A new trail at Bonshaw

On a recent visit to Bonshaw Park, my husband and I walked the new trail called Howel’s Hallow. This trail is well constructed and a great addition to the trail system at Bonshaw where 20 kilometres of such trails await visitors.

It was a hot humid day but the breeze made it bearable. The new trail is great for mountain biking as well so in areas, it has waves and berms which make the walking interesting too. 

The trail crosses one stream, then  meanders down to the West River and loops back.

The new boardwalk made the going easy in some areas. 

Ferns were luscious, catching the light occasionally through windows in the trees. 

We noticed several types of mushrooms, the most obvious among them, the Orange-gilled Waxcap. 

Lungwort, a lichen, was well established on this tree 

while bunchberries were available for picking. These bland berries are a good addition to other berries for jam.

We sat on a bench by the West River and listened as the sound of the water-filled hollow created by nature. 

A few deep breaths later and we continued on the loop. 

Nature takes back what she gives as moss covers the fallen trees in one area. 

Though we didn’t see or hear them, Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers had been busy along the way.

Headed back through a meadow to the car, we passed these beauties, 

smiling through the grasses into the glorious sun. Perfect.

 

Red squirrels

The Bonshaw Trails were spread out before us as my husband and I left  the picnic area and headed into the woods. Meters from the park, we heard a squirrel high in the trees. We stopped to catch a glimpse of the creature which sounded as if it was scolding us. When we looked up, a cone dropped from the trees to our feet.

An enterprising red squirrel was cutting cones from the conifers. The ground around us was littered with them. Later it would gather them for its winter supply. These little squirrels are some of our favourite little creatures.

On the boardwalk in Summerside, some squirrels will feed from your hand. They love peanuts in the shell and will run off with them, squirrelling them away for later. Sometimes they are hungry enough to break one open for a meal while you watch.

This autumn we saw a red squirrel with a mouthful of straw for its nest.

They don’t hibernate but remain active all winter.

Our golden grand-dog thinks she can catch any squirrel which crosses our path. If she is not tethered, she runs after every rodent for a few seconds before it scampers into the woods.

We witnessed the tenacity of these little creatures when some walkers left seeds on the boardwalk where one little squirrel was active. A crow flew in to feast on the seed, only to be scared off by the tiny squirrel. The bird squawked as it flew off. It met its match in the tiny creature.

Sometimes the rodents are mere silhouettes among the trees, especially in areas where people are not feeding them. 

We enjoy their antics everywhere we encounter them.