26-28 April

 Three fine visits to the Hamilton Wetlands and Forest in three days.  

On the 26th I was privileged to join a very knowledgeable, very pleasant biologist.  We enjoyed our explorations, and she spotted some species I'd not noticed before.  

There are at least three yew trees in the forest, two of which were new to me.

The 27th was the annual Hamilton Marsh open day--exhibitions by several groups supporting biodiversity, and tours led by members of Arrowsmith Naturalists.  

The day threatened rain, but remained relatively dry until we had closed up tents and displays. 

The school in Hilliers, nearby, had a tent near the Marsh, where the students displayed an assortment of aquatic critters that they'd netted and that they returned to the Marsh at the close of the day.

The 26th and 27th were both fine days, but not conducive to photography.  At this season there is a lot to show, so I decided to take a solo walk with my camera on the following day.   

The swordfern is evergreen, but new growth sprouts in the spring.

The other fern species common in the area is bracken fern.  It dies back in the winter months, then re-emerges in spring.

A mossy stump, solid last week, has been explored recently.  I surmise that a recently awakened and hungry bear searched for grubs.

Sensible creatures, bears tend to avoid visiting humans.  

The trilliums are starting to turn colour.

Most flowers don't change as these do, but trilliums (trillia?) turn a pinkish shade when their pollen is depleted.  This happens to discourage pollinating insects from continuing their search for pollen and to enable the fertilised blooms to develop undisturbed.  

A path, long present, but overgrown, has been cleared recently.  It's a boggy walk, but it has some distinctive species along it.

A mountain ash is leafing out.

Hemlock is common in the northern forests, but an infrequent presence in this part of Vancouver Island.

The botanical name of hemlock is "tsuga heterophylla."  Tsuga is from the Japanese roots for tree and mother.  Heterophylla translates from Greek for varied leaves.   The variety of needles is evident in this photo--their length varies as does their arrangement on the branches.  This tree is, so far, the only hemlock that I've found in the area.  

Back in the path that leads to the Marsh, a stand of red elderberry is in bloom.

A second growth shows the blossoms more evident.

The strangely named cat-tail moss typically grows on cedar.

Even when cedar and douglas fir grow close together, the fir doesn't show this moss.  It isn't clear whether this is the same moss, growing on the less common Sitka spruce.

A gentle rain drew near by the time I reached the Marsh.  It didn't become heavy enough to cause me to leave.  

The sedges and other vegetation are becoming more lush.

The strangely named but beautiful buckbean (neither a bean nor in any way related to bucks) is coming into bloom.

Swallows are abundant this season but seldom cooperate with photos.

Stands of alders on the south bank of the marsh are a lovely soft green.

I sat for some time on the dock, listening to a Virginia rail.  

It never revealed itself.  Perhaps on another visit.  

Near the trailhead, a Douglas fir and a cedar grow in amiable proximity.

We shall see what the coming weeks bring.