Diario de sydneydauphin

19/11/22 – 1500-1600
Duration: 60 minutes
Location: Devil’s Creek
Weather: 6* Celsius, Overcast, cool breeze

Went for a walk along Devil’s Creek trail in Cambridge. We accessed the trail on Blair Rd and only walked the first section of the trail. My first observation was a dead caterpillar that appeared to be squished on the path. Initially we passed through a stand of some mature trees like maple, and ash. Down a slight hill I noted what may have been a borough to an animal, however looked packed with leaf litter from the season. Next, the trail leads through an area of dense and tall thickets dominated by Phragmites and Canada Goldenrod. Later on there was red osier dogwood and a cedar stand before arriving at a small creek with a boardwalk. We stopped here for a few minutes and I observed some chickadees in the red osier dogwood. While we stayed I also spotted squirrels and was able to hear the call of Canada Geese not too far away. At the end of the trail there is a school yard and more suburban trails that connect to sidewalk, here I spotted a rabbit in the planted grass.
Throughout this outing we encountered many other people on the trail in groups and with pets. I also noticed lots of scat on the trail but from pet dogs as opposed to wildlife. On the walk back I observed a large murder of crows flying overhead and heard more Canada Geese.

19/11/18 – 1530-1630
Duration 60 minutes
Location Barries Lake
Weather – 0* Celsius, overcast, cold breeze
I for the most part recreated my October outing, except that I chose to complete my observations at the end of the day as opposed to the beginning. I had to perform jumping jacks and squats quite often to keep warm again. Could smell the familiar scent of a roadkill skunk as I walked to my access point along the road, however, could not see the dead animal in the vicinity. This outing I took note of many Canada Geese and grows in the agricultural fields on the other side of Blair Rd.
I observed many Canada geese arriving and departing from the wetland. I also observed a large murder of crows flying overhead. About twenty minutes later I observed a large flying ‘V’ of Canada geese. I noticed upon this visit that the tall phragmites that are growing along the bank had dried out and broken/ fallen creating thick woven layer covering much of the bank. I could hear the rustling and scratching of squirrels in the crunchy vegetation surrounding me. I observed a bright red cardinal making trips to and from the trees across the marsh, I kept an eye out for a female of drabber colour however was not able to spot one. Finally, a couple minutes past 16:30 as I was headed back to my property which neighbours the wetland, I heard the call of two sandhill cranes as they flew overhead.

19/10/05 – 08:00 – 08:45
Duration: 45 minutes
Location: Barries Lake, North Dumfries
Weather: 7®C, some clouds, cold breeze
Habitat type: Wetland Marsh
Narrative:
Barries Lake is a wetland marsh feeding Grand River tributaries like Cruckston Creek and Devils Creek. I sat in a big Willow tree which grows between the bank and Blair Rd. At 0800 in the morning the dogs in my grandmother’s kennel on the neighboring property bark as they play outside, and traffic starts to get busy on the street. Every ten minutes of observation I would get up and perform jumping jacks and squats to stay warm as the sun gained height in the sky, or hid behind clouds.
Along the banks cattails and phragmites grow. Phragmites are harmful and invasive to Ontario wetlands however they are difficult to get rid of and would thrive in this environment despite disturbances in the area like runoff from the road and kennel, geocachers, and litterers. I spotted many Canada geese arriving and leaving the wetland as well as mallards and swans. I spotted squirrels running up and down a stand of red cedar trees. Next, I spent a lot of time observing a pair of Sandhill Cranes I could see in the distance. I first mistook them for Great Blue Herons, however, editing my photo and researching their calls later revealed that they were sandhill cranes. I noted territorial displays and shows of aggression amongst the Canada geese and between the Geese and the Swans.

19/09/28 – 13:00 – 14:00
Duration: 60 minutes
Location: rare Charitable reserve
Weather: 17® C, Some cloud, Light cool breeze
Habitat Type: Woodland, Cliffs/ Alvars, River. Opposite the riverbank is a golf course.

Narrative: Went for a walk along the cliffs and alvars trail on rare Charitable Reserve in Cambridge. The trail weaves in and out of a mature deciduous forest and showcases limestone cliffs as well as the Grand River running below. We stopped at a clearing in the trail that opened to the river provided a view of both banks. On the other side of the stream is Whistle Bare Golf course, an eye sore… However some of the birds we spotted were seen as they were flying over the gold course, the open space made it easier to see and distinguish the birds from each other. While at the lookout we spotted a red-tailed hawk, common crows, pairs of mallards, vultures, Canada Geese, and a deposition of walnut/ acorn shells; what appeared to be a squirrel’s leftovers. A bee flying around some Aster flowers was also noted along with a woolly bear caterpillar. We continued through the trail spotting squirrels darting from tree to tree. Canada goldenrod and wild carrots grow along the trail as well as maple, oak, beech, and walnut trees.
Throughout our 60 minutes we encountered other members of the public using the trail some with dogs. While the weather is beginning to feel cooler it seems the community could not pass up such a beautiful day. Along the rare trails there is signage posted about the ecology and natural history of the area including uses by First Nations peoples.