....butterfly, that is. The periodic warmer weather has certainly brought out the butterflies. Some overwintered as adults, while others likely migrated on the brisk, warm southwesterly winds of recent days.
Eastern Commas and Mourning Cloaks are typical overwintering butterflies, and they are fairly regular in sunnier sections of woodland trails these days. Often they are just sunning, especially on a cool day....
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| Eastern Comma |
....but on occasion they find something delectable to sample.
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| Mourning Cloak |
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| Red Admiral |
I did see a couple of Spring Azures, or whatever the taxonomists are referring to them as now. Apparently there has been some significant taxonomic revisions going on recently.
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| Celastrina sp |
But the surprise lep of the day was not one, but two American Ladies, at Rondeau. One was on the Spicebush Trail, and the other in the Group Campground. They are fairly unusual this early in April. Since they don't normally overwinter in Ontario, presumably this one caught a ride on a southwest wind.
Another early surprise was this Swamp Darner, about the largest dragonfly to be found in southwestern Ontario. I knew several had been seen a day or so earlier, so it wasn't a total surprise. Normally they don't appear in Ontario until May, although they are known to occur in April in Ohio. They are migratory as well, so likely also caught a good southerly wind. The particularly cool morning on this day kept it quite motionless for a convenient photo op.
Warblers have not been plentiful yet, but that will change. I only saw this one migrant Yellow-rumped Warbler on my most recent visit. It was searching for insects at the edge of a wetland.
Turkey Vultures are of course plentiful, and are fun to photograph against a bright blue sky.
Shorebirds have not been plentiful, as wet fields and other areas are scarce right now in Chatham-Kent. But a small wet spot adjacent to a grassy field near Blenheim attracted 16 Pectoral Sandpipers as well as a Greater Yellowlegs a few days ago.
Horned Grebes are plentiful, and some are in nicely attired breeding plumage.
The ongoing White-winged Dove at Rondeau is cooperative for most people searching for it. On occasion it even provides a photo op in nice light!
