More Hiking on the West Side of the Vermilon River. A Post to MWT.

Subsidiary river

 Today we're hiking on the abandoned RR line on the west side of the river to the rapids. I put the scenes in a sort of order to give you the feel that you're with me. The river is at its widest in the area before the rapids, and feeds both wetlands, and a little area ( first photo) that appears like a stream in a rain forest.The RR line is raised, so we're above the water.

Photo 3 is the wetlands on my right side as we head to the rapids. Photo #4 shows the river as it winds around one of the lower islands. The main current would be on the side away from us. Photo 5 shows the sudden narrowing and then the rapids. The river looks bucolic because the water is low due to lack of rain. The last time we hiked the rapids the water was high, and I said that it would be better to stay away from the the far side of the island, as the current would likely sweep you into the chute between the bridge abutments. Now you could paddle to the far side, and portage over the bridge to avoid the chute.

White Water Lily

River Wetland. #3

Wide Area Above the Rapids. #4

Just Above The Rapids. #5

Rapids

The chute between the bridge abutments.

The Quiet Area at the end of the Island that separates the rapids..

Black Swallowtail

Black Swallowtail

Song Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Oven Bird.

Female Yellow throat Warbler. 

Immature Robin

 The Swallowtails are starting to show summer wear. All of the birds,except the Yellow-rumped, were shot just before the wetland in a group of pin cherry trees, where they were feeding. An Oven Bird is a warbler that gets its name from the style of nest it builds. I had to chase the Yellow-rumped around the tree to get him.

I saw bear dung on the trail, which was blue in colour and fresh. There are no blueberries on this trail. So she/he swims the river and crosses here. When I was coming back, there was fresh dung and pin cherries spilled on the trail. Bears love pin cherries too. Clearly she hid out on me, and headed out when she heard me returning. So no bear photos.

A Post to MWT @ http://showyourworld.blogspot.com/

A Continuation of A Hike on The West Bank of The Vermilon River. A Post to Sky Watch Friday.

Fair Skies.

I'm sure the weather here is much like the weather else wheres . More rain than sun which inhibits hiking but suits the forest with what looks like a strong berry year. That means lots of photo opportunities. In the third photo I thought I might get lucky and see a sun dog, but unfortunately no.




Still Fair



Trying for a Sun dog



River Wetland


Much of this post is a continuation of a hike along the west bank on the abandoned RR bed. This is an easy hike with lots to see. With berries starting to come on you have to be attentive to bears, and as I said earlier to the river. Just because I talk affectionately of it doesn't mean it isn't dangerous.

The Vermilon creates its own system of wetlands which can be enhanced by the beavers. That's not the case here but the trail runs through one of the wetlands so you're surrounded by a secondary river channel on one side and on the other, the wetland shown here.


Blue Flags on the Far Bank






The blue Flags are on the opposite river bank. The river widens and then narrows quickly to form the rapids. If you were in a canoe, you would want to know this.

The rapids are mainly on this side of the island, but veer round the little island. In a canoe you would stick to the gentle rapids on the island side; land on the far shore, and portage over the old bridge abutments. The water chute between the bridge abutments is too fast to try going through in your canoe. But with high water the current is too strong to try a landing on the far side of the island. I think the current would just sweep you into the chute.


Beginning of Rapids.




The River goes round a small Island




Male Ebony Jewel



Thanks for all the help in identifying these guys. They're beauties aren't they.

If someone wants to try the moth or the dragonfly, great, and thanks in advance.


Female Ebony Jewel.




Unknown Moth.




Dragonfly.




Male Redwinged Blackbird.






All the shots of the Redwinged Blackbirds were taken in the wetland shown above, except the close up.



Female Redwinged Blackbird.




Close Up Female Redwinged Blackbird.




Cedar Waxwing.




Cedar Waxwings.





With the ripening berries the Cedar Waxwings are gathering. I swear these guys will pose for you.


A Pair of Waxwings.




Song Sparrow




I'm not seeing as many song sparrows as usual, but that's because the tree canopy is so thick and they just disappear into it, because I can sure hear them.


Male Goldfinch




Profile of Male Goldfinch.






The Goldfinch are easy to spot because they're so bright. The chipmunk below stuck around for a few photos which is a surprise because he's on almost every one's lunch list.


Chipmunk.



Fox with lunch

The trail starts off on a RR maintenance road which has a large bend in it, as I came around the it so did this guy, with dinner in his mouth. If this is the fox from my river scene he's a much better hunter now.



 If you want to see his earlier escapades click on  http://vermilonriverwildlife.blogspot.com/2011/04/life-and-death-on-vermilon-post.html or go to the April posts and watch him hunt the geese.

Apost to Sky Watch Fridat @ http://skyley.blogspot.com/ and Camera Critters @ http://camera-critters.blogspot.com/ and Scenic Sunday @ http://scenicsunday.blogspot.com/

A Hike Along the West Bank of the Vermilon River. A Post to my World Tuesday.

Lower Vermilon

I took a couple of days off from the blog, but continued to hike the river. These photos are from a hike along the abandoned track on the west side of the river. The photo on the right is just above the rapids.

The river is high and the rapids are running full tilt. I never shoot these rapids at a slow shutter speed to make them look syrupy as it plays down the danger of the river. A boy was drown this weekend in the river, which is not a rare occurrence, as I have said before the locals are very uncomfortable with a wilderness forest and very few are equipped with the swimming skills to handle the river.


Main Channel Rapids




Main Channel




Little Island.

The Vermilon is filled with small islands and the rapids circle this one. But what's interesting is the tiger lilies on that little island.



Tiger Lillie's




White-throated Sparrow.




Female Brewer's Blackbird?




Female Rusty Blackbird??




Cedar Waxwing.




Chipmunk





I'm soft on identifying all these backbirds especially the females, which you don't see much of so if anybody wants to help jump in.

I found a small flock of Cedar Waxwings who hung around with me for a while. I'll post their photos to WBW on Wednesday.

Surprisingly enough, Chipmunks are hard to find. I think because it is a wilderness and they rank low on the food chain. But this guy co-operated.

There are a lot of different dragonflies, so be prepared to look at them. This guy looked particularly intense.

Unknown Insect



Another Unknown Insect.




Northern Pearly-Eye.



Blue Flags.

Devil's Paintbrush.



Lush Ferns.




Wild Daisies.







There was so much going on that I'll have to do part two on Sky Watch Friday.



A Post to my World Tuesday @ http://showyourworld.blogspot.com/