Biological Survey of the Sydenham River

An interesting old report: http://archive.org/details/BIOLOGICALSURVEY00OSMO09175.ome

Strathroy CA

Things are already drying up at the Strathroy CA. Little intermittent creeks are completely dry. A channel shaped depression, sandy bottom and many muddy chimneys are the signs that water once flowed. This leads me to wonder how dry our summer will be. Some, are predicting an abnormally dry year, with little precipitation.  Nonetheless, the vibrant green of the emerging plants show no indication of lack of water, yet.

No wonder this skunk cabbage evolved distinctively smelly leaves.  It looks so fresh and tasty,  if I didn't know better, I would be tempted to add some to my salad.

Forsythia in brilliant yellow bloom.

Miniature maple keys.

More willow catkins

Newly burst tulip tree buds

Eastern Red-backed Salamander: According to the web: "Unlike most salamanders, Red-backs do not spend any part of their lives in the water. Most salamanders have to lay their eggs in water. These lay their eggs in a cluster, like grapes, hanging underneath a rock or inside an old log. They are born looking like mini-salamanders, about an inch long...".Red-backed Salamanders do not have lungs even though they live on land. They breathe through their skin, which must be moist at all times. They come out from their hiding places at night after a rain. This is when they do most of their hunting."

Northern redback salamander, Plethodon cinereus

Above: Hepatica (top), Anemone (bottom left) and Bloodroot (bottom right)

Wild ginger (top left), may apple (top right), sedge (bottom left), and trillium (bottom right)

Coldstream CA

Bloodroot, Sanguinaria canadensis, (white flowers above) is an early blooming native flower. According to Wikipedia:  "Bloodroot is one of many plants whose seeds are spread by ants, a process called myrmecochory. The seeds have a fleshy organ called an elaiosome that attracts ants. The ants take the seeds to their nest, where they eat the elaiosomes, and put the seeds in their nest debris, where they are protected until they germinate. They also get the added bonus of growing in a medium made richer by the ant nest debris."  Most of the ones I saw had tucked up their petals and leaves for the night. I would like to see a time-lape video of the opening and closing each day.

The bright yellow of  the marsh marigold flowers, Caltha palustris, are not captured by my photographs. The camera most auto adjust the colour, dulling it down. These flowers, although invasive, are a welcome sight each spring because of their vibrancy.
 

These eggs were in a pool of an intermittent tributary to the river at Coldstream CA.  I guess that they are American Toad eggs based on a description from a USGS webpage: "Toad eggs and tadpoles can be found in almost any aquatic situation, from muddy farm ponds to clear swampy areas, and are distinctively different from those of other frogs. Toads lay their eggs in long strings that may be benthic or entwined in (but not attached to) vegetation."

 USGS Guide to Frog and Toad Eggs

These turkey vultures were roosting in the spruce trees at the maintenance entrance on Coldstream Rd.  There has to be at least 20 settling in for the night.

A good walk at Clark Wright CA, Strathroy today. Lots to see. Flowers are about to burst. Green frogs and toads are calling.

Strathroy Wetlands Marsh Walk

This slider turtle and two midland painted turtles were at Strathroy Wetlands Marsh Walk. The red-eared slider is a non-native species and the most common pet turtle. Unfortunately, these introduced turtles can outcompete our beloved native turtles, crowing them out of their habitat.

Slider turtle

Introduced Slider turtle (forground), native painted turtle (behind)

Great Blue Heron, Ardea herodias

Strathroy Conservation Area

Eastern Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis sirtalis

Strathroy Sewage Lagoons

Northern Shovellor, Anas clypeata

Common Merganser, Male Mergus merganser americanus

Willow catkins

Muscrat, Ondatra zibethicus

Bufflehead, Bucephala albeola

 Unidentified swamp creature!

Male Red-windged Black Bird, Agelaius phoeniceus