Oshawa Second Marsh March 9th, 2018

As a member of the Board of Directors of Friends of Second Marsh, I took it upon myself to inspect the closed portion of the marsh today. This is looking down the berm from Colonel Sam Drive.

Just click on the images to enlarge them.

Just down the berm, looking east into Ghost Road Bush.

The entry point to Ghost Rd Bush from the berm. There is a well worn path around the fence but I don't think many are using it any more. There really isn't much to see, at least not now.

Though some trees have been taken down, the majority of Ghost Rd Bush (GRB) 'looks' pretty much intact.

This is looking back towards the berm (from GRB) from the boardwalk. I think they deliberately felled some trees over the boardwalk to discourage visitors.

Once you get past the muck and cut-down trees, the boardwalk (heading towards the Beaver Pond) isn't really in that bad condition... considering.

It was eerily quiet for the most part. A couple chickadees. Otherwise dead silence. 

You do have to keep your eyes open and watch where you step. There are a few bad spots.

I'm always ready to snap a shot of fungi. You can find some pretty ones any time of year.

I went as far as the Beaver Pond. This part of the boardwalk always suffers.

Directly over the Beaver Pond.

It's been a few months since I last checked out the state of affairs at the marsh. There are many more signs now of the woodpeckers feasting on the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB).

This shot speaks to me of the conditions in GRB. The chips at the base of the tree are the results of the woodpeckers work. The chips are at the base of many trees.

Lots of chips on the boardwalk too.

Do you think the EABs will return or have they finished their work?

Not sure... are these the exit holes when the EAB larva leaves? They look a bit 'D' shaped, or maybe they were originally at least.

I went down the berm to the water channel.

The trail going west from the berm (opposite the one into GRB), towards the bridge over Farewell Creek. No sign of the trail at all.

Some 'curly grass' along the berm... with its tiny seeds. Just inside the fence off Colonel Sam.

I'd been wondering for a while just how bad things are in Ghost Rd Bush. I expected worse. It's my favourite area of the marsh.

Bob
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