Hamilton Wetlands and Forest

  A return to Hamilton Marsh on a windy spring day.  The sun shone from on high, marking the approach of the equinox.   A young hemlock emerged from a logged stump. Nurse stumps nurture young huckleberries.  This stump looks to have been logged and burnt -- likely early in the 20th century. The water level in the Marsh is the highest I've seen this year, and full of mallards.  Mostly, my recent approaches have been heralded by frogsong, but yesterday I was greeted by frenetic quacking. There must easily have been 200 mallards. Although most of the birds were visible on the water, it was apparent that they were nesting in the reeds and sedges.  Pairs of ducks emerged at intervals. The frogs and other amphibians have been active as well. An alder beside the Marsh is showing fine catkins. Fungi isn't evident in any great numbers, but there were some showy turkey tails.   Arrowsmith boasted a magnificent snow pillow.  Unfortunately, the forecast ...

  A glorious day!  Fine weather, and many visitors, who are on the paths in response to the News--the purchase of the Forest and Wetland has gone through--it will become Hamilton Marsh Park and Conservation Area at the end of this month.   This sign will come down!  No longer property of Island Timberlands, no longer managed by Mosaic, it will be part of the Nanaimo Regional District's parks sytem. There can be no doubt that a great deal of planning, and study remains, but-- --Oh, how ridiculous I am!  I found myself talking to the forest as I walked along the path ,  saying, "YOU'RE SAFE!  You won't be logged."  And then I'd have to wipe away tears.  I'm just blown away.    Three hundred and sixty hectares of forest and marsh--that's 889 and a bit acres.  Very nearly pristine--some invasive stuff along the road that borders it, but otherwise, really clean.  Home to any number of endangered species, and assorted other...

  The tree that had been sawed down at the entrance to the Wetlands and Forest has now been cleared.  It looks as though it has been segmented for firewood. Winter is slow to take its leave of the Wetlands and Forest.  Today's visit was the coldest of the season.  There were traces of last night's snowfall, and in fact a very light snow fell as I walked in. A few showings of hair ice had appeared on fallen branches. At a guess, much of the night was too cold for this curious phenomenon to form, which needs temperatures just at the freezing level.  Beside the path, bracken was dusted with snow. The Marsh had a skim of ice over its exposed areas, with a dusting of snow. The water level posts, iced in, were well defined. There were at least 200 ducks in open water at the southeast end of the Marsh.  Most were mallards, dispersed along the reeds, but careful observation, and photo enlargement showed an assortment: ...mallards, American wigeon, green-winged teal...

  The Forest was still, after a cold night.  Frogsong was silenced, and the only audible bird on my arrival was a raven. At the trailhead, the light was filtered through high cloud.   The path to the Marsh was quieter than I can ever recall.  It had a fine stillness that matched the day's light--low in the southeast, and somehow gentle. The mosses were brilliant where unfiltered sunlight made its way through a clearing. By the time I reached the Marsh, the skies had cleared, and a recent snowfall was restoring Arrowsmith to winter splendour. The water level has risen, no doubt from the recent rainfall. To the southeast, open water invited waterfowl. A flock of about thirty mallards flew in from the north end of the Marsh.  Not all were visible in the distance, but it's clear that the winter waterfowl residence has been established.