Lichens and mosses of the Eardley Escarpment

Exploring the world of primitive plants

A: Eric photographing rock tripe on Eardley Escarpment.

A world of lichens awaits discovery on the Precambrian rocks of the Eardley Escarpment. I do not yet know all of their names: if you can help to identify them, I invite your comments.

Here, Eric is photographing rock tripe, a kind of lichen. Rock tripe is common, and is an edible (though not choice) species of fungi. 

Image B is a photo of several lichens. In particular, one reminds me of cedar. This image depicts several different kinds, all of which I would like to have identified for me, so that I start to know what is growing here at Spiritwood.

B. Several lichens.

Nearby, yet another plant attracted our attention, a series of “circles” which might be spores or “young lichens” or -- are they a mature species of a different type of lichen? 

C. These “circles” mystify me. What are they?

And below? Another perspective of these “circles” surrounded by mosses and framed by dead deciduous and evergreen leaves.

D. Another view of the “dots” or “circles”.

E. Feathery or fern-like moss.

To the left, moss which resembles a small fern or perhaps feather.

G. Another “creeping style” of “feathery” moss.

And above, a “creeping” species, with snow receding from it.

Woods in spring... er, winter...

Spring woods after 15 cm snowfall

Snowshoeing through Spiritwood’s woodland trails revealed plants in their various stages of growth... and death.

A young white birch is losing its “baby bark” and getting its mature white bark. Buds are swelling and before long -- only in a few weeks -- the first furled leaves will appear.

Meanwhile, the trails are blanketed with deep snow. Here, balsam fir and white pine are draped with yesterday’s snowfall while a blue sky peeks through the foliage.

Marcescence: the dead leaves which cling onto twigs is well-illustrated here with the American beech. Isn't that a remarkable blue sky?

Finally, a large poplar windfall reveals a complicated, shallow twist of roots.

Who knows what the morrow will bring? We intend to explore again...

Sightings mid-March

Spring approacheth... despite snow

March 20: Bald eagle flies over Spiritwood. Neighbouring farmer says two are feeding on a dead calf at his place. Lots of wild turkeys on the roads; males displaying their fine plumage.

March 21: lots of white-tail deer on Mountain Road and Highway 148 Ouest feeding on exposed dried grasses/foliage of last year’s grasses and leaves. Deer looked like yearlings: small and they all look very thin, with coats moulting. American goldfinch males starting to show golden breeding plumage.

March 22: 15 cm snowfall. Amid the squall, I hear a robin singing. Filled feeders: Approximately 20 goldfinches, ~ 9 juncos enjoying nyger seed, while black-capped chickadees, jays are consuming the black sunflower seeds. Mourning doves flitting about. Crows and ravens keen on the compost pile I've just replenished.

Spring arrives at Spiritwood?

Morning snowsquall deposits 15 cm snow.

15 centimetre snowfall defeats “spring”?

The early morning snowstorm deposited 15 cm of snow here in the Outaouais (West Quebec) and Ottawa Valley. All is well here at Spiritwood, however: Eric and I are looking forward to getting out in the new (wet) snow.

Before doing so, however, there is work to be accomplished.

Eric clearing path from tractor shed to the driveway.

Eric didn’t need to plug in the tractor: It started immediately in our -2  temperatures.

First on the list was snowblowing our front driveway.

The snow is very wet, very heavy. Perfect for making snow animals... but for now, before it becomes even heavier and sodden, we need to blow the snow from the driveway, which enables us to drive in and out without creating nasty tire tracks.

The snowblower needs to be carefully positioned when operating the tractor, so one doesn't blow snow into the garage or against a window.

I’m being surrounded by a mini-gust of snow
from the blower as I'm standing downwind of it.

Lichen what I see

Rock Tripe with ice formation.

Rock Tripe on PreCambrian rock of Eardley Escarpment

What a gorgeous afternoon for a snowshoe tramp through Spiritwood’s woodland trails! With temperatures of 6 degrees Celsius, we strapped on our snowshoes and headed out for an hour’s exploration. What did we see? Rock tripe.

Rock tripe is a member of the lichen genus Umbilicaria. They grow on rocks and have a leathery look, being khaki-to-green on their surface, and black underneath. Although they simply taste leathery to my palate, they are a known survival food.

What is a lichen? First of all, they are indicators of air quality, so it’s a good thing that tripe and other lichens flourish here at Spiritwood, along the southerly facing ridge of the Eardley Escarpment.

Secondly, lichens are not mosses... although they are related. Instead, according to London, England’s Natural History Museum, they represent a symbiotic relationship between two or more organisms: a fungus and an algae.

Here at Spiritwood, we have many lichens. Today we found several fully hydrated “fields” of rock tripe. In fact, they were swollen with from the snow and ice which today’s sunlight had transformed into meltwater.

Mourning the wild coyote

Morning

Coyote runs free

run proves fatal

Our horses tell us what’s going on, here at Spiritwood. With pricked ears and gaze fixed due south, all Eric and I have to do is follow their line of sight. 

