Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Monday, February 22, 2010
Spring Storm!
Yesterday felt just like an early spring day, the first of the year. A bright blue-sky day, you could feel the heat in the sun, and it was melting the snow in places. One of those late Feb/early March days that make you feel like spring is just around the corner.
On top of that I heard the cardinals calling this morning for the first time, giving their sharp two-tone whistle that is such a distinctive opening note for the spring season. Their bright red colour matches their bright clear whistle, and we'll hear it now from high trees in the woods, for the next several months.
But then .... the snow came back - in fact, it's about the biggest snowstorm we've had all winter, and we're right in the middle of it at the moment. Flurries coming down fast and furious, turning the world white again. Maybe I'll get some good pictures tomorrow.
......... Later, headed out at the peak of the storm to walk the dog. Three or four inches by now, all plastered against the tree trunks and branches, and hanging heavily on the pine, cedar and hemlock. It'll be a winter wonderland tomorrow. These storms are blown through southern Ontario by upper level winds from west to east (southwest to northeast for this one), but at ground level they are circulating in a counter-clockwise direction. This means you may have winds from the east while the storm is coming from the west. Thus the east side of most trees today are plastered with a line of snow from top to bottom.
Four groups of deer wandering, instead of hiding in the swamp; at least 10 or 12, but I may have seen one group twice. And then I heard what distinctly sounded like two SHOTS! Just behind the Edinburgh/Kortright corner. Not what you want to hear in the city.
On top of that I heard the cardinals calling this morning for the first time, giving their sharp two-tone whistle that is such a distinctive opening note for the spring season. Their bright red colour matches their bright clear whistle, and we'll hear it now from high trees in the woods, for the next several months.
But then .... the snow came back - in fact, it's about the biggest snowstorm we've had all winter, and we're right in the middle of it at the moment. Flurries coming down fast and furious, turning the world white again. Maybe I'll get some good pictures tomorrow.
......... Later, headed out at the peak of the storm to walk the dog. Three or four inches by now, all plastered against the tree trunks and branches, and hanging heavily on the pine, cedar and hemlock. It'll be a winter wonderland tomorrow. These storms are blown through southern Ontario by upper level winds from west to east (southwest to northeast for this one), but at ground level they are circulating in a counter-clockwise direction. This means you may have winds from the east while the storm is coming from the west. Thus the east side of most trees today are plastered with a line of snow from top to bottom.
Four groups of deer wandering, instead of hiding in the swamp; at least 10 or 12, but I may have seen one group twice. And then I heard what distinctly sounded like two SHOTS! Just behind the Edinburgh/Kortright corner. Not what you want to hear in the city.
Monday, February 15, 2010
An Owl in the Dark!
Slipped out the door with the dog late last night, and there was an owl, sitting on the very top of a young maple sapling, about 50 feet away - silhouetted against the night sky!!
Crept back in the house immediately to get the camera and binoculars, while the owl sat obligingly and waited for me. Somehow, I managed to get a picture in which it showed up though it was 10 o'clock at night.
There are only four species of owl around here that would have 'ears' like this one did. It was about crow-size, too big to be a Screech Owl, too small to be a Great Horned Owl. We concluded it was a Short-eared Owl, the first I've ever seen. We regularly hear owls in the woods at night, but haven't seen one here before.
Then suddenly it was gone, gliding away on silent wings to the woods. The owls are probably started nesting by now, another sure sign of spring just around the corner.
Crept back in the house immediately to get the camera and binoculars, while the owl sat obligingly and waited for me. Somehow, I managed to get a picture in which it showed up though it was 10 o'clock at night.
There are only four species of owl around here that would have 'ears' like this one did. It was about crow-size, too big to be a Screech Owl, too small to be a Great Horned Owl. We concluded it was a Short-eared Owl, the first I've ever seen. We regularly hear owls in the woods at night, but haven't seen one here before.
Then suddenly it was gone, gliding away on silent wings to the woods. The owls are probably started nesting by now, another sure sign of spring just around the corner.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Mid-February
Walked the loop down by the stonepiles, across the three creeks and out the meadow, then back through the dense cedars this morning. We usually do that in the morning every day, once I'm awake enough to enjoy it.
