Monday, June 29: The butterfly count will be held next Saturday, July 4th. The flight season is well advanced this year and many species more typical of July are already on the wing. Examples include Coral(June 20), Acadian(June 24), Edward's(June 25) and Banded(June 12) Hairstreaks, Northern Pearly Eye(June 23), Appalachian Eyed Brown(June 18), Northern Broken Dash(June 15), Little Glassy Wing(June 13) and Delaware Skipper(June 23).

Monday, June 22: The dragonfly outing on Saturday visited the ponds at Tallgrass Prairie Heritage Park and the creek in front of the Nature Centre. It was perfect weather for seeking odonates, hot and sunny and 17 species were observed (Skimming Bluet, Fragile Fork-tail, Eastern Forktail, Common Green Darner, Common Baskettail, Prince Baskettail, Eastern Pondhawk, Dot-tailed Whiteface, Red-waisted Whiteface, Widow Skimmer, Common Whitetail, Twelve-spotted Skimmer, Four-spotted Skimmer, Painted Skimmer, Blue Dasher, Ruby Meadowhawk and Black Saddlebags).

Friday, June 19: Millions of mayflies (Ephemeroptera) have been emerging along the Lake Erie and Lake St. Clair shorelines this week. In Windsor, the Lakeview Marina is a good place to observe the clouds of mayflies under lights each night. The return of these huge numbers are a sign of the improved condition of the Great Lakes in recent years.

The adult mayflies are well known for their brief (ephemeral) adult lives, just a few days at most. They do not feed or drink during their short existance. They mate in swarms and the females return to the lakes to lay their eggs. The nymphs play an important ecological role as they feed on algae and in turn are eaten by fish.

Tuesday, June 16: Mid June is the best time to observe early summer prairie wildflowers. A short walk today revealed such interesting species such as Ohio Spiderwort Tradescantia ohioensis, Ragged-fringed Orchid Platanthera lacera, Purple Milkweed Asclepias purpurea and Pale-spike Lobelia Lobelia spicata in the provincial nature reserve.

Monday, June 8: A young Gray Fox found on Pelee Island provided the first confirmed breeding record for Ontario. The kit will be cared for by Erie Wildlife Rescue until it is old enough to release. An adult Gray Fox was also seen crossing the road at Fish Point Provincial Nature Reserve on Sunday (Paul Pratt).

Monday, June 1: Black Oak Heritage Park had a few lingering migrants today including Blackburnian Warbler (2), Black-throated Blue Warbler (1), Canada Warbler (1) and Least Flycatcher (3). Breeding birds are much more evident as indicated by Gray Catbird (31), Cedar Waxwing (55), House Wren (37), Red-eyed Vireo (13), Baltimore Oriole (8), Scarlet Tanager (1), Rose-breasted Grosbeak (4) and Indigo Bunting (15).

If you find a turtle wandering far from water at this time of year chances are it is looking for a sunny spot to lay eggs. Male and female Painted Turtles can be separated by the length of their front claws. Males have much longer claws on their front legs than on their rear legs. Females have the same size nails on all four limbs.

Damselflies reported over the weekend at Rondeau Provincial Park include Emerald Spreadwing (common), Elegant Spreadwing, Amber-winged Spreadwing, Marsh Bluet, Hagen's Bluet, Fragile Forktail, Eastern Forktail (common) and Sedge Sprite. New dragonflies for the year include Swamp Darner and Blue Dasher. Freshly emerged Common Green Darners are adding to the existing population of migrant individuals.

May 1998

Sunday, May 24: Butterflies such as Hobomok Skipper, Silver-spotted Skipper, Viceroy, Northern Pearl Cresent, Red-spotted Purple, Eastern Tailed Blue, Giant Swallowtail, Black Swallowtail and Tiger Swallowtail are being seen this weekend at Ojibway. Fireflies are beginning to become a common sight in the evenings. The following wildflowers were in bloom along the trail through the nature reserve on Saturday: racemose false solomon's seal, yellow star-grass, Ohio spiderwort, southern blue flag, blue-eyed grass, false toad flax, Canada anemone, woodland strawberry, wild geranium, arrow-leaved violet, hoary puccoon and two-flowered cynthia.

