Urquhart Butterfly Garden – A Treasure in the Valley

As if the endless trails and waterfalls weren’t enough, Dundas is also home to the Urquhart Butterfly Garden. Named after pioneering entomologists Dr. Frederick and Norah Urquhart, who after forty years of patient research solved the mystery of the migrating monarchs, construction of Canada's first municipal butterfly garden began in 1994.

Located in Centennial Park on the banks of the Desjardins Canal, it is heavily planted with nectar and foliage plants needed by butterflies and their caterpillars. It is maintained without the use of pesticides, many of which are detrimental to butterfly populations.

The garden now consists of six large raised beds, each approximately 75 × 35 feet, as well as the adjacent bank of the canal. All are planted with shrubs, perennials and annuals.

On any given day as I walk the meandering paths of the garden, I will spot a variety of butterflies and other insects. The selection seen depends on the season and so is always changing and interesting. There is a kiosk on site which houses a number of interpretive panels identifying many of the butterflies and plants you will see here, illustrating butterfly metamorphosis and explaining how to create butterfly-friendly yards at home.

According to their website, the garden is the brainchild of local businesswoman Joanna Chapman, who in 1992 catalyzed the formation of a group known as the "Butterfly Coalition". Members of the Coalition secured funding, identified an appropriate site, solicited contributions in kind from many local businesses and individuals, gained the support of the Town of Dundas and devoted many hours of their own time to planting and maintaining the garden.

Being at the site of the canal, there are always opportunities to spot ducks, swans and other waterfowl as well. Quiet and peaceful, it is well worth a visit.

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If It Walks Like a Duck...

I am continually amazed by the diversity of wildlife in this great area and always enjoy spotting new animals or birds as I hike and explore here. Recently, in a marshy area near Carlisle I came across a group of Muscovy Ducks. These very unique looking birds are known to inhabit forested swamps, lakes, streams and nearby grassland and farm fields, and often roosts in trees at night. Interestingly, their feet have strong sharp claws and are built to grasp, so that they can perch on branches.

Doing a little research, I discovered that the Muscovy Duck is a large duck native to Mexico, Central and South America. Small wild and feral breeding populations have established themselves in the United States, particularly in the lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, as well as in many other parts of North America, including southern Canada. Feral Muscovy Ducks have also been reported in parts of Europe.

Although the Muscovy Duck is a tropical bird, it adapts well to cooler climates, thriving in weather as cold as –12°C (10°F) and able to survive even colder conditions.

They are a large duck, with the males measuring about 76 cm in length, and weighing up to 15 pounds. Females are considerably smaller, and only grow to 7 pounds, roughly half the males' size. The bird is predominantly black and white, with the back feathers being iridescent and glossy in males, while the females are more drab. The amount of white on the neck and head is variable, as well as the bill, which can be yellow, pink, black, or any mixture of these. They may have white patches or bars on the wings, which become more noticeable during flight. Both sexes have pink or red wattles around the bill, those of the male being larger and more brightly colored.

Muscovy ducks feed on the roots, stems, leaves and seeds of aquatic and terrestrial plants, including agricultural crops. They also eat small fish, reptiles, crustaceans, insects, millipedes and termites.

The group that I spotted consisted of 3 birds and I was able to get quite close as the foraged along the edges of the marsh.

This area is rich in species of waterfowl but the unique appearance of this breed made it particularly interesting to watch.

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Discovering the Hendrie Valley

An area that I am just beginning to discover is the Hendrie Valley Trails of the Royal Botanical Gardens.

A smaller scale version of Cootes Paradise, this area which includes the 100 hectare Grindstone Creek Valley stretches to the end of Carroll’s Bay and contains the finest collection of floodplain wetlands on western Lake Ontario. Transferred to the Royal Botanical Gardens in 1941 for ecological protection, the area features slopes forested with old growth trees, a 60 hectare river mouth marsh complex, and 4 creeks. Major access points are along Plains Road and include the RBG Centre and Cherry Hill Gate.

On a couple of occasions I have parked at the Cherry Hill Gate entrance which is located on Plains Road in Burlington, but more typically I park at Valley Inn Road where it meets York Boulevard in Hamilton. This road which is now closed to car traffic provides a great way into to this rich hiking area.

Walking this way, you cross under the railway bridge and will find yourself in the Grindstone Marsh area. This is a great spot to see birds and assorted waterfowl. You will see in this area that a large project is underway to create new banks along the water’s edge and also provide a system that works as a natural barrier against invasive carp. This has been facilitated through the re-use of over 100,000 discarded Christmas trees.

