Hiking The Cross Country Ski Trail Of The Vermilon River. A Post To SWF

 This is a trail that I don't normally use, but new trails are always fun. The ski trail is 10 km long and runs on the west side of the River in a northly direction. I would estimate that I completed half of it, about 5 km. But I would have hiked at least another km to get to the trail. So in total I hiked about 6 km,say 3.6 miles in total, not bad after sitting on my duff during three days of rain. CLICK ON THE PHOTOS TO ENLARGE AND WATCH THE SLIDE SHOW.

 The weather is sunny and warm with a fairly stiff breeze which keeps the bugs down, but of course doesn't help with the photography. The River is wide here, and split into a main and a slow channel by a small island. The slow channel is mostly wetland. The slow channel is on the far side of the River.

The town and the RR line were originally on this side of the River,connected to the main land by a swing bridge. The abutement and cables still exist. The trail, of course, is the old railway line and excellent for hiking. In addition there are several clear areas, too rocky for trees, on the River which are comfortable for rests.

I had identified the Red-eyed Vireo in a previous post. But the earlier photos did not have close ups of the the best ID indicator, the red eyes. These do, and so confirm the ID.

Red-eyed Vireo.

Same showing the distinctive eye markings.

This Black-capped Chickadee series show a pair actively mining a standing rotten birch tree. I don't know if its their nest or they're after insects.

See the debris in its beak.

They're incredibly active.

Chestnut-sided Warbler.

This is the same Robin who perches in the most precarious areas.

Northern Flicker.

Cedar Waxwings, probably waiting for the berries to ripen.

Female Green-winged Teal

Male Green-winged Teal.

Monarch Butterfly.

Monarch Butterfly.

Silver-bordered Frittary

Silver-bordered Frittary.

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail.

Canadian Tiger Swallowtail.

I'm uncertain whether these two guys are Question Marks or Eastern Commas. ANSWER: Texwisgirl gave an easy ID method. The open wing has a dash over the dot, see photos one, so it is a Question Mark.

Question Mark or Eastern Comma.

Wood Satyr

Unknown.

Both of these ones are unknowns.

All the next series are Dame's Rocket which come in whites, and a pinkish purple colour.

Yellow Lily

Devil's Paintbrush.

Goat's Beard. All the yellow wildflowers are related to the Dandelion.

High Bush Cranberries. These are just about finished blooming, and will soon produce berries.

Purple Flowering raspberries, which are related to roses. They're about finished now and soon will bear fruit, which is small but delicious.

In the sunny areas the wild blueberries are out, but not yet ripe.

Wild Chives. I have these in my garden and regularly harvest them.

Wild Daisy.

Buttercups.

Coltsfoot.

Tansy.

This is Lily of the Valley. There is a difference between Wild Lily of the Valley, and Lily of the Valley. See an earlier post for Wild Lily of the Valley which is more abundant. Can you believe how hard this is?

Canada Nettle, and yes the leaves have a fiber that stings. Below Tansy again. A Post to SWF, Camera Critters, and Scenic Sunday