Six coyotes were dashing across the snowy fields. Friday’s icy sleet gave them a firm surface upon which to race, and there they were, running free. Amazed at the energy they were expending, we watched as the pack split up: three came right for us, then veered west racing immediately south of the Steele Line. The other three sped eastwards.

With binoculars we enjoyed observing their glossy fur rising and falling as they moved. We thought the last of the three westward-bound animals looked old. Its fur appeared duller, perhaps a bit matted, and it was panting, unlike the two leaders who ran effortlessly with muzzles shut. 

What a thrill to witness their morning race! 

Suddenly our neighbours’dogs started barking, sounding the alarm. And then the inevitable... The crack of a rifle. Then a second “finishing” shot.

Coyote down. Was it the slowest one? I’ll never know.

That’s what it’s like living here on the edge, where the sanctuary of Gatineau Park opens into the killing fields of the countryside. Outside the Park, coyotes are considered noxious pests, not clever predators with a right to live, so as to keep whatever natural order is left in balance.

As for me and Eric? We mourn the loss of a magnificent wild creature. I can only hope its death was merciful and swift.

Rainscape

View from my window

Pouring rain. Friends are coming over this afternoon to snowshoe... Hmm. Perhaps not. I bet we’ll decide to curl up beside the wood stove and chat... perchance with a glass of red.

The metre-deep snow blanketing the meadows and woodland trails will take a beating after today’s rain and sleet.

After the showers, Eric removed the dense, wet snow from the garage roof.

Unfortunately, when the freeze comes later on this afternoon, our laneway and yard will become a sheet of ice.

I will need to reattach my Yaktrax onto my boots so I can walk safely on the glare ice.

Notice there are no birds at the feeding stations in this pouring rain.

Story in the snow

What is this? Can you guess? 

Snowshoeing at Spiritwood reveals amazing tracks, stories to interpret

A late afternoon (17:15h) snowshoe hike along our farm’s woodland trails revealed many animal tracks today.

Take a look at the image here: can you guess what it is?

My photo shows the imprint left by a Ruffed Grouse... the tail, body, wings.

Happily, this year we have many grouse in our meadows and woods, with a couple visiting our feeder for the first time since we moved here in 1989.

Perfection of the snowshoe!

Wonders of nature at Spiritwood

Beautiful +3C with sunshine and blue sky and freshly fallen snow. A perfect afternoon enticed us from our computers, beckoning us to get some outdoor exercise and fresh air.

Along Wildflower Lane inside the verge of the forest, patterns on snow-draped balsam fir reminded me of the prints of a wild goose... 

Further along Wildlflower Lane, Eric paused to photograph the sunshine through the trees.

Later, on Magic Road, I captured the gentle sunset through our mixed deciduous forest...

And, back on our western field, Eric photographed milkweed pods sticking like ears through the blanket of snow.

Just an hour’s snowshoe... Such an invigorating break.

What happened here?

What an impression! 

Perfect wing and body print as an unknown bird species (raven?) swept down onto the snow, grabbed a snack (perhaps a vole?), then hopped away behind where I am crouching to devour whatever it was.

Snowfall at twilight

Twilight... Chubby snowflakes are falling, obscuring the western woods from view. Just returned from an hour's snowshoe, where we made new trails after last night's snowstorm. I imagine we'll be out again tomorrow at this rate, clearing again.

Today found two distinct trails: one of white-tail deer and the other of a coyote. Amazing to see the extent of their leaps as they run through the deep snow. How deep? Approximately 2/3 metre I'd say.

No sounds in the woods save for the breeze in the white pines which cause puffs of snow to cascade to the ground. Chickadees for a while, but we soon passed them, heading into the silence of the woodland.

Peaceful.

February already!

Already the daylight is lengthening appreciably, and with temperatures of +3C today, after all our -25C with  -40C wind chill, the extra hours of sunlight are welcome!

Introduced our Antarctic friends to Crescent my mare who's sporting a blue blanket these days, and Trooper, Eric's gelding who's such a sturdy "woolly bear" he doesn't need any extra warmth even on our -40C days.

Then strapped on the snowshoes, clambered up the escarpment edge to the telecommunications tower on our rocky outcrop of the Eardley Escarpment. What a spectacular view on this blue-sky day.

Tonight? More snow predicted. Good! Bring it ON! Not a good winter for deer as the snow's so deep and temperatures so bitter. Better winter for the predators.

Nature's not kind: it's a dangerous world out there for predator and prey alike.

Goodbye January, hello Antarctic friends

Welcomed our new friends whom we met on our Hurtigruten Antarctic trip (December 1-19 last year). We'd been seated with John and Christine for our dinners on board MV Fram, and lo & behold, turned out they live in Arnprior.

Small world!

So we've decided to stay in touch -- and today was our first day with them here at Spiritwood. Started out with a twilight snowshoe up Magic Road to our back forest trails. Introduced them to our ancient soul, the lone pine of the forest which must be 200 years old or so.

Back home, delicious roast Pontiac chicken, Spiritwood blue potatoes, then watched ours and their pictures of Antarctica. Nice!

