Dickcissels to Dragonflies

Today I decided to check out a few locations around home. The first was south of London on Scotland Drive. There has been a recent influx of Dickcissels lately in Ontario, and a few had been reported in the previous days.

It didn't take long to find a couple Horned Larks.

Soon after the larks, we found a singing Dickcissel (DICK). The DICK can be identified by it's yellow breast and rufous back. The males have a black "bib". DICKs have been invading Ontario, in particular southern Ontario, in numbers that were likely unprecedented.

After the first one flushed due to a passing truck, I continued up the road where I found this bird on a wire. It was very cooperative.

This isn't cropped at all.

A third was found back near where I left the truck, and the first bird was back to the field where I had originally spotted it. The field doesn't appear to be a crop of any kind, so it is likely that, as long as it isn't cut, the Dickcissels will stay and attempt to nest.

It soon flew up into a tree, which is where I left it.

I went to Weldon Park in Arva after lunch, which can be a great spot for dragonflies.

It took awhile, but I did eventually catch my first dragonfly...a Dot-tailed Whiteface.

A few more missed before I nabbed a Common (Eastern) Pondhawk.

I was unable to catch this guy, but it's a Unicorn Clubtail.

I was finally able to get a Common Whitetail after dozens of attempts.

Heading into the woods, I found a Rose-breasted Grosbeak and a couple American Redstarts.

The introduced European Skipper was seen.

To top off the day, I saw my first Silver-spotted Skippers of the year.

Tomorrow should prove to be exciting...stay tuned!