The Quest to...Ten

Of the dragonflies, the ones that I find the most fascinating, for some reason, are those of the genus Sympetrum, commonly known as the meadowhawks.

Meadowhawks have a reputation of being impossible to identify, and in most cases that is just not true. The only trouble comes with the Ruby, Cherry-faced, and White-faced (Sympetrum rubicundulum/internum/obtrusum) complex. Even so, in mature males, really only Ruby and Cherry-faced cause any problems.

Ontario has had ten species of meadowhawks, eight of which are regular, and two of which are very rare vagrants. 

1. Saffron-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum costiferum) 
2. Cherry-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum internum) 
3. White-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum obtrusum) 
4. Ruby Meadowhawk (Sympetrum rubicundulum) 
5. Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum) 
6. Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum) 
7. Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) 
8. Black Meadowhawk (Sympetrum danae) 
9. Blue-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum ambiguum) ***VERY RARE 
10. Red-veined Meadowhawk (Sympetrum madidum) ***VERY RARE

Of the regularly occuring eight, I'd say six are fairly easy to find.

At the time of writing, I have seen six out of the ten species:

1. Saffron-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum costiferum) 
2. Cherry-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum internum) 
3. White-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum obtrusum) 
4. Ruby Meadowhawk (Sympetrum rubicundulum) 
5. Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum) 
6. Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum) 

With any luck, by the time you are reading this I will have seen a seventh, Black Meadowhawk (Sympetrum danae), which regularly occurs on on the coast of James Bay, and ranges throughout much of central and northern Ontario.

Assuming I get lucky with those Blacks, I will be left with three species to complete my Ontario Sympetrum list.

1. Variegated Meadowhawk (Sympetrum corruptum) 
2. Blue-faced Meadowhawk (Sympetrum ambiguum) 
3. Red-veined Meadowhawk (Sympetrum madidum) 

Variegated is regular but uncommon in Ontario. From my research, it seems that the "peak" is in the spring, however there are records each year from the fall. Literature suggests that these fall records may be migrants from the west, where they are much more common. With enough looking, I am bound to one day stumble across one.

As for the other two, Blue-faced and Red-veined, I will have to work much, much, much, MUCH harder. From my research, there are only a couple records of each from the province. I believe they do occur much more regularly, however go undetected due to lack of observers.

Blue-faced is likely to occur in the Windsor/Essex/Pelee region, and I'd imagine that with the right conditions, an individual or two are likely to wander from the population just on the other side of the border.

Red-veined is a dragon of the west, ranging into Manitoba fairly close to the Ontario border. I would think they could occur in Ontario, possibly as a breeder, but they just go undetected due to the remoteness. Places to check could include Rainy River and Kenora Districts.

I am looking forward to the challenge of finding these dragonflies. I am sure I will see lots of cool things along the way!

Band-winged Meadowhawk (Sympetrum semicinctum)

***This is a scheduled post, so if you are reading this within a couple weeks of when it was posted, I am currently on the coast of James Bay trying not to get eaten by a bear :-)

Highlights from Moth Week 2018

A little while ago, at the end of July, was moth week. I saw about 130 species, not bad considering the weather and the moon cycle (it was full, which isn't too good for mothing!)

Chestnut-marked Pondweed Moth

Moonseed Moth

Woody Underwing

Common Grass-Veneer

Brown-hooded Owlet

Dark-spotted Palthis moth

Bicolored Pyrausta Moth

Virginian Tigermoth

False Hemlock Looper

Pale-veined Isturgia

Betrothed Underwing

Twin-spotted Sphinx

Sharp-angled Carpet

Apical Prominent

Orange-headed Epicallima Moth

Ailanthus Webworm

Wavy-lined Emerald

Double-banded Grass-Veneer

Interrupted Dagger

Ruby Tiger Moth

Painted Lichen Moth

Wheathead Armyworm

Elm Spanworm

Greater Oak Dagger

Morning-glory Plume Moth

Unicorn Prominent 

Badwing Moth

Virginia Ctenucha

Armyworm Moth

Yellow Wave Moth

Green Leuconycta Moth

***This is a scheduled post, so if you are reading this within a couple weeks of when it was posted, I am currently on the coast of James Bay trying not to get eaten by a bear :-)

Hamilton/Niagara July 26th

Back on July 26th I went on a little excursion to the Hamilton/Niagara region to see what I could see.

I saw a few things.

Wandering Glider

Sanderling

Yellow Warbler

Common Tern

Caspian Tern

I was also very pleased to see my Ontario lifer Fish Crow. Unfortunately, I had my camera lens on close focus mode (for butterflies and stuff), so I couldn't focus when the crow was close. I did eventually get a couple photos as it was flying away.

***This is a scheduled post, so if you are reading this within a couple weeks of when it was posted, I am currently on the coast of James Bay trying not to get eaten by a bear :-)

I got the (Little) Blues

Okay, there was just one, but I really wanted to use that title.

On Friday, the day before I left for James Bay, I went and saw the Little Blue Heron, a rare bird in Ontario, reported from Wildwood Lake in Oxford county. I have tried and failed at Little Blues before, so I was hoping to redeem myself.

I am happy to report it was present!

It was fairly close at first, but soon after I arrived, it flew further back.

But just before I left it made a flyby, and I must say, I am very happy with the photos I got!

I'd say this bird showing up was perfect timing!


***This is a scheduled post, so if you are reading this within a couple weeks of when it was posted, I am currently on the coast of James Bay trying not to get eaten by a bear :-)

Made it to Moosonee!

After a long train ride, we have finally made it to Moosonee!

We have seen a few cool things along the way, with many more in store. Highlights include Black-backed Woodpeckers we found at a roadside stop, and a Red-necked Grebe we found in Moosonee, a local rarity.

We ship off first thing in the morning. See you in two weeks!

Red-necked Grebe

Black-backed Woodpecker

Red Fox

Off to the Bay! (And some odes)

This afternoon I went down to the Tillsonburg area in search of some uncommon odes. I struck out on my two main targets, Riverine and Laura's Clubtails, most likely due to the time (Riverine stops flying around 5pm) and the weather (it started to rain heavily!) Nevertheless, I did manage to find a couple cool things by wading in the Big Otter creek.

Zebra Clubtail

Fawn Darner

In other news, on Saturday I will be leaving the comforts of civilization, and will begin my journey to the coast of JAMES BAY! I am going up with the James Bay Shorebird Project as a volunteer, where I will be monitoring shorebird numbers and species as they make their way south on migration. I will also be joined with a number of my young naturalist friends, Jack, Nathan, and Ethan (who has a blog by the way, check it out!) I am looking forward to seeing what this adventure has in store, and I am sure it is many great things.

I might post an update with a few back of camera photos of things I have seen on my way to Moosonee before I leave for the remote field camp. I'll have to see what the WiFi is like. Look for it no later than Monday if I get around to doing it! 

I'll have lots of stories when I come back at the end of August!

Cambridge Things

Last Thursday I went to Cambridge in search of the reported Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. I struck out on the heron, but I was entertained by the insects, especially the dragonflies. I actually managed to find three species of dragonfly I had never seen before. There were no doubt more species, but I didn't bring my net!

Black-tipped Darner

Lance-tipped Darner

Williamson's Emerald

Ebony Jewelwings were very numerous.

There were a few American Rubyspots along the river.

There was a single Slender Spreadwing, and a single Shadow Darner.

Slender Spreadwing

Shadow Darner

A couple butterflies and moths.

Wild Indigo Duskywing

Gypsy Moth

No heron, but still a productive outing!

Lil' Snapper