On May 28th a group of MVFN members took part in a morning visit to Shaw Woods, hiking around some of the trails and having lunch there. Below is an account of the day by trip leader Allan Goddard, and following the account, some of the excellent  photos, taken during the visit by Howard Robinson. Also included is a list, provided by Mary Robinson, of all the birds seen or heard during the visit.

NOTE: Shaw Woods is off Hwy 9 near Eganville and Golden Lake, about an hour or so drive from the Almonte area. For directions and other details, visit the Shaw Woods Outdoor Education Centre website at http://www.shawwoods.ca/ 

MVFN Shaw Woods Hike Spring 2016

I don’t recall that any one of us had been to this gem of a woodland.  Our first hike was into the old growth forest, and we were in awe as to what we had entered. Huge towering trees, sugar maples, eastern hemlock, American beech, created a cathedral -like canopy over our heads, and under – canopy trees and shrubs such as striped maple, Canada yew, and various species of dogwood, and of course the many ferns and mosses at eye level as we meandered along the trail. It was quiet. The silence being beautifully interrupted by the musical voices of the wood thrush, veerie, hermit thrush, ovenbird, red eyed vireo, various warblers, and even the robin. We were in THEIR element. And on what was a muggy buggy day elsewhere, we were in a different world.

After Grant had shown us the eagles’ eerie which was plainly in view from the roadside, and after we all lined the road shoulder to view it and take many photos of this year’s family, we lunched at the shelter and boardroom table of the center, all the while being entertained by a red squirrel, which was clearly intent on a luncheon with us. He or she was not disappointed! Grant also stayed with us and answered queries about this and that, and then very much needed to get to his greenhouse to water crops in need!

Our second hike took us on to an upland trail, more open, sunny and crispy dry. Fire wouldn’t have waited a second. This trail was very different in vegetation with a mixed, open forest canopy typical of granite uplands, with plenty of ironwood, chokecherry, shrub juniper, and numerous lower shrub species. Birds were quiet –it was hot. It was much more of an up-and-down trail and when we arrived back to the lake on the loop, we could see the eagles again, and briefly watched them for a bit. Also saw the fringed polygala, a beautiful and small pink spring flower typical of this forest, which very much had a boreal character at times.

Haven’t been there?  Strongly suggested. Grant and his supporters have created a very special place. We all agreed that a fall hike would be another enjoyable outing.

 Allan Goddard

Admiring a yellow birch. Photo Howard Robinson

Group of twelve assemble and talk before walk. photo Howard Robinson

Nesting Bald Eagle. photo Howard Robinson

Fringed Polygala. photo Howard Robinson

Eastern red-backed salamander. photo Howard Robinsion

Check out these dragonfly exuviae. photo Howard Robinson

List of Birds during Shaw Woods Hike 2016, compiled by Mary Robinson

1.  American Woodcock
2. Ovenbird
3. Black-throated Blue Warbler
4. Wood Thrush
5. Eastern Wood-Pewee
6. American Redstart
7. Pileated Woodpecker
8. Red-eyed Vireo
9. Rose-breasted Grosbeak
10. Red-breasted Nuthatch
11. Blue Jay
12. Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
13. Veery
14. Great Crested Flycatcher
15. Hermit Thrush
16. Black-capped Chickadee
17. Bald Eagle
18. Pine Warbler
19. American Robin