Homeward Bound

I don't really have a snazzy title for this post...

This past weekend I was down in Kingsville for a bioblitz (perhaps more on that later). On Sunday, after waking up from some much needed rest after mothing until the wee hours of the morning, I began my drive back home to London. Since the weather was quite nice, I decided to make a few stops along the way. 

My first destination was near Tilbury. I knew that were were some rare sedges found here, and I wanted to see if I could find them. I needed my sedge fix! I was sort of disappointed by the lack of sedge diversity on the bioblitz. 

Almost immediately, I found a nice little "honey hole" by a pond. One of the species that first caught my eye was Muskingum Sedge (Carex muskingumensis). This is a somewhat rare sedge in Ontario, ranked S3, although it is listed as common in Essex County. It is a member of Carex section Ovales, which can be a pain to identify. Thankfully, this one is quite distinctive, as its spikes are elongated. 

Another species I was extremely pleased to see was Ravenfoot Sedge (Carex crus-corvi). In Ontario, it is only found in Essex and Lambton counties, and it ranked S1, the rarest of the rare. This is a species I have long wanted to see in the flesh. It is a member of Carex section Vulpinae, and is told from the others by its crazy long-beaked perigynia. There are four species from this section in Ontario, all of which I have now seen! 

There were a few other more common species of sedges growing in the same area as well.

Swan's Sedge (Carex swanii) is typically fairly rare,
but common in the area!

Hop Sedge (Carex lupulina)

Greater Straw Sedge (Carex normalis)

Necklace Sedge (Carex projecta)

Blunt Broom Sedge (Carex tribuloides)

Another species of sedge restricted to the Carolinian zone is Shoreline Sedge (Carex hyalinolepis). This is another species that is actually common in Essex County, despite its rarity everywhere else. Although I didn't stop to look for myself, my understanding is that is grows in the roadside ditches with frequency! It is similar to Lake Sedge (Carex lacustris), which is quite common. Both of these species of sedges are host plants for the Dukes' Skipper, although it seems most of Ontario's Dukes' Skippers (that I know of) are found where there is Shoreline Sedge present. 

This is Bracted Sedge (Carex radiata). It is quite similar to Rosy Sedge (Carex rosea), but has thinner leaves, and the stigmas are coiled differently when present. There is a rare similar species known from Essex, Reflexed Sedge (Carex retroflexa), but the beak of its perigynia isn't toothed, as you can see is the case here. I am not sure the last time Reflexed Sedge has been seen in Ontario, but I am hoping to one day come across it for myself! 

One last interesting sedge I found was this one. It gave me a bit of trouble, but I eventually settled on Bronze Sedge (Carex foenea), although that still remains a bit tentative. Bronze Sedge is a bit of a weird one in that it is a native species further north in Ontario, but is introduced in the Carolinian zone. This would be a new record for Essex County if my identification is correct. 

I spotted a Racket-tailed Emerald at one point, which certainly seemed odd for this far south in the province. I am not sure of their status in Essex County.

After I was done there, I went up to Reid CA north of Wallaceburg. Here I was in search of Oak Hairstreak butterflies, a rare species in Ontario. I knew it was getting to the end of their flight period, but thought I would give it a try.

There were tons of hairstreaks. Most were Banded, but a couple Striped were mixed in. I would estimate there to have been easily over 100 in total.

Finally I managed to find a couple Oak Hairstreaks, looking a bit worse for wear.

I walked around a bit more. I spotted a few interesting species of dragonflies.

Four-spotted Skimmer

Royal River Cruiser

Racket-tailed Emerald

I also saw a Slaty Skimmer and a Spot-winged Glider near the entrance, but I didn't get any photos. As I was walking back, I had a dragonfly go over I am fairly sure was a Somatochlora emerald, likely Mocha, but I lost it. I still need Mocha Emerald, so file this under "disappointing misses". 

Since I was in the area I popped up to McKeough CA and looked for Pronghorn Clubtails. I found one right away. 

Still too early for Flag-tailed Spinyleg I imagine! 

On my way north, I made a quick stop into Moore WMA to check on a population of Davis' Sedge (Carex davisii), another rare (S2) sedge in Ontario. This species seems to be mature and finish up quickly! 

One last stop before going home was to check on some Dickcissels. I went to the field at the corner of Winter Drive and Sexton Drive, and found a couple of singing males, as well as a third bird that I was unable to sex. They were singing from a wheat field, so who knows how long they'll last.

Great way to cap off the weekend!

