Parrot Riverfront Trail Above Moira Dam in Belleville : Moira River

The survey today at this site was the least amount of sun experienced, with about 75% cloud cover over the area with quite a bit of a breeze. We had yet another heatwave which cleared early this morning, so temperatures were seasonal again and humidity was much reduced compared to 24 hours ago. There was some rainfall yesterday briefly in the afternoon. There was insect activity, but fewer dragonflies than previous visits. Saw a few different species, as well as some wasps including a couple different mud dauber species, and one bumblebee, likely an eastern common. Saw a single monarch butterfly, but unfortunately no eggs or larvae on the patches of milkweed at the site. The most active taxon group were the birds, with the usual flocks of Canada geese split between land and water grazing today, and ringbilled gulls near the dam. A flock of about 12-15 chimney swifts were foraging above us, and the osprey parents were both visible with one flying out and being mobbed by a few chimney swifts and a very adamant eastern kingbird. Heard some goldfinches, saw redwing blackbirds in the rushes, and just before we left we saw a great blue heron fly by in its stately low flight over the dam. Saw the same dog strangling vine and noticed a bit more in the other shrubs along the shore. The water lilies were not blooming at the time.