The most secluded tail within one hour’s drive of Toronto that I know is the blue trail at the Jim Baillie Nature Reserve just north of Leaskdale.












It can be very icy or very muddy here. I was glad to have my ice grippers. There was very little sound apart from the tones of nature. I heard Canada Geese overhead, Killdeer, Mourning Dove, Downy Woodpecker, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Blue Jay, American Crow, Black-capped Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Cardinal and Song Sparrow.


The trail is mostly in a Red Maple swamp.
Some Botany:





















MAILBOX
I received this about Sandhill Cranes:
Why southwestern Ontario is currently home to thousands of sandhill cranes | TVO.org
NATURE POETRY
March is a boisterous fellow,
And undeterred by fear,
With many pranks proclaims himself
The tomboy of the year! – The 1931 Old Farmer’s Almanac
Miles Hearn
Snow! Ice! The remains of an owl’s dinner! (Feathers only, Thank God.) Wonderful botanical detail!
Thanks, Miles!
“There was very little sound apart from the tones of nature.”
Beautiful. Thank you!