid record is, but going there the past twelve years, I have not seem them till now.

There were several other common species present.  I had Painted Skimmer on my mind, as I have had them there a couple of times in the past. 
Four-spotted Skimmer was there, although this one did not seem to be a typical one.  Poor photo though.

Common  Whitetail was the most common, and Widow Skimmer was also there.

Yesterday evening I was bored so headed up to south Sarnia.  After walking around Dow Wetlands, I slid over to the old landfill on Blackwell Road.  Dickissels finally showed up this week.  This is a spot they nest at every summer.

I suspect more are out in the depths of Lambton County.

Today, I had the urge to head up to Pinery just to look for anything of interest.  Odes were certainly on my mind as it is a good place for a variety of species.

Although I have seen Lilypad Clubtail before, it is the first time I have photographed these attractive creatures. Several were along the Ausable Channel in typical pose.

Cyrano Darner, uncommon in the area, has recently been reported there.  I am pretty sure I saw a couple, but was unable to photograph them.
Dot-tailed Whiteface was the most common.

Chalk-fronted Corporals were seen, as well as Blue Dashers.

These were at the boat ramp, but I am not sure what they are, as I am no expert and do not have the interest like others do.  Lighting was harsh there.

Likely Lilypad Clubtail

There were several damsels and spreadwings, but I sometimes draw the line on those!
This one was rather large.

JMH reported Lilypad Forktail a couple of days ago along the Ausable.  Not sure I saw them today, but I have seen the species before.

There was not much in the way of birds, but a Least Bittern at the Burley Bridge was heard well.  New for me in the park!

I stopped by a known spot for Prairie Warbler, and got one right away.  I find their high-pitched rising song very neat!  Good to know they are still breeding in the park these days.

Lots of butterflies around this day.  Some Northern Cloudywings were seen, but not to co-operative to photograph.

After Pinery, I stopped by Karner Blue Sanctuary. It was rather dead for butterflies!  Usually lots of duskywings, but nary a one today.

Silvery Checkerspot are regular in various spots in Pinery and area.

Had to make one more stop and walk at L-Lake.  Hooded Warbler is once again here.  Several cuckoos were heard.  In the last week or so I have come across lots of cuckoos everywhere.

Dragonflies here included Slaty Skimmer, among others.

Nearer home, I stopped by Reid CA in anticipation of seeing hairstreaks.  It is did not look promising at first, but I persisted, and finally spotted one.  I thought is was a Banded at first as I could not get a good view of it, but I snapped a photo.  Looking closer, it was an Oak Hairstreak!

Ok.....time to look around more.  Soon, I came across another which was nice and fresh.

Timing was just about right for emergeance.  Earliest was June 17, 2016 according to my records.

Pelee: Lodes of Odes

I like to try and get to Point Pelee once a week during fall migration if possible.  A Tip lakewatch is always fun, but this weekend the winds were not suitable for that.  Although there were quite a few Common Terns and Bonaparte's Gulls moving this morning, the north winds that kicked in Friday night were good for passserines.  As well, when it warms up, good for insects!

A strange pigeon is lurking around the Tip.....

I arrived at the park and met up with Mike Nelson and Steve Pike for the first tram to the Tip.  Lots of warblers were moving through at the VC, as well as thrushes.
It was one of those picture perfect days where you could not ask for nicer weather.  It was rather pleasant standing at the Tip this morning, as there were a few landbirds coming to the spot and a few things out over the water.

Lots of dragonflies were flying, although 98% were Common Green Darners.  At one point, I noticed a dragonfly perched atop a dead tree.  It was not close and I looked at it with binoculars for a bit.  Since it looked a bit different from any that I have seen before,  I got Steve and Mike on it.  I got a little closer to try and take photos.

We had already talked about saddlebags, and Striped had crossed our minds.  It thought it looked pretty good for Striped, but since I had no experience with them, it was not certain.  Unfortunately it took off when it got a good look at Steve.  (LOL!).
Later, Steve got out his field guide and it seemed to match a male Striped Saddlebags!

Just the past Tuesday, Bill Lamond had spotted one of these creatures.  It was only the second time Striped was recorded at Pelee. Back in October 2010 there were a few seen for the first time at Pelee.
They are at home in Texas, but sometimes wander far north in late summer and into fall.

Moving on, we later walked up the east side to Sparrow Field sorting through all the green darners.

female Common Whitetail

Continuing up west beach trail.....

