Trent University Nature Area is a very large nature area and has miles of trails and a diverse landscape that provides a natural habitat for a wide variety of wildlife and plants.
Autumn
The colorful season of autumn, is a great time to capture some stunning photos. Enjoy these images of autumn captured along the trails of Trent University Nature Area.
(click the image for full size)
What to look for on your walk
There is such an abundance of wildlife and plant life at the Trent University Nature Area that if you look around, you can always find some amazing plants or animals. I have been fortunate enough to capture a lot of images of wildlife and plants on my many visits to this nature area. Here are some interesting things to look for while on your adventure
Reptiles
This giant Snapping Turtle was an unexpected sight in the very shallow swampy water along the side of the trail.
These images show the size of this gigantic creature as it slowly approached me with those hungry eyes. This is the second biggest snapping turtle I have ever seen.
Frogs, toads and snakes are among the other reptiles that can frequently be found at Trent University Nature Area.
This Gray Treefrog (Dryophytes versicolor) is the most unique frog I have had the pleasure of seeing. When I first saw it, I did not think it looked real. I did gently touch it and it was real alright. It did not move even after I touched it.
Other Reptiles
Birds
There is nothing like the sounds of nature. A chorus of birds can often be heard as you explore the trails of this nature area. Quite a variety of birds can be found including woodpeckers, owls, cardinals, and many more. These are a few of the birds photographed at the Trent University Nature Area.
This Barred Owl (Strix varia) was hiding out in the sumac trees next to the parking lot. He was well hidden as they are good at blending in with their surroundings.
This Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus) was flying around the trail from tree to tree and did not seem to be intimidated by the presence of myself and my camera in such close proximity. It made short work of leaving it's mark on this tree and moved on providing multiple shots from different angles.
This Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) seems to have been busy high up in this tree. Often you can hear these woodpeckers with their loud knocking sounds but it can be hard to spot them when they are high up in the trees and as the sound carries for a great distance it can be hard to tell how close they are.
This Ruffed Grouse (Bonasa umbellus) I spotted running across the trail and then quickly disappeared into the woods. After searching for some time I spotted it again. This time it was sitting motionless and it blended in with the surroundings making it hard to spot. I got a couple of pics before I tried to improve my angle and it disappeared back into the woods.
Plant Life
Here are a few images of the colorful plant life found throughout the Nature Area.
Conclusion
There is always something interesting to see at Trent University Nature Area. If you have not visited this nature area yet, the next time you go for a walk consider this as a place to go for an adventure. Be sure to bring your camera, even the winter season can provide some stunning photo opportunities.
Be sure to visit the "Trent University Nature Area" photo album
Thank you for visiting
Ken Oliver
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