The Gut and an Historic Bank Robbery!
The Gut Conservation Area was a bit of a challenge to find. It had a very rough, narrow laneway leading to a parking lot so we were very glad that we didn't meet another vehicle on the road!
The property is located within the Crowe Valley Conservation Authority. Once we emerged from the car, we could hear the rushing water and headed down the trail towards the roaring sound.
A "rock pool" of water beside the river sheltered interesting life forms.
A well camouflaged Crayfish was the first critter that I noticed and inspired me to continue searching the large puddle for more signs of life!
Common Stonefly larva, which looked "fancy" (and not at all Common) with lots of stripes and squiggly lines on its exoskeleton.
The Northern Two-lined Salamander was a new species for us! It is associated with moderately to fast-flowing rocky streams in deciduous or mixed forests. The salamander's short stocky limbs are an adaptation to living in swift-moving water. They are active mostly at night, so we were lucky to see it! They eat a wide variety of both terrestrial and aquatic insects and other invertebrates.
https://ontarionature.org/programs/community-science/reptile-amphibian-atlas/northern-two-lined-salamander/
This Juvenile Northern Pike, just a few inches in length, is already large enough to eat small fish such as minnows, perch and juvenile panfish. As adults, their nick names include "Water Wolf" and "Freshwater Shark".
https://animals.net/northern-pike/
I was intrigued by the name of this rural road when we were searching for the entrance to The Gut Conservation Area. A quick internet search revealed that an armed bank robbery had occurred at the TD Bank in Havelock on August 31,1961. The $230,000.00 stolen was never recovered and it is believed that the money had been abandoned across the river from where we were standing near the waterfall! I later learned that my parents were on their way to my Uncle's cottage on the day of the robbery. All vehicles on the road were stopped and occupants were questioned. My Dad recalls their trunk being searched and they had to prove their identity. After the "interrogation" they were told about the Bank Robbery and were warned to not pick up any hitchhikers, and to keep the car doors locked. They had forgotten about the incident until I told them about the road sign!
After hiking back up to the parking area, we walked along another trail and found a number of insects including this White Slant-line Moth.
Northern Cloudywing
Silvery Blue
Indian Skipper
At a roadside wetland stop on the route back to Bancroft, some American Robins were enjoying the cool water!
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And on the opposite side of the road, it was “mating day” for many damselflies including these colourful Aurora Damsels. The male (in the lower picture) has a thick, wavy-edged mid-dorsal stripe.
