Perth Wildlife Preserve Part 2

 We made it to the lookout. We'd taken the shorter path, with wide open, mowed trails and fewer bugs.

This is an arm of the creek. 

Up we went...

Boats head down the wider main part of Jebbs Creek. 

This sweet pair were dropping the F Bomb, and likely don't know or care that sounds travels over water.

🥾 🥾 🥾 🥾 🥾 🥾 🥾 🥾 🥾 🥾 🥾 🥾

Our Ottawa kids are in Newfoundland. This is an amazing part of Canada. I've not been, but I've been enjoying their photos. They've been hiking, walking the Viking Trail, and otherwise exploring. 

Can you see the boat near the left of the photo?!

Jordan loves reptiles and amphibians.

Selfie!

Caitlin is a hydrogeologist. She explained that this rock is made of 500,000,000 year old thrombolite (wiki)!

And, just before I go, good news. The nearby fire on the lakeshore (renters setting off fireworks) was contained.  No damage to neighbours, as far as I know. I added photos to my post.

Perth Wildlife Preserve Part 1

 Walkies for Gramma and Grampa!

The tower looks out to the butterfly field. They've created a wonderful habitat for them.

Grampa all kitted up. 

It is a beautiful spot, with an abundance of local plant species that provide habitat for critters. Thistle, milkweed, and a balance of meadows and forest.

Since we were wondering about bugs and heat, I thought we could take the easier path. A few minutes in, I realized we ought to put on bug spray. In the shade, the mosquitoes are bad. In the edges of the forest, the deerflies. I sprayed Joe's cap, and put on my big hat with the sticky paper. 

All told, I only had 2 deerflies. Several mosquito bites, where I didn't spray!

Isn't it lovely? 

We crept forward, and the hare didn't stir. Our path veered left, and it was left to eat.

Our goal was to make it to the lookout over the creek! Stay tuned for part 2!

A walk on the wild side

JB was watching baseball, I thought I'd go to the Wildlife Reserve Monday, Oct. 1st.

 Perth Wildlife Reserve CA Trail Map

Jebbs Creek runs through it.

I was duly scolded by this red squirrel!


Somebody had some lunch!


A lovely path through the cedars.


All through the forest, the Virginia Creeper is turning red.


The wild grape vines are ancient and determined.


The path has suffered wind damage from storms. Most of it was cleaned up. I crawled through this with the backpack on! These are young dead elm trees, with wild grapes weighing them down.
In...

and out!


Isn't this worth it?


There are lots of berries for the critters. This is common buckthorn.

Common Buckthorn – Ontario's Invading Species Awareness Program

I didn't take a photo of the viewing platform, but this is the view from the top. The 2nd photo is from a previous visit: Perth Wildlife Reserve & Tay Marsh, where we saw many birds, and a hare. Many of our songbirds are gone.

Back on the path.


A lovely old fence with lichen.


They were planning an embayment project. Scheduled for Thursday, I planned on returning after that. (I had an appointment Thursday!) I'd forgotten, but they are doing a renovation, to encourage habitat. (More on that later!)

Wood duck nesting box, ready for next year!

"This sugar maple was planted on June 26, 2016, to celebrate the planting of six million trees across the watershed by the RVCA and its many partners."