West Perth Wetland, Mitchell, ON

 15 August, 2025

     Long one of our favourite spots we were happy to go and check out shorebird migration; Victoria and Selwyn were our companions which made the visit all the more joyful.

     Mallards enjoyed a warm day as much as we did.

     Wood Ducks (Aix sponsa) breed in good numbers at West Perth Wetland; it remains one of the most reliable spots I know to see this species.

     Small White (Pieris rapae) was in abundance, seeking out the rich nectar supplied by Knapweed (genus Centaurea), as were many other hungry insect pollinators.

     Globetails (genus Sphaerophoria) are attractive little hoverflies, deriving their name from extremely large hemispherical male terminalia.

     Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis), while undeniably attractive, is a tenacious invasive colonizer of many regions of southern Ontario.

     Western Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) seems to occupy that terrain familiar to all - everywhere!

     Surprisingly, we saw few Canada Geese (Branta canadensis).

     There are times when the entire surface of the water is covering by them.

     A Common Carpet Moth (Epirrhoe alternata) was quietly unobtrusive.

     To see a Margined Calligrapher (Toxomerus marginatus) is analogous to a visit with an old friend.

     Eastern Forktail (Ischnura verticalis) is approaching the end of its flight period and will soon be but a memory until late May next year.

     Females of this species are voracious. They are much more likely than males to eat other dragonflies and damselflies.

     Skippers (family Hesperiidae) often cause confusion and consternation in novice butterfly and moth enthusiasts. This individual is a Least Skipper (Ancyloxypha numitor).

     Midland Painted Turtles (Chrysemis picta marginata) continue to be seen while the weather is still favourable, but soon will be brumating in the mud at the bottom of the waterways they inhabit.

     A Pearly Crescent (Phyciodes tharos) was looking a little ragged.

     Familiar Bluet (Enallagma civile) sparkled in the sunlight.

     Fungus Gnats (family Mycetophilidae) are widespread. This individual is in the genus Leia.

     This delightful little fellow is a Long-nosed Swamp Fly (Eurimyia stipata).

     Eastern Kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus) will soon have all departed, but a few still remain, encouraged perhaps by the unseasonably warm weather.

     We were overjoyed to see a family of Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors).

     Even in the ducklings you can see why the genus for this species is Spatula.

     Lesser Yellowlegs (Tringa flavipes) was the most common sandpiper, although numbers in general were surprisingly low.

     Brown-lipped Snails (Cepaea nemoralis) were frequently seen, mostly hidden in the vegetation, away from the prying eyes of predators.

    A beautiful damselfly (suborder Zygoptera); I am not sure which species.

     Physiphora alceae is a well known and widespread member of the "Picture-winged Flies."

     It is best known for its elaborate courtship sequence that involves the male "drumming on the female with his forelegs, vibrating his body and waving his wings; the female sometimes responds by placing her proboscis on the male's back and pulling him backwards in a spiral dance." (Marshall (2012).

     Chocolates and flowers will never seem adequate again!

     The following little beauty is a non-biting midge (Hooray!) in the genus Chironomus, one of several cryptic species.

     A close examination of their giant chromosomes is required to clinch species.

     A Mallard with young.

     A Lesser Yellowlegs was daintily balancing itself.

     Red Speckled Dun (Callibaetis ferrugineus) is an enchanting species of Small Minnow Mayfly.

     A Common Ringlet (Coenonympha california) presented well for a photograph.

     A Red-legged Grasshopper (Melanoplus femurrubrum) is a handsome insect indeed.

     Eastern Tailed-Blue (Cupido comyntas) is a small butterfly in the family Lycaenidae.

     It is probably a safe bet that Monarch (Danaus plexippus) is the most well known butterfly in the world. Its migration is legendary.

     Formicine Ants (subfamily Formicinae) are beyond my identification skills.

     In places the Goldenrod (genus Solidago) was host to hundreds, perhaps thousands, of tiny black beetles.

     A Widow Skimmer (Libellula luctuosa) is a common dragonfly.

The tools of the trade

     A Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice) looked exceptionally splendid, I thought.

     Selwyn remembered, with some fondness I might add, that as a boy he was adept at gently clasping a dragonfly, and demonstrated that he hasn't lost his touch.

     Let me assure everyone that the insect was released unharmed, and went on its way.

     It is not unusual to see benches dedicated to nature heroes who have departed this world, but I don't remember having seen a bench sponsored by people now lack the physical capacity.

     Thank you Doug and Evelyn. A very thoughtful gesture.

     We considered ourselves fortunate to come across this aggregation of the larvae of Walnut Caterpillar Moth (Datana integerrima), with different instars visible in the same group.

     The larvae are gregarious when young but become solitary as they mature.

     After the final moult the mature larvae crawls to the ground and digs into the soil to pupate. We saw one caterpillar on this quest.

     It was an exciting end to our walk.