To finish off our Sunday afternoon drive we continued our search for Spring Peepers, Skunk Cabbage and Sandhill Cranes a little further west and south. We drove up the long Epping hill, straight ahead (past the spot where I was stopped during a pot bust a few years ago), to the 7th Line. Then left two concessions and further west on the 13th Sideroad.
We quickly spotted the Skunk Cabbage, just about spring's earliest flower around here, with its deep purple hood known as the 'spathe' covering the tiny flower inside.
The green leaves have started to emerge on this plant.
But on the opposite side of the road the bright green leaves were much more obvious. They grow quite large, and yes, the plant has a definite 'skunky' odour.
We drove on past this set of beehives all wrapped up for winter.
And came to Wodehouse Creek, which I've written about often in the past. This was always one of my favourite spots to stop and wander, watching for birds in the past. There's a large beaver pond/wetland just upstream, and there used to be a beautiful stone barn foundation in the back centre of the picture. The Conservation Authority, which owns this property, sold it to be dismantled stone by stone and rebuilt for a new rural garden feature somewhere!
Around the corner we found Wodehouse Creek again, just a mile upstream. It arises in a large spring just a few hundred yards upstream, and falls into the Wodehouse Karst about 4 miles downstream, emerging along the escarpment as a series of springs.
This is a totally nondescript view, but it's a spot just 200 yards up the road where we finally heard the chorus of Spring Peepers, one of the iconic sounds of spring here, and a sound we both love to hear. And it's where we listened for Sandhill Cranes, but unsuccessfully. We have heard them here before in the fall.
Several beautiful farms along this stretch of the 9th Line.
And one notable old two-room schoolhouse, now also a residence.
And thus ended our Sunday afternoon drive.
I'm so glad you finally heard the spring peepers. On my Thursday hike, at one point we heard lots of croaking frogs, but I don't think they were peepers. They were bullfrogs by the sound of their voices.
ReplyDeleteNice that you found a spot where the Spring Peepers were singing. Wodehouse Creek is a great looking area. Looks like a great place to go walking.
ReplyDeleteA lovely drive indeed. The peepers are a great sign of spring. Hope you see the cranes on the next excursion.
ReplyDeleteYou had a very lovely drive. I'm sure the first of many this year.
ReplyDeleteSpring Peepers, had to consult the Google directory for these, and found some very interesting information. They are tiny, are they the first to herald in the spring? And such a shrill lovely 'Peep" from the tiny creature.Hope you hear more and see the cranes.
ReplyDeleteI have been hearing Spring Peepers for several days now, and the other days I heard a united chorus of Wood Frogs too.
ReplyDeleteI never hear frogs in the city. Glad that you heard the peepers.
ReplyDeleteThe Peepers are still peeping here but they usually wait until after sundown to begin their Spring pee
ReplyDeleteThat last word should have been 'peepfest' in my previous comment.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos. We've heard the peepers too and also have seen skunk cabbage popping up.
ReplyDeleteI'd love to live in an old renovated school house!!
I enjoy hearing those spring peepers too.
ReplyDeleteI love the spring peepers/chorus frogs. Bill, not so much. Ha ha they start here around 4 pm and get louder as the evening progresses. Sometimes so loud, they drown out our voices. :)
ReplyDeleteGlad to see that you heard the peepers -- the voice of spring. Down here, closer to the Equator, the skunk cabbage have long finished blooming and the leaves are full sized. That old school appears to be brick and looks very interesting.
ReplyDeleteYou two do really have some great adventures. I am glad the school house could be repurposed. Again is so great to not see snow.
ReplyDelete