Skunks and a Spinyleg

Yesterday was the Skunks Misery butterfly count. I haven't done this count in a couple years, so it was nice to be able to do it!

I was assigned to the Newport County forest, near the edge of the count circle, so that's where my party spent the morning. This is a property that was donated to the Thames Talbot Land Trust. 

There was a nice big meadow waiting upon our arrival, and in it several of our first butterfly species, including a few species of skippers, Common Wood-Nymphs (the most numerous species), Great Spangled Fritillary, Eastern Tailed-Blue, and our first of several Hackberry Emperors. 

Eastern Tailed-Blue

Hackberry Emperor

Of course, I do get easily distracted by odonates. There were a couple species of interest in the meadow.

Midland Clubtail

Halloween Pennant

We worked our way down to the river through the forest, tacking on a couple more species here and there, including Tawny Emperor, Eastern Tiger Swallowtail, and Little Wood-Saytr. There were several Blue-winged Warblers (including a baby) and a singing Mourning Warbler. 

Tawny Emperor

We eventually made it down to the river.

We had hoped for an American Snout, but no luck. There were several more Tawny and Hackberry Emperors, as well as some Question Marks, Dun Skippers, an Eastern Comma and Gray Comma down by the river's edge. This is where we added the bulk of our Cabbage White numbers as well.

There were a few Midland Clubtails over the river, as well as a Swift River Cruiser. This is the first time I have seen these species on the Thames River.

Swift River Cruiser

We worked our way through the woods, but as expected didn't really see all too much else. We did, however, add Banded Hairstreak and Silvery Checkerspot to the list. The checkerspot is a new species for me. I also saw a Fawn Darner, but it didn't stick around for any good photos.

Silvery Checkerspot

Banded Hairstreak

A favourite summertime wildflower for many is Michigan Lily (Lilium michiganense).

On our way back, we added Peck's Skipper to the list. Things were getting hot out!

In all we ended up with 20 species; Eastern Tiger Swallowtail (2), Cabbage White (51), Clouded Sulphur (4), Banded Hairstreak (6), Eastern Tailed-Blue (5), Great Spangled Fritillary (14), Silvery Checkerspot (1), Northern Crescent (7), Question Mark (4), Eastern Comma (1), Gray Comma (1), Hackberry Emperor (6), Tawny Emperor (11), Little Wood-saytr (4), Common Wood Nymph (76), Monarch (2), European Skipper (17), Peck's Skipper (2), Delaware Skipper (3), and Dun Skipper (10).

Afterwards, with the afternoon ahead of us with really nothing else to do, we headed west into Lambton county. First I checked out Reid CA. I figured I was pushing my luck, but maybe I'd be able to see an Oak Hairstreak, a very rare species of butterfly. I ran into Blake, so we spent some time looking, but no luck! Lots of Bandeds and a Striped though.

Banded Hairstreak

Striped Hairstreak

There were a few species of dragonflies hanging around most noteworthy being a Royal River Cruiser. This is a pretty range restricted dragonfly in Ontario. I couldn't catch it, but here is one from Reid last August.

There are a couple interesting sedges at Reid. One is Shoreline Sedge (Carex hyalinolepis), a very Carolinian species, uncommon in Ontario. This is a foodplant for Dukes' Skipper, of which Blake said are found here. I also found what I think is Pointed Broom Sedge (Carex scoparia), which is listed as rare in Lambton. This sedge is part of the quite difficult group in the genus Carex called Ovales, so consider the identification somewhat tentative. It is similar to Bebb's Sedge (Carex bebbii), but something just seemed off for it being that!

Pointed Broom Sedge

Shoreline Sedge

Blake gave me directions to McKeough CA, so off I went to my last stop of the day.

I was hoping for Flag-tailed Spinyleg, another rare species of dragonfly in Ontario, and one I have not seen before. There were several species of odonate present when I arrived to the conservation area, one of the more charismatic being Rainbow Bluet.

There were also several Pronghorn Clubtails. I have seen them before, but its still nice to lay eyes on this uncommon species! I think this is the first time an ode has made me audibly yelp when it bit me!

Eventually I did notice a larger somewhat teneral (young) clubtail flying up ahead of me. I got closer, and confirmed it was my target! I gently placed my net over it, and soon I had my lifer Flag-tailed Spinyleg in my hands! I'll have to return when it is a little less delicate and a bit more colourful!

Just as I was leaving, I saw something else nice, a young Longnose Gar! I have only seen one prior to this.

Overall a very fun insect-filled day! Summer is just getting started, hopefully some more odonate content to come.