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> In the more open landscape of Without resorting to google maps, my rough estimate is ~ 4 km, more or less. We started from the small bridge near the borrow pits so that cut off some of the walk from the Hall down to the brook. It is very 'doable". The terrain is a bit steep in places, but quite 'civilized'. The trick is not to hurry. Sturdy shoes are okay if the terrain is not wet, but hiking boots were better for the trip yesterday. Donna -----Original Message----- From: naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca [mailto:naturens-owner@chebucto.ns.ca] On Behalf Of Bev Wigney Sent: May-15-16 2:09 PM To: naturens@chebucto.ns.ca Subject: Re: [NatureNS] Tupperville Nature Walk - notes and observations for May 14, 2016 Frances, and all, Donna may be able to provide an estimate of the physical distance of the route that we followed - a sort of loop that took us from an area of apple orchards, up past aggregate pits, then through forest to the Tupperville Falls, and back through forest to the orchards. What I can tell you is that we were walking for approximately 3 hours. We walked almost continuously at an easy pace with occasional pauses to listen for birds, examine and photograph things. Part of the trail does require walking up an extended grade - the part that is near the aggregate pits and on up to the forest. It wasn't exactly strenuous, but some would find it so. Footing wasn't too bad most of the way - a bit muddy and rocky in parts - but not difficult if you took your time and are okay stepping over occasional tree roots and such. The only part which could be considered fairly difficult was descending to visit the falls (a side spur off the primitive roadways). It is steep and on this day, it was a bit slippery as the soil was fairly saturated. There may be an easier vantage point to view the falls - Donna will know. We set out on our walk from part way along the road that goes alongside the Tupperville Hall -- but then walked out past the orchards on the return trip. That probably added about a kilometre to our walk. Bev Wigney Round Hill, NS On 5/15/16, FrancesLourie <fm.lourie@eastlink.ca> wrote: > HI, > > > > Just a couple of questions-how long was the hike and how difficult was > the hike? > > > Frances Lourie > On 05/15/16 11:40 AM, Bev Wigney <bkwigney@gmail.com> wrote: > > >> >> Hello all, >> >> The following are notes and observations from yesterday's walk. I >> hope they will be of interest to some of you: >> >> ------------------- >> Tupperville Nature Walk - notes and observation for May 14, 2016. >> >> Yesterday, Donna Crossland and I set out on the first of what we hope >> will be occasional nature walks in the general area of Annapolis >> Royal. We were hoping for a couple of more participants, but the >> drizzle may have dampened some spirits -- but not ours! We set out >> regardless. >> >> Our plan was to walk along the forest trails south of the Tupperville >> Hall. I had never hiked there, so it was all new territory. I will >> definitely return. >> >> Donna focussed on keeping a migratory bird count and pointing out >> wild plants, while I spent most of my time looking downward for >> ground dwelling creatures. I'm appending Donna's detailed bird counts >> and other notes. If you don't want to read about slugs and beetles, >> just skip on down to the BIRDS section below. >> >> The highlights of my observations are as follows: >> >> SLUGS: We saw many slugs moving along the trail - no doubt encouraged >> by the warm drizzle. An American Toad crossed our path, probably >> enjoying the good slug-hunting conditions. Most slugs that we saw >> were yellowish-orange and a few were quite orange in colour. I'm very >> accustomed to seeing these around my own place at Round Hill. They >> are Arion slugs - I consulted with Aleta Karstad, sending her a >> photo, and she replied: "The yellow slug is probably the introduced >> Arion vulgaris - not usually as strongly striped like A. subfuscus. >> Often with no visible stripe, and usually with dark tentacles, as >> this one has. We were finding them in New Brunswick, at the Jacquet >> River BioBlitz (Mary's Point area). They were either quite variable, >> or hybridizing with something striped, like subfuscus. I have a lot >> more dissecting to do." >> >> Here at my place at Round Hill, the orange slugs tend to get to be >> about 6 or 7 cm. long and have black eye stalks. Very striking and >> easily seen. Here is a photo of one of the orange slugs from >> yesterday's hike. I apologize for the poor photos - due to low light >> and water splashes on my camera lens! >> http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/163224673 >> >> The other slug was what I was quite sure was a native forest slug. It >> was brown-speckled and found on a bracket fungus on a fallen tree. >> Aleta had this to say about it: "The speckled slug is the native >> forest slug, Philomycus (genus). Not sure of the species. There are >> only two native forest slugs - Philomycus and Pallifera, which is >> very small and gray. Both of these natives have their mantle covering >> the entire body, from neck to tip of tail." >> Yes, another blurry, raindrop splashed photo. This slug was about 6 >> or so cm. long. >> http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/163224674 >> >> INSECTS: Apart from the numerous black flies, the only insect of note >> turned out to be the big thrill of the day for me -- as you can see, >> it doesn't take much to thrill me -- and that was finding a male and >> two female Forked Fungus Beetles (Bolitotherus cornutus) on the >> underside of a bracket fungus. These are among my favourite of all >> beetles. They are difficult to see - being dark and dull and having >> the habit of "playing dead" and rolling off onto the ground when >> disturbed from their spot on a bracket fungus. They're rarely seen by >> those who don't know to watch for them. However, I took a few photos, >> so you will get to see them for yourself The males have curving >> "horns" (this is a male). I'm putting up a top and side view, as well >> as a view from beneath - as this is how you will often find them. I >> see a few small parasitic mites on this fellow. >> http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/163224665 >> http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/163224666 >> http://www.pbase.com/crocodile/image/163224667 >> >> Now, over to the BIRD report. >> >> ----- >> BIRDS, PLANTS and more - notes by Donna Crossland: >> >>