More New Trails of The Vermilon River. A Post to SWF.

 Although we've been on this trail before, we have never gone as far as we did today. The day was overcast with intermittent sunshine and then rain in the afternoon.Just about everything but the kitchen sink came down from the sky.. Click on Photos to enlarge and view slide show.

 The wetland is the south part of the east track wetland. The trail runs roughly along the edge although it meanders and actually runs almost parallel to small road. But we're such stalwart hikers we'll take the trail.

 The first series of scenes shows the wetland with the raised area on the far side which is the track we take into the beaver pond, the next wetland east. The area is beautiful, but the periphery is littered with garbage of the filthy human trash that live in this area.As I've said before they fear the forest, and inhabit only its periphery which shows their quality as well as their mettle. I never get tired of directly telling them that.

 As the wetland narrows the area becomes tundra, taiga or bog, whatever name you prefer. By that rock it will be tundra. Very few of you will ever see that as its the mark of the Boreal forest. This is a transitional forest, between the Boreal and the St Lawrence- Great Lakes forest to the south.

 The growth covered area is the tundra, which is wet today, and impassable. Its a haven for wildlife of all types. With the weather still cool we're also bug free.

 This area is open because its groomed for a snow mobile trail. You can see the damage the trail groomer does.

 The trail we're following is a black spruce forest with close growing trees that are quite high. Its fairly hard to take photos in, as the lighting is constantly changing with every twist and turn.

This is the actual trail, so some light gets through, which usually confuses the whole issue. Most of the photos today were taken with the 70-300mm with as high as an 800 ISO. The tree needles on the trail make for some pretty quiet movement.

 The Black-capped Chickadees were especially active. This little guy was actually digging out sawdust from this woodpecker hole.

Chickadee

Chickadee

Chickadee.

Red-winged Blackbird.

Dark-eyed Junco bathed in Sunlight.

Song Sparrow.

Song Sparrow.

White-throated Sparrow.

White-throated Sparrow.

White-throated Sparrow.

Robin

Robin

 Now the new sightings begin. This is a Swanson's Thrush, just singing his heart out. The Robin is also a thrush, so he's in good company. Swanson's, and Hermit Thrush are difficult to distinguish. Both as well as Veerey's are here to complicate ID's..

 The Swanson's is a greeney grey on his back and buffy grey on his chest. The Hermit Thrush is reddish brown in his tail feathers and back. Its not helping that he is not showing me his back.

 I only found him because he was singing his heart out. Black spruce provide lots of protection for wildlife.

 I think the Tree Swallows are nesting now as this guy always checks on me when I pass.

Tree Swallow.

 I included more of the Purple Finch because he looks so great in the snow.

 I then ran into a small flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers that we chased around for a while.

 No sign off would be complete without these guys and their frolicking. I think I shot some in this position before. A Post to SWF @ http;//skyley.blogspot.com/