Scenes, Wildlife, and Flora of the Vermilon River. A Post to Camera Critters and Scenic Sunday.

Clearing N. East Track Wetland.

I wasn't going to include any scenery in this post, but some how these photos got left out of the Friday post. This clearing was according to local history the site of a cabin, which it may have been as the clearing is very well laid out. You can see the effect of what little sun we've had on the greening in the clearings but other areas are just starting.

I included another shot of the channel which was cleaned out and where I always stop by to see if the otters or muskrat are back. See the branches back in the water, I suspect they're back, but I'll have to bide my time to see them.


Otter or Muskrat Channel.




Chestnut-sided Warbler.




White-crowned Sparrow.





Well onto the wildlife. The  chestnut-sided Warbler was a real find and was in the woods just north of the wetland.


I also saw this white-crowned Sparrow along with three or four others in the same area. That means they're back home now.

Female Goldfinch



Male Goldfinch.





And of course no hike would be complete without some Goldfinch photos.


Gray Jay.




This Gray Jay or Whiskey Jack was in the Long lake wetlands actually on the opposite side from me. They're even more playful than Blue Jays. The name Whiskey Jack is based on their aboriginal name which sounds like Whiskey Jack. He's at the limit of my lens reach.

The Raven is a long shot also and at first I thought he was a crow, but the shaggy mane at the back of his head probably means he's a Raven.

Raven



Male Robin.






I always have time for Robins, because they're handsome and such beautiful singers, especially early in the morning.




And yes the female Pine Siskin is fine she's just having a little rest after lunch, and her feathers are puffed against the cold.

Female Pine Siskin



Female Hairy.




I put the woodpeckers side by side for comparison. The female Hairy is recognizable by her beak size and the female Downy by the spots on her tail feathers.


Female Downy.




Blueberry Flowers.




I put in some more flower photos because the forest is starting to come alive in the clearings where the little bit of sun has been able to permeate. These blueberries will provide staple food to me, the bears and other wild life, as well the locals pick them to supplement their income. There is no comparison between wild and domestic blueberries.

Woolly Violets.



Growth.






The Violets grow in patches, and therefore make up for their small size.



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