Rondeau Provincial Park, Chatham-Kent, ON

 02 July, 2024

"No piece of nature is insignificant and all of it is worth memorializing."

Helen Humphreys

     Even before we stepped out of the car Red Admirals (Vanessa atalanta) were fluttering around.

     They have been exceptionally prolific this year and we have found them everywhere we have gone.

     A Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) confidently strutted his stuff.

     Female Red-winged Blackbirds (Agelaius phoeniceus) are not seen quite as often as males since they shoulder most of the responsibility for raising young, including one hundred percent of incubation.

     Red-winged Blackbird is a polygynous species and the male provides desultory care for the young in the first nest, but abandons the females with other nests to fend for themselves.

     Bluets (genus Enallagma) are very difficult to identify one from another, with some species requiring examination in the hand, but all are beautiful. Male and female are shown below.

     An American Robin (Turdus migratorius) was exposing itself to the UV rays of the sun, to help to dislodge feather mites and other parasitic insects.

     A Marsh Greenbottle Fly (Lucilla silvarum) is a very attractive insect, and it positively glowed in the sun.

     American Black Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis) reminded me that not so many years ago we used to collect the flowers and deep fry them in batter, and douse them with maple syrup.

Marsh Trail

     A couple of Silver-spotted Skippers (Epargyreus clarus) constituted a fine welcome to the trail.

     A Dun Skipper (Euphyes vestris) joined the party too.

     In many areas Asian Lady Beetle (Harmonia axyridis) has become dominant, to the detriment of native species.

     It is well established, however, and its pre-eminence is unlikely to be challenged.

     A Common Thick-leg Fly (Tropidia quadrata) is impressive and one might conclude that tanks were modelled after it!

     Margined Calligrapher (Toxomerus marginatus) by contrast is delicate and very appealing.

     White Poplar (Populus alba) is a common native species known by the dense, white, wooly hairs that cover the underside of its lobed leaves.

     A couple of Eastern Cottontails (Sylvilagus floridanus) were relaxing along the path. 

     They appear to have become well habituated to people; they waited until the last moment to bound into the long grass, soon to reappear.

      As far as we could tell Purple Martins (Progne subis) seem to have had a successful year.

     In mere weeks this young bird will be making its first migration to the Amazon Basin.

     Yellow Satin Veneer (Crambus perlella) is a common Ontario moth that overwinters as a larva in a silken gallery in the base of grass stems; pupation occurs in a silken cocoon on or partly in the soil. Adults emerge in summer; there is one generation per year.

     You have perhaps seen enough pictures of Red Admiral, but from this angle it looks exceptionally dramatic, I think.

     Spotted Pink Lady Beetle (Coleomigilla maculata) is a native species, so there's always an added satisfaction in seeing it.

     I find Transverse-banded Flower Fly (Eristalis transversa) exceptionally attractive and it ranks among my favourite insects.

      This is a member of the Scudder's Bush Katydids (genus Scudderia), but it is too young to identify as to species. (Thanks are due to Dr. Kevin Judge of MacEwen University in Edmonton, AB for identification assistance).

     More and more shorelines are being occupied by invasive Common Reed (Phragmites australis) so it is always encouraging to see stands of native cattails (genus Typha) holding their own.

     One of our target species for the day was the surpassingly beautiful Pipevine Swallowtail (Battus philenor) and we were elated to come across one quite early in the day.

     As it happened this was our only sighting - on that day or ever.

     We are resolved to return to Rondeau as often as time permits to search for other exciting Carolinian species not seen at home.

      An Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus) may be seen over a large portion of the province.

     This is equally true of Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia).

     Blue Vervain (Verbena hastata) was scattered indiscriminately along the shore.

     I am once again indebted to Dr. Judge for assistance in identifying the following insect as the young nymph of an indeterminate species of Spur-throated Grasshopper (subfamily Melanoplinae).

     Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis) is ripening nicely and will soon provide food for a host of organisms, humans included.

     It is always agreeable to walk along the shore of Lake Erie (well, perhaps not so agreeable when the icy winds of winter blow!)

     Harvestmen (genus Leiobunum) are often referred to as spiders - but they are not!

