Lagoons and Things

Friday, I checked out a couple of sewage lagoons for shorebirds.  Some lagoons are quite good providing habitat for shorebirds, while others are not.
Forest is one of the better one, but not the best right now.  Last year it was excellent and should be good in coming weeks as well.  That was my first stop on Friday.
There was not reallly anything of note though, but lots of Lesser Yellowlegs which are common at lagoons right now.

I then headed over to Strathroy.  Often, this place is not good for shorebirds, but this year it is the best it has been in many years.  In fact, it is certainly one of the better places for shorebirds right now.
Several birders were present this day, some of whom I knew.

Lots of shorebirds were there to sort through, but nothing in the rare department.  I spent over two hours there.  Many Solitary Sandpipers are around right now.

Solitary Sandpiper

Along the way I found this moth.

Squarsh Borer Moth

At the parking lot just before I got in the car I spotted a Broad-winged Skipper.

On the way home I stopped by a couple of spots near home, including Wilkesport, Reid and McKeough.  I was mainly looking for insects.  I saw Royal River Cruisers at each location.

EasternTailed-Blue

At Wilkesport, I walked along the edge of the prairie planting.  Not as good as last year, but various plants were noted.

Culver's Root

Missouri Ironweed

Spiked Blazing Star

Dukes' Skippers on their way out at Reid, looking a little worn.  I found three or four.

At McKeough, I took a quick look along the river's edge.  A couple of Flag-tailed Spinylegs were present.

Today, I decided to go back to Strathroy since it is good right now.  On the way, I stopped by Bridgen Lagoons, a little known spot.  Although I had stopped there occasionally over the years, it was never good for shorebirds.  However, this year, the one cell is excellent.  I did not spot anything of note this morning in my brief visit, but is certainly worth checking. One must note, it is one of those deals where it is fenced with No Trespassing signs, so one must be wary.


At Strathroy, there were still lots of shorebirds, but perhaps a few less than the previous day.  Proabably the only thing different was a possible Baird's (some there recently), but I could not get a handle on it.
Lots of Lesser Yellowlegs around, as well as Least Sandpipers.

Heading back towards home, I stopped by Skunk's Misery to walk the trail off Sassafras.

Northern Crescent

Tawny emperor

American Pelecinid Wasp

On the way back I stopped by Florence to look at the river for odes.  Several Swift River Cruisers were still flying, lots of American Ruby Spots, and various dancers along the edge.  I did not see Dusky, but maybe it is getting late for them.

I was home by noon, but just as well since the rain was coming in (sooner than expected!).

Many Meanderings

Saturday started out a bit gloomy.  There was sun in Wallaceburg first thing, but clouds to the north and south as I headed down to Rondeau.  I walked around the park a bit, but nothing of note appeared.  The Prothonotary Warblers were on Tulip Tree trail as usual.  One was preening.

I stopped by Keith McLean C.L.  We are in the midst of fall migration for shorebirds..already!  Some fall migrants have shown up recently.  I did not brave walking out on the mud though.  A Lesser Yellowlegs got up at one point.

Along the causeway, I noticed a bird carcass (actually two!) as I headed north.  As usual, somone was  tailgating me, so I had to go ahead and turn back.  I thought it looked like a Least Bittern and sure enough it was.  It had been freshly hit as it was still breathing, but would not last much longer.  A horrible sight!

Another dead one was nearby.  Difficult to say what happened, as accidents do happen, but the way so many people drive these days who knows.

In the afternoon it turned out nice so I headed up to hairstreak headquarters.  I found four Oak Hairstreaks in short order.  One was very beaten up.

I also saw my first Wood Nymph and Appalachian Brown of the year.

Today, I had no idea what to do, but ended up going to Skunk's Misery. I spent more time there than I usually do (over three hours) looking for birds, then butterflies.
I came up with 13 Hooded Warblers, among other things.
There was not much diversity in butterflies, but Tawny Emperor stole the show today.  There were hundreds!  It was incredible to see "flocks" of them.

I saw easily close to 400--certainly the most I have ever seen.

A few Hackberry Emperors were around too.

Some Banded Hairstreaks were out and about as well.

I stopped by the Florence bridge since it was on the way home.  The river was running high so it was disappointing for odes.  Last year I saw the Dusky Dancer there among other things.  Other odes were dancing around though.

