Crawford Lake Conservation Area

Fall Colours were impressive along the Escarpment Trail. The Bruce Trail which connects Niagara Falls and Tobermory cuts through this Conservation Area.

Falling Maple leaf!

A Red Squirrel standing at attention, nicely matched the fall colours!

Maple Leaves on rotting log.

Emerald Ash Borer adults are only 8-14 mm in length, but this wooden carving is thousands of times life size. The Emerald Ash Borer was probably introduced to North America from China in the 1990’s. Larva tunnel under the outer bark which “strangles” ash trees. Several carvings along the trail bring attention to life in the forest including invasive/destructive species and endangered species.

https://treecanada.ca/resources/tree-killers/emerald-ash-borer/

Unknown Bird in the Hand.

Monarch Butterfly

Mushrooms and Fungi have been difficult to find this year because of the dry conditions. We managed to find a few mushrooms in the shaded forest at Crawford Lake C.A. including this Fly Agaric (Identification not yet confirmed.)

Dotted-stalked Suillus (identification not yet confirmed)

Trails are well marked.

Point Farms Provincial Park

Point Farms Provincial Park is located just north of Goderich. The park is closed after Thanksgiving weekend. We parked outside the gate and hiked a 6km loop to Lake Huron and back.

Upon entering a meadow area, we started finding birds including this Ruby-crowned Kinglet.

MANY tiny insects were flying in the air, providing an excellent source of food for the birds. (Tiny insect dots are visible in the air above the kinglet.)

White-crowned Sparrow

Lake Huron at Point Farms Provincial Park

Ring-billed Gulls were the dominant species at the beach. We were disappointed that we didn’t find any migrating shorebirds.

Lunch spot.

Unknown tracks in the sand.

A story book trail encouraged hikers to notice the natural world around them!