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September 2001 Sightings
See our Upcoming events page for fall programs and events. One new course held September 20 & 23 was entitled "Earth Stars to Truffles" a special program on mushrooms. The above photo was taken by Tom Preney at Ojibway on August 23. "Chicken of the Woods" or Sulphur Shelf, Laetiporus sulphurus, is a common polypore mushroom usually found on dead or living oak trunks. A few of the mushrooms seen during our walk on September 23 included:
Crowned-tipped Coral, Clavicorona pyxidata
Artist's Conch, Ganoderma applanatum
Hen-of-the-Woods, Grifola frondosa
Sulphur Shelf, Chicken-of-the-Woods, Laetiporus sulphureus
Turkey tail, Trametes versicolor
Violet-toothed Polypore, Trichaptum biflorus
Bay-brown Polypore, Polyporus badius
Ash-tree Bolete, Gyrodon (Boletinellus) merulioides
Fairy Helmets, Mycena sp.
Golden Fairy Helmet, Mycena leaiana
Hunter's Hearts (Aborted Entoloma), Entoloma abortivum
Honey Mushroom, Armillarea mellea
Russula, Russula sp.
Giant Puffball, Calvatia gigantea
Pear-shaped Puffball, Lycoperdon pyriforme
Collared Earthstar, Geastrum triplex
Splash-cup Bird's Nest, Cyathus sterocoreus
Sunday, September 30: Large numbers of Chimney Swifts continued to roost in the Walkerville High School chimney up to September 27. Good migration weather over the weekend promted most of the swifts to migrate southward and by today only four swifts were present in the evening.
The Ontario Field Ornithologists' annual general meeting was held in Leamington this weekend. Over 160 species were recorded on the numerous field trips including Red Phalarope, Long-eared Owl, Golden Eagle and Swainson's Hawk. Participants also had a great view of a Silver-haired Bat at the tip on Saturday and 17 species of butterflies during the butterfly trip on Saturday afternoon.
Tuesday, September 18: A large Chimney Swift roost can be observed behind the Walkerville High School in Windsor (2100 Richmond St.). The best spot to watch the swifts is in the school yard behind the school. About 200 flew in to roost inside the school's chimney on Monday evening according to Cheryl Baker. The birds are present between 7:05 and 7:35 pm. (times must be adjusted a few minutes earlier each day). They will soon be migrating south so don't delay if you wish to see this spectacular show.
Wednesday, September 12: Excellent shorebird numbers continue to provide great birding opportunities at Hillman Marsh. Our field trip on Saturday recorded 17 species and today's trip added our first Dunlin and Long-billed Dowitcher of the fall trips. The most common species encountered were Lesser Yellowlegs, Killdeer, American Golden Plover, Semi-palmated Plover, Pectoral Sandpiper, Semipalmated Sandpiper and Greater Yellowlegs. Other species seen today included Black-bellied Plover, Stilt Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Least Sandpiper, Baird's Sandpiper, Red Knot, Sanderling and Buff-breasted Sandpiper. Unfortunately we missed the Swallow-tailed Kite seen at 11:30 am. by other birders.
Thursday, September 6: Shorbirds were the highlight of yesterday's trip to Point Pelee and Hillman Marsh. Some of the more interesting sightings included 1 Hudsonian Godwit, 6 Buff-breasted Sandpipers, 20 Baird's Sandpipers, 240 American Golden Plovers and 4 American Pipits.
There was a short evening walk for the fall birding program tonight that provided excellent views of migrating Common Nighthawks, 5 Green Herons and a buck White-tailed Deer.
Tuesday, September 4: September is a great month for viewing fall wildflowers. Trails through the nature reserve may reveal Nodding Ladies' Tresses Orchid Spiranthes cernua, Great Plains Ladies' Tresses Orchid Spiranthes magnicamporum, Closed Gentian Gentiana andrewsii, Fringed Gentian Gentianopsis crinita, Purple Gerardia Aureolaria purpurea, Slender Gerardia Aureolaria tenuifolia, many composites such as Autumn Sneezeweed Helenium autumnale, Tall Coreopsis Coreopsis tripteris, Glaucous White Lettuce Prenanthes racemosa, Hard-leaved Goldenrod Solidago rigida, Ironweed Vernonia missourica and twelve species of asters. Click here for other autumn species.
