Long Sault Conservation Area: March 16, 2020

In these somber times, there is a lot of solace to be found in the great outdoors. It is easy to be by yourself and the reduction of traffic and lower gas prices make it very attractive.

So it was that I found myself winging eastward toward Bowmanville this morning in very light traffic. Then a turn to the north and I arrived at Long Sault CA. The journey took less than an hour.

“Sault” means “rapids” in French but I did not see a river.

I did see a lot of lingering snow and was happy to have my “grippers” on the icy trail.

There are 18 kms of trail here and I walked on 3 of the trails.

At one point there was a view of a farm:

I walked at my usual glacial pace and was happy to find this bench about half way through. A perfect spot to enjoy my lunch.

The temperature was 0 degrees and the sun occasionally peaked out from behind the clouds.

There were very few birds as there is little for them to eat here at this time of year. I heard Black-capped Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, American Crow and briefly saw 2 Common Ravens.

Some Botany:

Bitternut Hickory (Carya cordiformis)
Beaked Hazel (Corylus cornuta)
Large-tooth Aspen (Populus grandidentata)
White Ash (Fraxinus americana)
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)
Red Maple (Acer rubrum)
Turkey-tails
White Ash (Fraxinus americana) with Ash Borer damage
White Ash (Fraxinus americana) with Ash Borer damage
Basswood (Tilia americana)
Red Oak (Quercus rubra)
Hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)
Eastern Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
Alternate-leaved Dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)
Red Pine (Pinus resinosa)
White Birch (Betula papyrifera)
White Birch (Betula (papyrifera)
White Pine cone
Norway Spruce (Picea abies)
Norway Spruce (Picea abies)
Norway Spruce cone before squirrel
Norway Spruce cone after squirrel

Evidence of Pileated Woodpeckers

Pileated Woodpecker drilling
Pileated Woodpecker drilling

We’d never know how high we are, till we are called to rise;
and then, if we are true to plan, our statures touch the sky.   – Emily Dickinson (1830–86)

Miles Hearn

1 thought on “Long Sault Conservation Area: March 16, 2020

  1. Rosemarie Fischer

    Hello Miles
    thank you for the pictures! I think it is lovely of you to go on this walk and share it with us!!!! Even though I have not been able to be in one of your groups for a while. What a great person you are!!! Good Bless, even though I’m not a religious person! Maybe when all this fear and anxiety blows over and I’m up to walks again, I will come back and go on those walks again.
    All the best to you….

    Rosemarie Fischer

    Reply

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