Following the trail through the Grindstone Creek Delta, you soon arrive at a spectacular boardwalk that borders Grindstone Creek providing an excellent vantage point to watch nesting birds and observe beavers and other wildlife. This is a great place to bird watch and if you bring some seed along you can have some fun feeding the friendly birds by hand.

On recent walks I have seen incredible amounts of red-wing blackbirds, blue jays and cardinals and even watched beaver collecting brush in the bulrushes which surround the boardwalk.

As previously mentioned, I am just starting to explore the Hendrie Valley and look forward to further hikes through the western trails that border Grindstone Creek and the South Pasture Swamp. You can definitely count on further blog articles on this amazing trail system.

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Bayfront Park – Hamilton Ontario

Usually when I think of a local weekend outdoor destination, my travels take me into the Dundas Valley or along a remote trail in search of a waterfall or some other natural feature of this area.

On a recent weekend, with the weather being conducive to outdoor activity, my sons inquired about a visit to Bayfront Park in Hamilton. So off we went, our sons and friends looking to explore the rolling wide paved trail by long board and roller blade, and Sally and I in search of local wildlife and views of the bay.
Waterfront development is something that the city has done an excellent job with in comparison to other cities and Bayfront Park is a good example.Built in the early 1990’s, this 16-hectare (40-acre) park found in the West-end of Hamilton Harbour is a great destination for the whole family.
Bayfront Park boasts a number of features perfectly suited to a waterfront setting, including an extensive asphalt pathway; a lower shoreline walk; naturalized areas of shrubs, trees, and wildflowers; a public boat launch; numerous benches and picnic tables; and a natural grass amphitheatre. The park's upper plateau, an expansive lawn area, makes it an ideal location for special events. It is linked to Pier 4 Park by Macassa Bay Walkway.
On this day, we walked the trails along the water edge viewing swans, various species of waterfowl and numerous songbirds. We were impressed by how well kept the park was and it is easy to forget while walking here that you are moments away from the city core.
The highlight was spotting a pair of nesting swans and watching as the mother carefully rotated the four eggs in her care.With rowing teams on the water, people fishing and lots of other activities going on, Bayfront Park is an ideal spot for relaxing and people watching. Additional features include naturalized areas of shrubs, trees and wildflowers; park lighting for evening enjoyment and accessible public washroom facilities across a gravel parking lot (limited hours). Bayfront Park's upper plateau plays host at various times of year to various special events such as Aquafest, Festitalia, and Canada Day festivities, which bring thousands of people to the park every year. Parking is available on-site. The park is fully accessible and is located on Bay Street North at Harbourfront Drive / Simcoe Street West.

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Northshore Trail - Dundas

One of my favourite Dundas trails, particularly when I want to see birds is the Northshore Trail of the Royal Botanical Gardens. With mild temperatures this past weekend, I decided to pay this diverse and interesting area a visit. Heading down the Pinetum Trail, we walked through stands of sumac and fir trees and soon linked up with the Bull’s Point Trail. On this day, we decided to visit the Bull’s point lookout and on the way back, veer down towards the water via the Marshwalk Trail. The air was alive with the sounds of ducks and geese and we soon arrived at the wooden boardwalk that winds through the bulrushes and takes you to the lookout platform. From this vantage point you have a clear view of Rat Island and Cootes Paradise and the large variety of migratory waterfowl living here. Cootes Paradise Marsh is considered one of the most important waterfowl staging habitats on the lower Great Lakes and the largest nursery habitat for fish in the region.

The trees along the shoreline were filled with chickadees, blue jays and cardinals and as we walked we spooked a group of five deer who bounded off ahead of us on the trail. The birds here are friendly and if you are patient, will readily eat bird seed from your hand.

On the way back we stopped along the Desjardins Canal which feeds into the same waterway. This canal was built in the early 1800’s. It has become a popular spot for waterfowl and many varieties can be spotted here. On this day we observed mallards, Canada Geese, a pair of trumpeter swans and a merganser.

This swan got very close for this shot. They sure look bigger when you get face to face with them. I was extra thrilled to have this photo published in the Hamilton Spectator a few days later. To visit the Northshore Trail, park at the small lot on York Road in Dundas. Just beyond the parking lot a large map is posted that provides directions to each of the trails in this area.

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