North Lambton, April 7th:

It was a cool day, but the sun was shining, and I saw my first butterfly of 2023. - a Mourning Cloak. This individual spent the winter as an adult, probably tucked into loose bark under fallen logs.

Blue-spotted Salamanders spend their lives on the forest floor, often living underground in burrows. They breed in permanent swamps or temporary ponds, marshes and sometimes roadside ditches. They will overwinter underground in the forest.

https://ontarionature.org/programs/community-science/reptile-amphibian-atlas/blue-spotted-salamander/

The Eastern Red-back Salamander is most commonly found in deciduous or mixed forests. The species is restricted to mature woodlands with lots of fallen logs, coarse woody debris and leaf litter.

https://ontarionature.org/programs/community-science/reptile-amphibian-atlas/eastern-red-backed-salamander/ 

Eastern Red-backed Salamander - leadback phase

A few pairs of Sandhill Cranes may be nesting in the Port Franks area this year!

White Birch trees looked pretty against the blue sky.