     Common St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum) has been used in religious rituals and numerous claims have been advanced as to its therapeutic benefits.

     In modern practice it is used primarily as a treatment for depression. 

     Summer Azure (Celastrina neglecta) was quite common - it is summer after all!

     Perennial Sow Thistle (Sonchus arvensis) is wonderfully appealing, and soon will be providing seed for American Goldfinches (Spinus tristis) and other species.

     A group of Purple Martins seemed to be using a tree as a communal preening post!

     We were very encouraged to see that protection had been provided for turtle eggs.

     It appears to be the work of a concerned citizen and not action taken by park authorities.

     Bravo!

Spicebush Trail

     There was a bit of a butterfly welcoming committee.

     First - an Eastern Comma (Polygonia comma).

     Second - an Appalachian Brown (Lethe appalachia).

     Third - a Question Mark (Polygonia interrogationis).

     A Green Frog (Lithobates clamitans) was not to be outdone and croaked his own cheerful greeting.

     Fringed Loosestrife was a pleasing accompaniment to our walk.

     The following dragonfly is without doubt a meadowhawk (genus Sympetrum) and probably a Ruby Meadowhawk (Sympetrum rubicundulum); I am just not a hundred percent sure.

     There is no mistaking a female Common Whitetail (Plathemis lydia).

     A Little Wood Satyr (Megisto cymela) came to see us too.

     I always find the leaves on grapevines (genus Vitis) especially attractive.

     We were tantalized by a difficult-to-name Bluet.

     Here is another indeterminate meadow hawk

     A stunning Eastern Pondhawk (Erythemis simplicicollis) was a pleasant way to end our walk along this trail.

Tulip Tree Trail

     

     We were very pleased to encounter a Northern Pearly-Eye (Lethe anthedon) within minutes of entering the trail.

     A pair of Sweetflag Spreadwings (Lestes forcipatus) were intent on the next generation.

     Blue Dasher (Pachydiplax longipennis) was very common.

     Better that dragonflies stay clear of a Green Frog  for whom they would make a tasty, nutritious snack!

     Here is a classic Ruby Meadowhawk.

     And another one.

     Most birds are now engaged with breeding and the males have stopped singing, so they are harder to find, but a White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) was busy foraging.

     One of the desired species along the Tulip Tree Trail is Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea), but despite being in prime habitat for this bird, we neither heard nor saw it. There is a very small breeding population at Rondeau Provincial Park.

 

     We did espy a Quadrate Snipe Fly (Chrysopilus quadratus), however.

     The moist forest floor with many downed trunks in various stages of decay was home to numerous fungi, including the quite beautiful White Jelly Fungus (Ductifera pululahuana).

     The following log, embraced by moss and supporting ferns and other plants, is a timeless exemplar of a forest ecosystem, and a wellspring of endless fascination.

     When we humans have drowned in our own waste, or have raised the temperature of the plant to inhibit life as we know it, or have obliterated ourselves with weapons of mutual annihilation, these resilient ecosystems will live on, and the planet will return to primordial splendour. Of that you may be sure.

South Point Trail

     We did not spend too much time on the South Point Trail. By afternoon it was quite hot and birds and insects alike seemed to be sheltering from the sun.

     A Carolina Rose (Rosa carolina) bloomed in cheerful perfection.

     Star-flowered Lily-of-the-Valley (Maianthemum stellatum) has finished blooming for the year, yet charms the eye nevertheless.

     We saw a Ruby Meadowhawk trapped in a strand of spider silk, tiring from its struggle, so we extricated it from its snare, cleaned the mess from its wings and off it flew.

     We stopped at the park store for an ice cream cone (a small size would do for three people!) before heading for home.

     A member of True Horse Flies (genus Tabanus) seemed to find the surface of the car much to its liking.

     Much better than taking a liking to our skin!

     It seems that I have covered a lot in this post, but I tell you truly that I doubt that I have presented even half of what we saw. It's not always possible to get a picture as you will understand, and some pictures are not usable. Many organisms are so tiny as to defy photographic capture, and others are deep in dense vegetation.

      It is a world of excitement and fascination, however, that we explore with pleasure and high anticipation every time. I couldn't imagine living my life any other way.