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Luther Marsh

Posted by Lorac Monday 24 May 2010

I was deserted this weekend! I was supposed to get up to the cottage but the rest of my family had made alternate plans and as I can't get the boat in the water alone I decided to just stay home. Everyone has gone off somewhere so it was too quiet and boring! I decided to go hunting yesterday and it turned out to be a good days hunt! I got beaver, turtle, turkey vultures.. Oh, and my hunting is only with a camera! No bloodshed!

I have never been to the Luther Marshes, about an hour and 15 minutes from here. I wanted to go for a walk as well, some where near water as I was missing the cottage andI found this area on line. It is a huge area, 5915 hectares for the Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area and another 1582-hectare for the Luther reservoir. Today, the Luther Marsh Wildlife Management Area is a core of wetland habitats, including bogs, fens, swamps and marshes, augmented by a patchwork of upland forests, plantations, grasslands, rented farm fields, and recently restored habitats, which together make this the largest "core area" of primarily natural habitat in the watershed.

When I first entered I saw a lake. I didn't expect a 1,400 hectares lake in this area. I thought it was all going to be marshy and boggy. Luther Lake is shallow though and very weedy and full of stumps. It is man made from the headwaters of the Grand River watershed by a damn. Make sure to enlarge these photos for a better look!



There is a nice 6klm walk along the waterfront I followed.



There were many of these. Not sure what they are but think there is a nest in the ground. I f you know what they are, please tell me! Some had way too tiny an opening to be snake or animal. Thinking it is from some kind of insect, possibly wasps.


 There were hundreds of Dragon Flies flying all around.


The path veers away from the lake and goes through a forested area. Here there were several wild lilac trees that  were attracting butterfies and bees.


I love to see the Bumble Bees at work!


The path through the woods was so beautiful and vivid green, lined with many kinds of wildflowers.


After my walk, I decided to drive around the area. This whole area has many bogs, swamps , marshes and wetlends.  I saw this little guy sunning on a log in a pond just off road. Looked like a common box turtle. There was another that jumped into the water as soon as I got out of my car.


As I was driving by this small pond I saw rings in the water.  I stopped, expecting I would see fish.


 Then I realized I was being watched. There was a baby too but it swam away into the bushes quickly.
The mother stayed for several minutes, intermittently diving and eating. She was not concerned about me in the least. You can plainly see her broad Beaver tail. Should she have been alarmed, she would have slapped it on the water hard as a sign for everyone to run for cover. Finally, she swam off into the bushes to follow her young one.





There were many marshes and little ponds and I saw lots of water fowl. I continued to drive around the wetlands and saw such beautiful farmland, with soil so rich! At one farm I saw an old barn and a couple of large birds sitting on a pile of old wood. Looking more closely  I saw they were Turkey Buzzards. I stopped my car and got out quietly hoping for a couple of pics. Surprisingly they didn't fly away.


 I started into the field when I realised there wasn't two birds but four!


Then I Saw two more a little ways over on the wood pile. There were 6!



I had continued to walk slowly through the field towards these great birds. When I was about 75 feet away, they took to the skies and soared around my head. I couldn't focus fast enough to get any good shots, but managed a couple.


Just down the road, another shallow little lake.


I spent 7 hours on this trip and took 176 photos. More for another time!

Have a wonderful week!

20 comments

  1. A Scattering Says:
  2. You might not have had people company but you sure had critter company - and they don't usually talk back! Have a great week.

     
  3. klahanie Says:
  4. Hi Lorac,
    Now that was a visual delight. Indeed, the kind of 'hunting' I can relate too. Hope you had a peaceful and positive Victoria Day. Being over here in England; I missed out on a long weekend:-(
    With respect, Gary

     
  5. Lorac Says:
  6. Elaine, I sure did. Sometimes I prefer that company any way! They were wonderful to see.

    Gary it certainly was peaceful with everyone away but I always enjoy a good day trip! Thanks and have a great week!

     
  7. Lorac: It is nice when your trip produce a great photo and you got several winners, nice hunting.

     
  8. Janie Says:
  9. What a lovely walk! I enjoyed all the wildlife and spring scenery in your photos.

     
  10. Lorac Says:
  11. Fishing Guy , I only wish I had a better camera at these times. Maybe in the future!

    Janie it was fun! Great to see a wonderful reserve so closes to home too!

     
  12. ~Cheryl Says:
  13. What a delightful day you had! I love the photos so much!

     
  14. VioletSky Says:
  15. I've never heard of this place either - so that ends up being a good thing for the wildlife that live there relatively undisturbed!
    I am in awe at how much you saw in one day!

     
  16. Unknown Says:
  17. Brilliant photography and delightful subject matter, especially loved the beaver. Hope you enjoy your cottage again soon.

     
  18. Lorac Says:
  19. Cheryl it was a gret day!

    VioletSky it is a unique area, very marshy and wet. As you say, good for the wildlife and there is pleny of that!

    Carole Anne, thank you ! I will return to this area. I was quite taken with it!

     
  20. Lorac Says:
  21. Cheryl, that should be "great day"! lol

     
  22. Tania Says:
  23. It must have been 7 great ouers:-) Wonderful shots and I love the butterflie and the bumble bee.
    Have a nice evening!

     
  24. Arti Says:
  25. Great pics..as always!!

     
  26. happyone Says:
  27. Wow, that was quite a walk and the pictures you took are super. It was nice walking along with you!

     
  28. Lorac Says:
  29. Spiderdama it was 7 great hours! Thank you!

    Arti, you are too kind!

    Happyone, so glad you enjoyed it!

     
  30. lovely post Lorac , Have yoy visited my other blogs. they are on the side bar
    all the egypt side bar blogs are mine. they say what they are ie drogons. birding ,egyptswildlife.ETC, there is also myegypt.co.uk website.

     
  31. What a great way to spend a day. Your photos are great, I really like the turkey vultures.

     
  32. Merisi Says:
  33. What wonderful images you captured during your hunting trip!

     
  34. Lorac Says:
  35. Tony, I have beenn to your other blogs too! Thay are great!

    SquirelQueen, thanks so much!

    Merisi, thank you!

     
  36. Yep, I need to visit Luther Marsh. I'm going to google it to find out exactly where it is.

     

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Lorac
Georgetown, Ontario, Canada
I have lived in Georgetown for 37 years but have traveled around a great deal. I own my own business which takes a lot of my time but try to blog as much as possible! I love to take pictures, no training, just a love of photography. Enjoy the pics but please do not copy them.
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Copyright ~~All content and photos are original to Carol Merten, Ahhh...The Cottage Life! and are copyrighted. Please do not copy, or download any content without express written consent. All content and photos remain the sole property of Carol Merten.

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