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Nature Link

With Blake Mann

THINGS OF LATE

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Once again there is little to report. This wacky weather is throwing things off. Far too warm for this time of year and birding has been slow. Look at how long the leaves stayed on the trees this autumn! We have had no frost until lately, and it has been rather light.

Some birds are late in coming down from the north. There are probably many more shorebirds up north as it is unseasonably warm up there as well. Sparrows seemed tardy in arriving, and there have been few with the exception of one day a couple of weeks ago.

This week looks windy, so perhaps things will change. One would think some nice rarity would show up with all the wind this fall, but that has not happened yet.

We should have had Cave Swallows by now, but not one has been reported. These have been regular for over the last ten years with last year being a phenomenal year. If there are to be any this season, it will be later this week! Photo shows some at Erieau a year ago.

The warm weather was kept butterflies flying. The hardy species we can see this time of year were out this past weekend at Point Pelee. I located seven species and good numbers of some. On Sunday a couple of American Lady butterflies were taking advantage of the warm sun. It is quite late for them. A nice fresh one was at Pelee’s Tip (see photo).

Usually by this time, bird feeders start getting active, but little has come in as there is ample natural food. Lots of flies, bees and the like are still out in this warm air.

By this time next week, I hope to report on some new arrivals.