ERS 346 - Outing #4
Date: Sunday, November 10, 2019
Time: 08:45-09:45h
Duration: 1h
Location: Rouge National Urban Park in Scarborough, ON
Weather: 3 degrees Celsius; overcast
Habitat/Vegetation Type: marsh; beachfront on Lake Ontario
The site visited is a section of Rouge National Urban Park that contains a marsh area that flows into Lake Ontario. Majority of the vegetation was cat tail mixed with patches of phragmites. Other notable vegetation were maple, white pine, sumac, and buckthorn. There was some evidence of ice in the marsh as temperatures were near freezing, likely dipping below zero over night. Much of the coast line was paved roads and sidewalks, as much of the area was built up for human use. On the other side of the marsh lay a row of houses before it extends further into the protected park area. There is also a nearby Go Train track that amplifies noise pollution in the area. The marsh is fenced off to prevent people from crossing over, but it also create a physical barrier for wildlife movement.
Several birds nest could be seen atop a number of trees, as all the leaves had fallen by this time. All wildflowers had gone to seed, providing a potential food source for birds. Many songbirds could be heard in the distance. One cardinal was positively ID'd. It was male, though its bright red plumage was muted in order to camouflage during the winter months.
On the water, a group of seagulls could be seen in the distance. There were also a pair of mallards swimming near the built dock. More waterfowls could be seen in the distance, though they were too far to identify. The only visible characteristics were they had white feathers and were diving beneath the water to obtain food. In another part of the marsh, a heron was recognized by its unique silhouette. Its plumage was also noticeably muted. Further onto the shoreline, some scat was found, most likely from a squirrels judging from the size. It was found closer to the nearby neighbourhood where there was a greater density of trees.
Moving into the beach area, there was an abundance of fishing lines caught on the overhead bridge. This is evidence of fish in the water, though species composition is unknown. On a small peninsula, there was another group of seagulls. This area of the beach is known to have countless Canadian geese, though none were observed at this time. The beach, however, was still covered in their scat which was mostly old and dried up, indicating they had not been in the area for some time. A raptor was also seen flying overhead.
There was evidence of beaver activity as one trees behind between the fence and the road had been partially gnawed through. The cut seemed relatively fresh as the wood still had signs of moisture. With the fence acting as a barrier, it may be possible the beaver gave up or will return to try again later.
Comentarios
Añade un comentario