Near the serengeti tree, we came across a Common Checkered-Skipper.  Not sure if any have been recorded within the park yet this year, but here is a photo:

Not long after, a duskywing caught our attention.  It turned out to be a worn female Wild Indigo.  Frankly, it was the largest Wild Indigo I have ever seen!

After that walk, Steve had to leave, so I went up to the Cactus Trail.  Lots of insects there including some darners.  There were Mottled and Lance-tipped for sure.

Mottled Darner

I encountered a few birds, including my first Lincoln's Sparrow of the fall.  These sparrows quietly migrate through and are not often seen!

The trail is rather overgrown.  Not sure why the park takes on these projects and then does no maintenance.  I came out covered in tick trefoil seeds!  That discouraged Jeremy Hatt, whom I met as I exited the trail!

I decided to walk west beach trail again (the usual one south of west beach parking lot).  I came across another Common Checkered-Skipper, although the sun was in the wrong direction.

More darners.  Seemed to be quite a few of these today, as well as Lance-tipped.  One I believe to be a Green-striped.

For a footnote, Shadow Darner has not been recorded within the park.  It has been found outside the park, and is somewhat common elsewhere, so it is an oddity.

After a check of North-west Beach area, I reluctantly headed home.

Stay tuned for more reports from Point Pelee!

Pelee Insects Plus a Bonus Dickcissel

I thought today would be a good day to go to Point Pelee mainly for insects.  On the way there, I drove by Hillman and heard a Dickcissel singing. In past years, there have been some there along Rd. 37, but this was the first one there for the year.
It was perched on a hydro wire on my way back, so that allowed a photo opportunity.

In Pelee, I walked out Shuster Trail and down the east beach.  Things looked pretty good for butterflies, especially farther down.  Abundant stands of Common Milkweed attracted several species.  There are also a couple patches of dogbane, but there seemed to be little in those.

Monarchs have been scarce in the last year or so, but I saw a few.

A couple of worn Great-spangled Fritillaries were also at work.

This skipper may be a Dun.

I was happy to see some hairstreaks as well.  About a half dozen Banded and two Striped were in one area.

Lots of bees and flies too!

There was Red-spotted Purple as well.

Needless to say, several Hackberry Emperors were flitting around.

At the Tip, nothing noteworthy in gulls.  Where are the Lesser Black-backed like they were last year? Several Bonaparte's Gulls were there, including a flyby mature adult.
The only two ducks were scaup.  One of each!  A Lesser and a Greater male.

I headed back up the west side, but was disappointed by the fact that there were practically no butterflies. Lots of dragonflies though including mostly Blue Dasher and Black Saddlebags.  Lots of Spot-winged Gliders and I saw a Wandering Glider as well.

Spot-winged Glider

There were a few Carolina Saddlebags in the mix.

Some Halloween Pennants were nice to see.

Several other common dragonflies included Widow Skimmer, Twelve-spotted Skimmer, Eastern Pondhawk and Green Darner.

Shorebirds to Odes

Started at Rondeau this morning.  Dark and gloomy weather!  Very little in migrants as expected but a couple of Olive-sided Flycatchers were still around.  One at the start of south point and one behind maintenance.
I came across about 3 Blackpoll Warblers, 1 Wilson's and a Magnolia.  The Magnolia was singing along the maintenance fence.


I checked out the beach area at Dog Beach where there is an interesting sand formation.  It started last fall and a couple of neat ponds are present.  A single White-rumped Sandpiper was probing the pond.


I went down to south point trail and walked back the beach.  About 75 Sanderlings were along the edge.  It was interesting to note the plumage variations.  Some very white to some with lots of colour!

Sanderlings 

Blenheim Lagoons had the usual Semipalmated and White-rumped Sandpipers.  Ducks included the two Redhead, an American Wigeon, a female Hooded Merganser, a Northern Shoveler and a few Ruddy Ducks.
After some lunch I skooted over to Ridgetown and met the OFO trip from Skunk's Misery.  More White-rumped and Semisands!

I headed back to north of Wallaceburg and checked out McKellar Tract on Bickford Line.  It is a neat area to check for dragonflies since there are lots of ponds.  Many species were present.  A few photos follow.  One clubtail I am stumped with. Feel free to comment.  thanks to Adam Timpf for helping me ID the clubtail!

Lilypad Clubtail 

Dot-tailed Whiteface

Calico Pennant

teneral Common Whitetail

Dot-tailed Whiteface (f) 

froggie