Three times this week we've encountered deer still resting on the ground from their night's sleep, and each time they just raised their head to look at us. You find the oval depressions in the snow where they have lain down overnight if you wander off the trails in the woods.
Three other deer, no four, were standing by the open stonepile and spotted us coming. For a moment or two we stopped and they just looked at us. Then suddenly they bounded off to the east, white flags flashing - there were seven, three of which we hadn't even seen.
Trails are busy these days with joggers, dog walkers, skiers and families with kids. Occasionally even someone just out for a walk. Met a cross-country skier yesterday who lives at the far northwest corner of the area, and said that he does a 10km loop several times a week.
Three times this week we've encountered deer still resting on the ground from their night's sleep, and each time they just raised their head to look at us. You find the oval depressions in the snow where they have lain down overnight if you wander off the trails in the woods.
Three other deer, no four, were standing by the open stonepile and spotted us coming. For a moment or two we stopped and they just looked at us. Then suddenly they bounded off to the east, white flags flashing - there were seven, three of which we hadn't even seen.
Trails are busy these days with joggers, dog walkers, skiers and families with kids. Occasionally even someone just out for a walk. Met a cross-country skier yesterday who lives at the far northwest corner of the area, and said that he does a 10km loop several times a week.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Early Signs of Spring!
Well, it's still cold, so cold that all the streams are actually frozen over, which happens only rarely. But already there are numerous signs of spring.
Groundhog Day has come and gone, and groundhogs aren't the only ones who poke their nose out to see if spring is here yet. The porcupines have started to appear, grabbing a snack of bark and twigs high in a tree on a sunny day. And you see their tracks now and then, with its queer twisting gait down the trail.
The days are longer too, staying light out til 6 o'clock. For a dog walker trying to squeeze in a walk between work and dinner, that's a bonus.
The chickadees are starting to give their spring mating call now and then, said to sound like 'hambuuurg', going from high 'ham' to low 'buuurg' in a two-part whistle.
On sunny days you can feel the heat of the sun on one side of your body. And it's strong enough to be melting the snow that faces southwest. The bank of grass outside the gate is now mostly bare.
And I must have encountered 30 people on the trails yesterday! Families with little kids, teenagers building a fort, dog walkers and people just out enjoying the trails. Two girls were waving a dry bulrush seedhead, and trying to photograph the seeds as they blew away in the wind. Last week I saw two groups of little kids - day care age, walking or getting a ride on a toboggan out on the trails - 4 or 5 in one, and 8 in the other. My heart rejoices!
Groundhog Day has come and gone, and groundhogs aren't the only ones who poke their nose out to see if spring is here yet. The porcupines have started to appear, grabbing a snack of bark and twigs high in a tree on a sunny day. And you see their tracks now and then, with its queer twisting gait down the trail.
The days are longer too, staying light out til 6 o'clock. For a dog walker trying to squeeze in a walk between work and dinner, that's a bonus.
The chickadees are starting to give their spring mating call now and then, said to sound like 'hambuuurg', going from high 'ham' to low 'buuurg' in a two-part whistle.
On sunny days you can feel the heat of the sun on one side of your body. And it's strong enough to be melting the snow that faces southwest. The bank of grass outside the gate is now mostly bare.
And I must have encountered 30 people on the trails yesterday! Families with little kids, teenagers building a fort, dog walkers and people just out enjoying the trails. Two girls were waving a dry bulrush seedhead, and trying to photograph the seeds as they blew away in the wind. Last week I saw two groups of little kids - day care age, walking or getting a ride on a toboggan out on the trails - 4 or 5 in one, and 8 in the other. My heart rejoices!
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
The Trails of Hanlon Creek
The trails running in, through and around Hanlon Creek Conservation Area provide a wonderful way to access a fascinating natural landscape right inside the City of Guelph. Originally laid out nearly 40 years ago by the Guelph Hiking Club, they are now well worn, well used and easy to follow through the forest.
