Part 2. A hike on the West Bank of the Vermilon River, along the Abandoned Railway Track. A post to Camera Critters and Scenic Sunday.

Swamp Sparrow Playing on the Ice Skim



Swamp Sparrow




Red-wing Blackbird




We're picking up where we left of on the previous post.The two sparrows are in a small wetland just over the bridge. The Red-winged Blackbirds are on the wetlands of the abandoned RR line. So are the Grackles. The Pileated Woodpecker who I think was the model for the cartoon Woody Woodpecker was in the same area. For the full woodpecker series click here http://vermilonriverwildlife.blogspot.com/2011/04/pileated-and-hairy-woodpeckers-of.html.


Red Wing Blackbird



Grackle

Grackle in the Sun

Pileated Woodpecker

Bufflehead Male Duck



Female Bufflehead




Male Bufflehead




Male and Female Bufflehead.


I normally don't have too much luck with ducks, but the Buffelheads were playing in the fast water just the other side of the small wetland shown below. I checked their range as this is the first time I've seen them and they are migrating or moving in as they're usually a bit north. The Wood Duck shown below which is not such a good photo was in the same area but right across the river. I'll have to figure out a way to get closer. I knew this trail would pay off as the active track cuts me off from the eastern side of the river.



Wood Duck.




Small Wetland to the East or on My Right

 The large wetland is still frozen but is home to the blackbird both Grackles and Red winged. The Pileated showed up in the frozen area also. The Wood Duck, really a colourful fellow, is a resident of the area.


Large Wetland To the West or My Left.





Lip of The Rapids.




White Water




Rapids




Close Up




This whole trail, an abandoned RR track is easy to hike as it is elevated above the river and wetlands, which makes for easy viewing but creates a difficulty in getting closer to the actual river bank as the sides are steep. The trail ends at the rapids which are spectacular at this time of year. The old bridge is gone of course. The river is wide above the rapids and then narrows to create the rapids. The wetlands are in the wide area above the rapids.

The Fox Among the Geese



Boomer My Companion












These fox shots were not used in my earlier post. If you want to see the whole sequence click below. Boomer was with me but not in the post. You can see from his eyes how interested he was.  http://vermilonriverwildlife.blogspot.com/2011/04/life-and-death-on-vermilon-river-post.html

A Post to Camera Critters @ http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/   and to Scenic Sunday @ http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/

Click to enlarge all photos.