Newly Built Beaver Dam near Cherrywood, Ontario: Late April 2020

I am very familiar with a section of the Little Rouge Creek which runs just north of the Toronto Zoo:

As I was walking beside it on this day, the normally narrow creek suddenly opened up and formed a pond:

This is a clear indication that beavers have been at work and there are signs everywhere:

A dam of about a metre and a half in height has been constructed:

Here is a view of the newly formed pond from the top of the dam:

Beavers, who do their work at night, are not the only animals about:

Deer tracks

I also was able to photograph these birds:

American Robin
Song Sparrow
Brown-headed Cowbird (male)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Here is some of the signs of spring:

Wood Anemone (Anemone quinquefolia)
Strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
Ramps (Allium tricoccum)
Ramps (Allium tricoccum)
Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
Spring Cress (Toothwort) Cardamine bulbosa
Swamp Buttercup (Ranunculus hispidus)
Common Pear (Pyrus communis)
Common Pear (Pyrus communis)
Common Pear (Pyrus communis)
Marsh-marigold (Caltha palustris)
Coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara)
Willow (Salix)
Beech-drops (Epifagus virginiana)
Beech-drops (Epifagus virginiana)
Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum)
Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)
Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)
Trout-lily (Erythronium americanum)
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana)
Tamarack (Larix laricina)
Tamarack (Larix laricina)
Tamarack (Larix laricina)

Very near here is the hamlet of Cherrywood:

former church

There is a pond near here which I always stop at if I am in the area:

The birds I found:

Red-winged Blackbirds (male)
Buffleheads (female)
Buffleheads (female)
Ring-necked Duck (male)
Canada Goose on nest
Canada Geese
Canada Goose
Canada Geese

NATURE POETRY

Those be rubies, fairy’s favours
In those freckles live their saviours
I must go seek dewdrops here
And hang a pearl in every cowslip’s ear. – Shakespeare

Miles Hearn

1 thought on “Newly Built Beaver Dam near Cherrywood, Ontario: Late April 2020

  1. Lisa Volkov

    Once again, thank you, Miles, for bringing spring (and outings!) to those of us unable to see it in its full glory. I am very grateful for this. As for those naughty beavers, we do owe them, as we said during a walk, considering the pelts taken in the fur trade. I had no idea (or recollection) of such beautiful tamarack–flowers? What colour! This is all so wonderful.

    Reply

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