Four major boardwalks have been built over the past 10 years, by a team of volunteers, with support from city staff. These enable the trails to cross the wetter parts of the swamp, and enable the complete network of other trails to be connected. There are about 20 km. of trails to walk. You could walk for several hours without ever retracing your steps!
It's taken me a long time to figure out how to do this; it's not perfect, but at least it works! The area is too large to easily show on one map, so here it is divided into two maps which overlap slightly. Major public access points are shown as yellow stars -
The Northwest Trails of Hanlon Creek
Main entrances from the north and northwest to Hanlon Creek park are from the Dog Park (John Gamble Park) beside the Hanlon Expressway, and on Kortright Ave. at the well known entrance to Preservation Park. There are entrances off Southgate Drive, and off each of the side streets west of Edinburgh Rd.; the main trail off Terraview Cresc. is a popular one.
As the map reveals, a large chunk of the conservation area here is cedar swamp; trails are mainly around the edge. There is one major deciduous patch, southeast of the Preservation Park entrance.
The Southeast Trails of Hanlon Creek
If you live in the subdivisions around the conservation area, you’ll easily recognize these trails. Major public access points include the trail leading west off Clairfields Drive and that leading northwest from Hayward Cresc. as well as the Terraview Cresc. entrance. Boardwalks are indicated in orange dots -
This part of Hanlon Creek is much more diverse, with five patches of reforested pine plantation (the lighter green, more uniform patches, two deciduous forest patches (in the south and northwest), and both a large meadow in the middle, and a smaller meadow between the pine plantations. There are also still large areas of cedar swamp, unbroken by trails.
Hope these maps help some of you enjoy the trails of Hanlon Creek too!
Four major boardwalks have been built over the past 10 years, by a team of volunteers, with support from city staff. These enable the trails to cross the wetter parts of the swamp, and enable the complete network of other trails to be connected. There are about 20 km. of trails to walk. You could walk for several hours without ever retracing your steps!
It's taken me a long time to figure out how to do this; it's not perfect, but at least it works! The area is too large to easily show on one map, so here it is divided into two maps which overlap slightly. Major public access points are shown as yellow stars -
The Northwest Trails of Hanlon Creek
Main entrances from the north and northwest to Hanlon Creek park are from the Dog Park (John Gamble Park) beside the Hanlon Expressway, and on Kortright Ave. at the well known entrance to Preservation Park. There are entrances off Southgate Drive, and off each of the side streets west of Edinburgh Rd.; the main trail off Terraview Cresc. is a popular one.
As the map reveals, a large chunk of the conservation area here is cedar swamp; trails are mainly around the edge. There is one major deciduous patch, southeast of the Preservation Park entrance.
The Southeast Trails of Hanlon Creek
If you live in the subdivisions around the conservation area, you’ll easily recognize these trails. Major public access points include the trail leading west off Clairfields Drive and that leading northwest from Hayward Cresc. as well as the Terraview Cresc. entrance. Boardwalks are indicated in orange dots -
This part of Hanlon Creek is much more diverse, with five patches of reforested pine plantation (the lighter green, more uniform patches, two deciduous forest patches (in the south and northwest), and both a large meadow in the middle, and a smaller meadow between the pine plantations. There are also still large areas of cedar swamp, unbroken by trails.
Hope these maps help some of you enjoy the trails of Hanlon Creek too!
Friday, January 15, 2010
The Hanlon Creek Deer Herd
Headed out for a walk yesterday, along the trail that cuts through a corner of the soft maple swamp. Suddenly, like ghosts emerging from the trees, there were the deer. Had my camera, so I was able to get some pictures - though it was late in the day and cloudy.
Initially you see one or two deer as they move between the trees, and then when you stop and watch, the others, standing still, materialize before your eyes. There were 8 altogether, making their way toward a house that sometimes puts out grain on a table in their yard.
Later, as I followed one of the trails along the creek, deeper into the swamp, suddenly there were the deer again. First one, then three, then suddenly I realized it looked like the same group of 8, their brown winter coats blending into the trees so perfectly that they are nearly invisible only 50 feet away.
Two more were grazing right outside the fence beside the townhouses as I headed home.
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