There are 2 ways of looking at snakes. You can admire these wonders of nature as I did when encountering about half a dozen of them all wrapped up with each other.

The other way to look at them is as the stuff of nightmares. My wonder quickly turned to alarm when the whole collection suddenly began to slither at top speed towards me.

Fortunately they veered off before reaching me.

Today I explored 2 sections of the Norquon Crown Lands knowing that there would be no yellow police tape here forbidding my entry.

The first area is an education centre which has many short trails.

From this pond I heard loud singing from Wood Frogs, Spring Peepers and Western Chorus Frogs.

Some botany:

The Chickadees are obviously used to being fed here and came very close many times:

I also had Ruffed Grouse and many Tree Swallows plus these:

and my first Mourning Cloak Butterflies of the spring:

After a short drive north, I hiked into the forest on a very rough trail:

There were some spectacular views here:

Then a short drive to Port Perry:

NATURE POETRY

Oh, how fresh the wind is blowing!
See! The sky is bright an clear,
Oh, how green the grass is growing!
April! April! Are you here?                    – Dora R. Goodale (1866–1953)

Miles Hearn