Salamander

Narrows Lock & Indian Lake Road (Cataraqui & Rideau Trail).
March 18, 2006.

At Narrows Lock:
By the open water below the small dam, 2 Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator), resting on ice. About 100 Canada Geese nearby. 18T 0397405, 4950681 (WGS84), 11:20 hours.

(note: Last year on March 13, 2005, we found 7 Trumpeter Swans at this location. They were there on a couple of other occasions as well. This year, we’ve just seen 2 during a couple of visits).

Chaffeys Lock Road (between Hwy 15 and Chaffeys Locks) near intersection of Cross Road, a Muskrat (Ondatra zibethica), found dead on road (no coordinates - time approx 11:45 hours).

Indian Lake Road near junction of Opinicon Road: 2 Eastern Chipmunks (Tamias striatus), moving about on Cataraqui Trail. (no coordinates - time approx. 12:00 hours).

Rideau Trail just southeast of junction with Cataraqui Trail (approx 1 km. west of Bedford Township line) — 2 Pileated Woodpeckers (Dryocopus pileatus) seen flying through upland hardwood forest. Drumming and calling could be several times from various directions as we walked for about 2 km. along the Rideau trail. Also, much evidence of tree excavations.

In same area, we found the upper and lower jaw section of a Porcupine (Erethizon dorsatum) frozen into some leaf mulch at the trail side. (see above photo) There was some scat around the skull.

Also seen during this hike were several snow creatures - a very unhappy looking Huntsman (Opiliones sp.) that was struggling across the trail, barely able to move its legs.

A male midge - family Chironomidae, with incredibly fluffy antennae. (see below) - ID supplied by Fenja Brodo.

And a winter active stonefly - perhaps a Capniidae of some type.

Tags: Trumpeter Swans, Cygnus buccinator, Capniidae, Porcupine, Erethizon dorsatum, Opiliones, Pileated Woodpecker, Dryocopus pileatus, Muskrat, Ondatra zibethica, Eastern Chipmunk, Tamias striatus, Winter Cranefly