Fall Fling Along the Sydenham

 On this brisk autumn day, the Sydenham Field Naturalists club had an outing along the east branch of the Sydenham River.  The Sydenham River is unique in so many ways, there are no shortage of things to discuss.

Note the abundant Lizard's Tail along the riverbank

There are some notable trees and plants here, and I cannot help but wonder what insects (especially odonates) are here in the summer.  I would be anxious to visit this place at various times during the summer!

Although Common Hackberry trees are regular along the Sydenham, they are abundant at this location.  Some are quite large.

As we walked along the riverbank, several Kentucky Coffeetree were noted.  Some quite tall!

Single leaves of this tree are unique where each is composed of about 70 leaflets on 3-7 pairs of branches from a central stalk.

This rare species is often planted as an ornamental, but some grow naturally in southwestern Ontario, like this location.

I suspect it would be a good place to look for mussels as well, since the river is quite shallow here.

At one point, we noticed this plant, called Wingstem.  Another "rare" species.

Above our heads, someone noticed this mushroom growing out of a tree.  Seemed to be there for no apparent reason!

I noted a few birds during the walk, including this Red-tailed Hawk soaring overhead.

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Today's history note highlights a collision of two salties on the St. Clair River 7 October 1966.  The Emsstein was hit by the Olympic Pearl in front of where the Lambton Generating Station was being built.  It was holed and began taking on water, so it was beached.

The above photo was taken by my grandfather Morgan Dalgety.  I vividly remember this scene even though I was only about four years old!  I do have a good memory of things along the St. Clair River, as it was a place my parents took me to very frequently.  There was always, and still is, some attraction to that river!