Ausable Gorge and Ipperwash Trails!
A Vernal pool, home to Salamanders, ducks and many other species! Vernal pools are wetlands and like all wetlands, they provide critical habitat for many species including frogs, salamanders, and invertebrates. Because they dry out in the summer, vernal pools don't support fish which might otherwise eat the eggs or young of these species. Vernal pools are like "predator-reduced" nurseries.
https://ontarionature.org/top-4-reasons-why-vernal-pools-merit-our-attention-on-world-wetlands-day-blog/
Skunk Cabbage grows in wet areas such as marshy woods, wetlands, stream banks, bogs and vernal pools. The flowers have an unpleasant odour that is sometimes described as smelling like skunk, garlic, cabbage or mustard. The flowers are pollinated primarily by flies, gnats, and beetles, which are attracted to the smell.
https://extension.illinois.edu/blogs/good-growing/2026-02-06-skunk-cabbage-springs-earliest-and-hottest-native-plant
Hepatica Flowers can not be properly identified to species until the leaves grow. The flowers always bloom ahead of the leaves. Hepatica can be an important early food source for many pollinators, including butterflies, bees, flies and beetles that visit the flowers during the month-long bloom period. (April to May)
https://www.fernsfeathers.ca/main-blog/how-to-grow-and-care-for-native-hepatica-in-your-woodland-garden
These Sharp-lobed Hepatica leaves grew last year and stayed protected over winter under the snow.
A highlight of our adventure was finding Salamanders, including this Spotted Salamander
Mole Salamanders refer to a group of nocturnal salamanders that spend the day in leaf litter or in burrows on the forest floor. They can range in length from 4-12 inches, have flattened tails, small eyes, stout bodies, smooth skin and short, rounded heads. Some species have bright spots. They eat insects and invertebrates.
In the early spring, some species of mole salamanders migrate in large groups to ponds or streams to breed. They lay their eggs in clumps on submerged material in the water. Young mole salamanders live in the water and have external gills. Most species eventually lose their gills and move onto land, but some species spend their entire life in the water.
https://nhpbs.org/wild/Ambystomatidae.asp
Blue-spotted Salamander
Eastern Red-backed Salamander
Snuggle Buddies - 2 salamanders in the photo!
Salamander eggs
Trees in a vernal pool.
Black-legged Tick, first of the year. Although they are not pleasant to find, regular tick checks on clothes greatly reduces the chances of being bitten. It was crawling across my sleeve. Tucking pants into socks and wearing light coloured clothes (so they are easier to see) are good rules to follow to stay "tick safe".
Although we saw few insects, some beetle larva are bark borers and make their own "highway systems" as they chew through the wood. The chew patterns can help to determine the species of beetle!
Dunes and Swales, North Lambton
The Infant! That is the actual name given to this uncommon adult moth. (It seems an odd choice of names, considering an "infant" typically refers to a youngster, which in this case would be a caterpillar.) Thanks to a friend for corralling it so we could see it upon our arrival. We found 2 more, but they did not land. They have a beautiful red underwing.
My first Eastern Comma of the year! I'm glad it stayed still for a photo!