Butterflies of Newport Forest, Wardsville (Part of Skunks Misery)

I was surprised at the diversity of butterflies that I saw at Newport Forest today in just a couple hours. I have included photos of all my dubious identifications, and welcome input as I am just learning many of the species.  I have made tenuous guesses on a couple of species to start.

 My list for today was pretty good:

1.  Monarch 
2. Eastern Tiger 
3. Swallowtail Black Swallowtail 
4. Northern Crescent 
5. Orange Sulphur 
6. Cabbage White 
7. Clouded Sulphur 
8. Eastern Tailed Blue 
9. Wild Indigo Duskywing
10. Fiery Skipper
11. Variegated Fritillary
12. Common Buckeye  
13. Inornate Ringlet 
14. Painted Lady

Variegated Fritillary

Left to Right Clockwise:  Common Buckeye, Eastern Tailed Blue, Painted Lady

Fiery Skipper

Wild Indigo Duskywing

From left to right clockwise: Northern Crecent, Wild Indigo Duskywing, Black Swallowtail, Clouded Sulphur, Inornate Ringlet, Variegated Fritallary

Little jumping spider

Kee Dewdney has written a much more colourful report of this day that should soon be available at the following site: http://www.csd.uwo.ca/~akd/newport-forest/

Another Trip to the Strathroy Sewage Lagoons - American Avocet

Thanks to Blake Mann for putting me on to the American Avocet:

It was pouring rain this morning, so my plans got changed and I made a last minute decision to stop at Strathroy lagoons.
Good choice as there were lots of shorebirds including a lone American Avocet! It still had some colour and was probably a male due to curvature of the bill.
I would have stayed longer, but the pouring rain turned me away.

The lagoons are on the east side of Pike Rd. on the west edge of Strathroy.

Cheers,
Blake A. Mann
Wallaceburg."

and 

Hi all,

Touring around, I stopped in at Strathroy sewage lagoons this morning.  A good number of shorebirds was present, including an AMERICAN AVOCET.
It was father back on the mudflat in the north lagoon.
It was pouring rain, so I did not linger!

Directions:

The lagoons are on the east side of Pike Rd. on the west side of Strathroy. Exit hwy 402 (#65) at Victoria Rd and go south to Napperton Dr.  Turn right (west) and go a short distance to Pike Rd. (south).  After a kilometre or so there is a parking area on the left of Pike Rd.

Cheers,

Blake A. Mann
Wallaceburg, Chatham-Kent
boatmannATkentDOTnet
Blog: www.burgbirder.blogspot.com 

American Avocet at the Strathroy Sewage Lagoons

I just found this article, thanks to a link on Dave Skinner`s blog.  A great write-up on the Strathroy Lagoons and the birds that are found this time of year: http://www.lfpress.com/travel/2012/07/17/19997826.html

More Strathroy Sewage Lagoon Birds and Butterflies

From left to right: Tree Swallow, Purple Martin, Tree Swallow

Red-breasted Grosbeak

Clockwise left to right: Barn Swallow, Barn Swallow, Purple Martins

Green Heron

From top left clockwise: Common Buckeye, Northern Crecent, Orange Sulphur, Viceroy, Monarch

Painted Lady

Butterflies:

1. Viceroy
2. Monarch
3. Painted Lady
4. American Lady
5. Red-spotted Purple
6. Orange Sulphur
7. Cabbage White
8. Tiger Swallowtail
9. Black Swallowtail
10. Common Buckeye
11. Northern Crescent
12. Inornate Ringlet
13. Red Admiral
14. Eastern Comma
15. Skipper

Other animals:

• Common Snapper
• Painted Turtle
• Rabbit
• Eastern Gartersnake 
• Leopard Frog (dead - no sign of injury?)

Birds at the Strathroy Sewage Lagoons - August 1, 2, 4 and 5

Left to Right Clockwise: Least Sandpiper, Red-breasted grosbeak (juvenile), Brown-headed cowbird (juvenile).

From left to right clockwise: Tree Swallow (juvenile), Yellow Warbler, Eastern Kingbird, Barn Swallow, Yellow Warbler, Orchard Oriele (?), Cedar Waxwing, Cedar Waxwings, Willow Flycatcher.

European Starling (juvenile)

From left to right clockwise: Spotted Sandpiper, Solitary Sandpiper with Lesser Yellowlegs, Yellow Warbler, Lesser Yellowlegs, Painted Lady, American Glodfinch, mostly Tree Swallows.

Top left to right clockwise: Yellow Warbler, Lesser Yellowlegs, Painted Lady, Swallow, Red-Breasted Grosbeak (juvenile)

Cowbird, Warbling Vireo, Tree Swallow and Bank Swallow, Song Sparrow, Sandpiper

Cedar Waxwing (juvenile)

I was surprised to find the sewage lagoons buzzing with activity.  Above are my picutes from the 1st and 2nd of August.  I have made guessed at identifcation, but as alway welcome other opinions, as I am an amature birder. 


My list for today and yesterday evening:

1. Canada Goose
2. Mallard Duck
3. American Robin
4. American Crow
5. Wood Duck
6. American Goldfinch
7. Barn Swallow
8. Tree Swallow
9. Rough-Legged Swallow
10. Bank Swallow
11. Cedar Waxwing
12. Eastern Kingbird
13. Ruby Throated Hummingbird
14. Killdeer
15. Song Sparrow
16. European Starling
17. Red-winged Blackbird
18. Mourning Dove
19. Willow Flycatcher
20. Red Breasted Grosbeak (juvenile)
21. Yellow Warbler
22. Brown-headed Cowbird
23. Orchard Oriele
24. Warbling Vireo
25. Lesser Yellowlegs 
26. Spotted Sandpiper 
27. Solitary Sandpiper
28. Least Sandpiper
29.  Purple Martin
30. Green Heron
31. Turkey Vulture 
32. Grey Catbird
33. American Avocet