The Greening of the canopy
The weather was cool and rainy in late April and the first days of May. The leaves were just beginning to unfurl. We then took ourselves away to the shores of Lake Erie for a few days last week for a chance to see spring flowers and migrating birds. Over that time, the weather was sunny and warm. We returned to a much greener canopy.
April 30
May 3
May 14
Erieau Marsh Trail
The Erieau Marsh Trail runs along a former rail bed. It overlooks marshland and Rondeau Bay on Lake Erie.
The nests of Mute Swans were occupied by females incubating eggs. Males stayed protectively nearby in open water.
Red-winged Blackbirds also nested along the water’s edge.
The marsh is home to several species of turtles. Below are a Northern Map Turtle (left), Midland Painted Turtles and a Blanding’s Turtle (bottom right).
Barn Swallows, Tree Swallows and Purple Martins foraged for insects above the marsh and occasionally perched on a convenient branch. Barn Swallows and Tree Swallow (bottom right).
A small flock of Forster’s Terns circled and dove for fish.
On the path and in the trees and scrub beside the path, we found a variety of wildlife.
White-crowned and White-throated Sparrows and a female Northern Cardinal
In some cultures, the image of rabbit is seen in the face of the moon. We did not see the rabbit in the moon, but In the cool of the evening Cottontail rabbits and an American Toad made an appearance.
Killdeer nest in nearby fields and forage on the ground and the mudflats of the marsh for invertebrates (earthworms, snails, grasshoppers, beetles, etc.).
It was a challenge to photograph warblers high in trees, moving rapidly in search of insects. These are the best of many attempts.
Black-and-white Warbler and a Magnolia Warbler
Other birds were elusive, but stayed still a little longer.
Eastern Kingbird and House Wren
The nearby McGeachy Pond trail overlooks Lake Erie. Here we saw few birds. This Least Flycatcher hawking for insects from a branch over the water was the highlight.
Virginia Strawberry (also named wild strawberry or common strawberry) is native to North America. We were sorry to see so much of the trail lined with invasive Garlic Mustard. We looked forward to seeing more native wildflowers in Rondeau Provincial Park.
Speaking of wildflowers…
Again thanks to our very knowledgeable friends, we have learned that the Red Trillium has naturally occurring variations in colour that include dark reddish brown, maroon, purple, pale yellow, or white. In our last post about Solitude Nature Reserve, we incorrectly stated, “Red Trilliums fade to a yellow colour as they age.” In fact, the yellow colour we observed is not a function age or maturity.
Osprey Update
When we returned from a few days away, we found the female Osprey firmly in place on the nest and male sometimes nearby. The end of the incubation period is near and we expect to see greater activity on the nest soon! We will watch for fish deliveries and signs that the female is feeding newly-hatched chicks. In the meantime, the male is occasionally replacing the female on the nest as seen in this video: https://www.youtube.com/shorts/NXyN7cpUcZU
Great Music from 1967
The Beatles dominate this playlist with singles from Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band and Magical Mystery Tour. I will have more music from 1967 next week.
