Trail Talk: Higher temperatures means more wildflowers and insects to see along the trails

Mourning Cloak.

With a few high temperatures and rain, many more wildflowers have come out, including large white and red trilliums, large-flowered Bellwort, Marsh marigolds, and Bloodroot.  I have also seen a garter snake, and several green frogs since the weather has changed.   

Two sights new to me were Unequal Cellophanes bees and a Neogyromitra brunnea fungus.  There were 50 or more bees flying around close to the ground when I was at Coldstream.  They are small native bees that live in underground burrows, which they line with a plastic like coating. The fungus is one of the fungi called false morels, this one had dark brown “ears”.

Other signs of spring include a few dragonflies and butterflies.  I have seen Eastern Commas (a reddish -orange butterfly) a Mourning Cloaks (black with a pale-yellow border) and some Azures (small pale blue that is white with black dots when resting with folded wings.) It is difficult to tell the difference between Spring, Northern and Summer Azures.

On April 20 I hiked on the Maitland Trail on the east side of Sharpes Creek Line.  I saw the first of this year’s White Trilliums in blossom and also several spider’s webs that were decorated with small dots of snow, due to the light snow flurries that morning.  Most of the snow has finally melted from “snowdrift” hill, which now had only a part of the trail covered with two or three feet of snow.

In a field at the side of Wildlife Line on April 22 there were four swans by a small pond in a partly flooded field.  These were Trumpeter swans rather than the Tundra swans seen earlier in the spring.    

Thankfully the high river levels have receded and most of the puddles along the trails have dried up as of April 24.

The volunteer work crews are still busy clearing up the last of the winter windfalls.

NOTES:

Maitland Trail Closure - A section of the Maitland Trail is closed from Londesboro Road to Little Lakes Road due to bank slumping and instability. Please plan your hike accordingly and respect all closures for your safety. There is no reroute. The alternative is to walk west on Londesboro Road then north on River Line to rejoin the Maitland Trail.

EVENTS:

Sunday, May 3 from 9:30 - 11 a.m. Cycle Stratford - Festival City route Meet in Stratford and cycle the Festival City route, including T.J. Dolan natural area. This is an approximately 12 km loop. Exact meeting location will be provided upon registration. Depending on weather, after the ride, we could picnic near Lake Victoria or visit a local coffee shop. Helmets are required and pre-registration a must. For more information and to confirm your attendance, please contact Gena Lowe at genalowe24@gmail.com. This is a level 1 easy ride on quiet streets, woodchip and dirt trails in D.J. Dolan area.

Saturday, May 9 from 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. Annual Plant and Compost Sale at the Knights of Columbus Centre parking lot, 390 Parsons Court, Goderich. Plant donations are welcome.

Saturday, May 9 from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. Hike the Morrison Dam Conservation Area & MacNaughton-Morrison Trail, Exeter. Meet at Morrison Dam Conservation Area, parking at 71108 Morrison Line, Exeter (south side of the dam). Approximately 8 km hike, scenic views along the Morrison Dam reservoir system and the McNaughton-Morrison Trail. For more information and to confirm your attendance, please contact Susan Ethelston at susan.ethelston@gmail.com. This is a level 1, moderate to brisk paced hike.

Saturday, May 16 at 8:30 – 9:30 a.m.  BRVTA members only birdwatching at G. Ebers property.

Sunday, May 17 from 1 – 3:30 p.m. - Hike Jenkins to Morris Tract. Meet at 36833 Londesboro Road (at the junction of Morris Tract Line and Londesboro Road or Google “Morris Tract Trailhead”) to carpool to Jenkins. This section has several big hills and includes many views of the Maitland River and goes through the section most affected by the 2011 Tornado. For more information and to confirm your attendance, please contact Patrick Capper at pcapper99@gmail.com. This is a level 2-3 hike at a moderately fast pace with hills and uneven terrain. Expect to taka about 2 ½ hours.

Tuesday Trompers meet at 9 a.m. on Tuesday to hike for about an hour. If you wish to be on this email list, send an email to mta@maitlandtrail.ca

Midweek hikers meet at 9 a.m. and hike for 1.5 to 2 hours on Wednesdays and Thursdays. Contact Patrick Capper at pcapper99@gmail.com

LIFE hikers meet every Friday for a hike of about 1.5 hours, with a choice of pace, striders moving a little faster than the strollers.  The hikes now start at 9a.m. and can be joined through One Care.

Tuesday Trompers meet at 9 a.m. on Tuesday to hike for about an hour. If you wish to be on this email list, send an email to mta@maitlandtrail.ca