Thursday, May 7: Lots of bird activity today in Windsor. Wood Thrush was heard again singing at Ojibway Park this morning. From Black Oak Heritage Park Fred Urie reports Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Catbird, Northern Oriole, a pair of Kingfisher, Spotted Sandpiper, Great Egret, Warbling and Blue-headed Vireos, American Pipit, Indigo Bunting, Black and White, Nashville, Prairie and Yellow Warblers. The Prairie Warbler was located 50 m northwest of the pond in the middle field area of the park. Closer to the river Blackburnian, Hooded, and Palm Warblers were reported. The Hooded Warbler was 600 m from river in middle of cottonwoods on bike path near surveyor stake.  At Tallgrass Prairie Heritage Park, Nashville, Northern Parula, Black-throated Green, Common Yellowthroat and Yellow Warblers, were reported together with Northern and Orchard Orioles, and Warbling and Blue-headed Vireos.

Wednesday, May 6: In Windsor's Memorial Park Fred Urie reported Black-throated Green, Black and White, Nashville, and Blue-winged Warblers, Northern Waterthrush, Ovenbird, Blue-headed and Warbling Vireos.

[Pelee Summary] - Bright sunshine greeted visitors this morning for the first time in many days and bird activity increased once again in response to the generally benign conditions. Baltimore Orioles were definitely more conspicuous at the tip as were Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Several Red-headed Woodpeckers added colour to the show. Other arrivals reported this morning included several Blue-winged and Chestnut-sided Warblers. Rarer sightings included Golden-winged, Cerulean, Prairie and Hooded Warblers, Orhard Oriole and an early Yellow-billed Cuckoo. In all 20 species of warbler have been reported so far today (3:40 pm). An obvious reverse migration also took place in the first few hours of the day. Blue Jays were especially obvious. Other birds observed decreasing in numbers include White-throated Sparrows, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers, although all are still common. A late winter-plumaged Red-throated Loon was also seen flying overhead.

A few additional sightings reported late yesterday afternoon included a rare orange variant of the Scarlet Tanager (our first Tanager of the spring) and our first Black Tern. Elsewhere,outside the Park, Harrow Sewage Lagoon continues to have good conditions for shorebirds. However, yesterday's tally only included 88 Dunlin, 1 Killdeer and 1 Lesser Yellowlegs. Blenheim Sewage Lagoon had similar species with the addition of a few unidentified peeps (flying away) and a few Northern Shovelors and Ruddy Ducks. Expectations are high that much more is to come. In fact, several fields just north of the Park have flooded areas that have been productive. A high total of 47 Lesser Yellowlegs was reported from one such pond today. Another had a small flock of Least Sandpipers.

Donald and Lillian Stokes, who just arrived in the Park, reported that Crane Creek, Ohio had a movement of birds in overnight as well. They said that about 20 species of warbler had been reported there today.

Tuesday, May 5: A Wood Thrush was singing today along Ojibway Park's Pin Oak Trail. A female Rose-breasted Grosbeak was visiting the Nature Centre's feeders at Ojibway Park. Gunther Preuschat reported a Red-headed Woodpecker coming into a backyard feeder at Howard and Cabana in Windsor.

A very unusual snake was brought into the Ojibway Nature Centre today. Gerry Tousignant brought in a Milk Snake that he had found in his backyard. The young snake is currently on display at the Nature Centre.

[Pelee summary] - Song was dominated by Eastern Towhee and Carolina Wren. At the Tip, an American Pipit was sighted again, along with 2 Horned Grebes. A Common Loon was heard calling through the mist, though it was not seen until afternoon from the West Beach parking lot. Birders were delighted to see a Golden-winged Warbler, which quickly flew north from the Tip and out of sight. Blue-headed Vireos and Hermit Thrushes were still being seen in good numbers. Warbling Vireo, Rose-breasted Grosbeak and Indigo Bunting were also reported today. The LeConte's Sparrow was seen well into yesterday afternoon, though there have been no reports today.

Monday, May  4: Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Pheasant and Sora were all reported from SpringGarden area today by Josie Hazen.

Sunday, May  3: Ovenbird, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Rufous-sided Towhee were present at Ojibway Park along the Prairie Path. Many flowering trees and shrubs are in full bloom and will attract a number of songbirds. A male Rose-breasted Grosbeak was visiting Ojibway Nature Centre's feeders.

Chorus Frogs and American Toads continue to sing in Ojibway Park.

Friday, May 1: Trees are rapidly leafing out in Windsor but Point Pelee appears to be lagging behind by about two weeks. In Windsor blooming shrubs and trees this week include Wild Crab Malus coronaria, Sassafras Sassafras albidum, Pawpaw Asimina triloba and American Plum Prunus americana.