Odonates at Big Creek at Big Creek Rd, Brant

[Bill Lamond]

Hi,

First post of the year.

I went to this location in SE Brant County today (16 May 2025) for birding. The birding was rather dull so it was easy to switch to odes when I encountered several. This Big Creek is not to be confused with the Big Creek in Norfolk County which is a lovely clear creek with a few rare Stylurus species. The Big Creek in Brant is totally different. In a normal summer there is no flow and it exists as isolated pools of stagnant, muddy water - not ideal for odes one would think. The section I visited today south of Big Creek Rd on the Grand Valley Trail always has water in dry months as its proximity to the Grand River and the dam in Caledonia maintains the water at a minimum level. But it is till muddy with steep banks. I've been here several times but never at this time of the year so I was surprised to find several Stream Cruisers, Springtime Darners and one Dusky Clubtail. I suppose the Stream Cruiser is not too surprising as Stream Cruisers were found on the Grand River upstream of here two years ago. It was a treat to watch all these dragons flying around in sunlit clearings in the adjacent mature woods.

Other odes noted here were Dot-tailed Whiteface, several Common Baskettails, three Common Whitetails and a few Eastern Forktails.

What was most interesting was the amazing display of Virginia Bluebells in full flower along the creek in several places - thousands of plants.

A very nice break from looking at birds!

Incidentally the Grand Valley Trail here is all on private land and is totally maintained by volunteers - a great resource for local naturalists.

I've included a few crappy cell-phone videos so you get the gist.

Bill