Bye the Bay, Rondeau

Last weekend Jake and I stayed at the recently re-opened "Bye the Bay" B&B in Rondeau.  It was a great stay for many reasons:  the view from our third floor balcony which overlooked the vast yard, watercourse and bay. Our hosts were welcoming and generous. The homemade breakfast was better than a restaurant.  Would strongly recommend the resort to anyone looking to enjoy Rondeau in comfort.  

I was able to get to the park early while it was still cool and all the birds were singing loudly.  There were many vireos.  Below are some pictures of my other finds:

Blackburnian Warbler, Scarlet Tanager, Red-headed Woodpecker

Dreamy Duskywing found at Newport Forest, Wardsville

Pat and Kee Dewdney found this Dreamy Duskywing at Newport May 18, puddling at the edge of  the Thames River. 

Initially, using the Kaufman butterfly guide I thought it was a  Sleepy Duskywing.  As I have since found, Sleepy and Dreamy Duskywings are notoriously hard to tell apart. 

Dreamy vs. Sleepy

Analysis based mainly on the following resource:
http://wisconsinbutterflies.org/butterfly/species/117-dreamy-duskywing

Distinguishing Feature	Source	Pat and Kee's Specimen	Dreamy(D) or Sleepy (S)
The Dreamy has a more defined silvery light patch at the on the leading edge of the forewing, that is usually more obvious than in the Sleepy.	wisconsinbutterflies.org	Silvery patch fairly obvious	D
This darker part of the bands is not as distinct in the Dreamy as it is in the Sleepy and usually the second, inner band is also more obvious in the Sleepy Duskywing.	wisconsinbutterflies.org	Second inner band obscure	D
Dreamy Duskywings host plants are mainly willows and poplar in Wisconsin, and as such are often found in moister habitats than the Sleepy Duskywing. But they can be found, especially when they are nectaring, in many of the same drier habitats where Sleepy Duskywings are found.	wisconsinbutterflies.org	Found in river habitat - few oaks present.	D
At present, Sleepy is known to occur in only three areas of southern Ontario: Lambton County (Pinery Provincial Park area), Norfolk County (St. Williams area), and the south shore of Lake Ontario (Hamilton to Grimsby).	Butterflies of Canada	Newport Forest is not near to any known occurrence for the species.	D

If this identification is correct, it is an incredible find.  According to Kee: "There are two "official" locality records listed in Layberry (Butterflies of Canada) for Middle-sex County (neither one all that close to Skunk's Misery), and no specimens listed for Elgin County."  Nice find Pat and Kee!

Spring flowers

Since some of these plants are endangered I wont say where I was.  These were the most blissful finds.  

Yellow Puccoon

Blue-eyed Grass

Small White Lady's Slipper

Small White Lady's Slipper

Wood Betony

A single plant flowers both purple and yellow. 

Wood Betony(Pedicularis canadensis)

Trapped Oriole

This Baltimore Oriole was trapped when I found her.  A small thread was wrapped around both feet and then around vines.      As I approached she tried to fly away, but the string would not yield. She flapped wildly.   After a few seconds, her energy depleted, she was left hanging upside down.  I held her steady while I cut the thread with my teeth.  She flinched at the sight of my mouth coming towards her. I methodically worked at the thread making sure to free each toe before letting her free. I snapped a quick photo before opening my hand and letting her free.  She chirped once as she flew away.