Blue-tipped Dancer

Blue-fronted Dancer

Before heading home, I stopped again at hairstreak headquarters and met up with Bill Lamond.  Bill had never seen the Oak Hairstreak before, so we got on some of them.

I also found one dead one attached to an Indian Hemp flower head.

Quite a few Banded Hairstreaks were also out and about.  I even had one stop by the yard this afternoon.

A number of odes were flying.  It is actually a good place for odonates!  Racket-tailed Emerald was still around, and at one point we noticed another, but different, emerald.  It got away, but I headed off at that point.
Bill later caught it and it turned out to be a Mocha Emerald!  Although not entirely surprising, I had never identified one there before.  In the past I have seen emerald-like odes flying around, but never got on them.  I have seen them at McKeough CA a couple of concessions north from there.
I am sure Bill will not mind his photo being posted here of the Mocha Emerald.

photo by Bill Lamond 28 June 2020

It is a great time of year to be out, especially looking for insects.  Next Sunday is the Skunk's Misery butterfly count.  It will go ahead under different circumstances as one would expect.

Blue Dasher

Weekend Tours: Lagoons to Comets

I did quite a bit of touring around this weekend.  Saturday morning I started at Forest Lagoons.  There were not as many shorebirds as in previous visits and certainly nothing unusual.  Always interesting to check out though.

"kleet!"

SBD

I decided to go further afield and head up to West Perth Wetlands at Mitchell.  This is a managed wetland and excellent for shorebirds and one of my favourite stops while in the area.

Upon arrival, I happened to meet up with local resident Dave Brown.  We checked out the shorebirds in the cells.  There were lots, but nothing on the rare side.

Pec

The Red-necked Phalarope that was seen a couple of days previous had long since left.  It was one shorebird I was hoping to catch up with, but as usual the "better" shorebirds usually do not stay any length of time.😢
There were lots of Lesser Yellowlegs (no Greaters) and at least three Stilt Sandpipers among other species.

After some time there, I departed to head back south.  On the way, I stopped by Strathroy lagoons.  It was dead!👎  Apparently there were some birds there earlier in the day, but obviously something made them take off.  I had to check anyway as it was exactly six years ago I found an American Avocet there (5 August 2012).

Today, Sunday, I took my annual mid summer visit into west Elgin County.  I started at Port Stanley lagoons.  There is a bit of edge on a couple of the ponds, but shorebirds were few. A female Bufflehead was the oddball duck there.

Cedar Waxwing

My next stop was Fingal WMA around the Ian Carmichael pond.  There were not as many butterflies this year as in the past.

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Blue Dasher

A Cicada Killer Wasp buzzed past me and set down briefly.

I walked around the prairie planting area.

By this time, it was getting steamy hot, but I moved on to my next stop at Southwold Earth Works south of Iona.  I always stop here as one time many years ago I had a bonanza of butterflies.  Today there were very few (again).

Tawny-edged Skipper

Farther to the southwest, I wanted to check out the new wetland area at Pearce Provincial Park.

There is a nice long trail through and around the wetland area.  I found lots of dragonflies of at least ten species here including Calico Pennant, Carolina Saddlebags, Wandering Glider, etc.

Common Whitetail

Widow Skimmer

Eastern Pondhawk

The Spicer Trail through the woodland is adjacent to this wetland, which I walked a bit.

Great Fangled Spangled Fritillary

Heading west, I stopped at Joe's Bush NW of New Glasgow along Silver Clay Line.  There is nothing special here, but I have walked this preserved woodlot in the past.

Way back in there is a remnant of the past.

Next on the agenda was a stop at the old quarry within the Clear Creek Nature Reserve off Cochrane Line.  Recently, I had a hunch that perhaps Comet Darners would be here, so I wanted confirm that.
Shortly upon arrival, I saw one!  I am not sure if they have been reported here before, but obviously they have been here and it was exciting to me.
I stayed for a bit and saw at least three of the large bright red odes.  It was near impossible to get a photo, but I tried anyway.

There were several other species here as well.

Calico Pennant

Last stop was at the Thamesville bridge to look for Rubyspots.  Unfortunately, one can only access the east side, which is rather difficult along the bank.  A new bridge is being constructed on the west side so some habitat is being destroyed.  There are some rare or unique trees planted in a little park beside the waterplant for a side interest.

Both American Rubyspot and Smoky Rubyspot can be found here.  Smoky is rather rare in Ontario.

By this time I was whipped due to the heat and humidity!  I headed home to crank up the air conditioner!