Tomorrow? A 'shoe up the escarpment!

Ruffed grouse visits feeders

Unusual visitor -- at Spiritwood's bird feeders!

Ruffed grouse are relatively common here at home, but usually we see them feeding on last summer’s red sumach seed clusters, in the trees. This year, we have a pair of ruffed grouse who are enjoying sharing the black sunflower seeds which fall from the feeding stations.

Here is a grouse dining at the base of the apple tree, grabbing what it can from hungry blue jays.

(Taken through my kitchen window...)

Whiteout!

My drive into Ottawa yesterday was fraught with dangerous winter conditions... right from the start.

Here, on the Steele Line, I confronted my first of many whiteouts. Treacherous howling winds had their way with snow, whirling it about, obscuring the road.

Once on the highway, gusts hurled snow into the roadway, creating drifts. Lots of vehicles dotted about the road; people on cell phones, other Good Samaritans beside them, helping out.

Minus 37C temperatures made filling the vehicle with gas challenging... and, after paying inside the gas bar, I could only just see my car as another whiteout had descended. I felt as though I was in the midst of a snow maelstrom... I guess I was.

I waited out the whiteout... and slowly proceeded.

As a hardy Canadian, this is winter...

Feeding wild birds -- wise or not?

Always controversial, Ottawa’s National Capital Commission (NCC) -- the Crown corporation mandated with managing Gatineau Park -- decided to remove wild bird feeding stations throughout the park.

American goldfinches eating nyger seed
from my feeder at Spiritwood.
Photo by Eric Fletcher.

Many skiers, snowshoers and winter hikers are upset about this decision.

The NCC claims their decision was made because they think feeding wild birds is confusing to the general public. Why? On the one hand, Gatineau Park messaging tells us not to feed wild animals (such as black bears) to prevent creating dependencies and harm to human beings (such as campers, hikers, etc).

Many see it merely as a cost-cutting measure created by communications bureaucrats who don’t realize the public can discern a difference between chickadees and bruins.

Also, others think feeding wild birds creates unnatural dependencies -- on non-native foods as well as food sources (the feeding stations).

I feed wild birds here at Spiritwood. I use tube feeders (containing nyger seed, for finches), platform feeders (black sunflower seeds for blue jays, chickadees), sprinkle some some seeds on the snow's surface (for mourning doves), and make/purchase suet blocks which I hang in "cages" from trees.

The logical extension of the debate over feeding wild birds would be that gardeners “ought” never to plant non-native species in our gardens. Nor, if we do plant non-natives, “should” we ever leave non-native plants’ seed heads on their stalks throughout winter.

I admit it: I do both. I feed birds in winter and I do plant non-natives in my garden. My farm, Spiritwood, is in rural Quebec, where many native species exist --  as well as naturalized introduced species.

What are your thoughts?

Frigid days at Spiritwood

With temperature highs of -23 and lows (with wind chill) of -40 or so, the wood pile is diminishing quickly.

Lots of snow but with temperatures like these, we've been bundling up carefully when we snowshoe.

Migrants returning

Despite wintery snowstorms this past few days, several summer migrants have returned. Here are the species I’ve seen plus the date when I first saw them:

March 25: redwing blackbirds; first Vs of Canada geese overhead.
April 1: on Black River: 5 hooded mergansers; ~ 1 dozen buffleheads, 3 turkey vultures, 1 red-tailed hawk, male and female northern harriers
April 8: first keening call of killdeer
April 9: Eastern meadowlark, two tree swallows
April 10: Eastern bluebird
April 11, 13: American kestrels
April 14: 3 phoebes

Photography

I am also a photographer, and over the years I have sold many images to magazines and newspapers to accompany stories I’ve written.

Here’s a photo I took on an early summer’s morning when the dew was heavy in the meadow grasses. This photo (which I have altered)  depicts my American Saddlebred mare, Crescent.

My very own Spirit Horse…

Eastern Phoebe fledgling

Tony Beck, Canadian bird expert and nature guide, is a pal of mine. He's always eager to help people identify birds, and this is what he wrote, regarding my "Bird in the hand" article:

"The bird in your hand (and in the image) is a juvenile Eastern Phoebe, likely fresh from the nest. Note the relatively large, flat-crowned, dark-capped head, mostly all-dark bill and longish tail. The yellow around the gape of the bill is typical of a fledgling.

"What may have thrown you off are the buffy wing bars. Most field guides (even the good ones) don't show this character because it only holds it for an extremely short time after fledgling from the nest. Any of the empidonax flycatchers (Least, Willow, Alder, etc.) would have a shorter tail and paler, more uniformly-coloured crown. Some might have bolder eye-rings and yellowish lower mandibles.

"An Eastern Wood-Pewee also has a shorter tail and a peaked crown. Keep in mind that no field guide, no matter how authoritative, will show all plumages. And, when you have a very difficult bird-identification challenge, noting shape subtleties is critical. It's also important to never rely on only a single character. And, all characters must be considered. I hope this helps!"

Want to learn more about Tony and perhaps go on a birding outing with him? Check out his website, Always an Adventure.