The fall colours this year, as noted in other PhotoStories, have been muted. Lac Philippe in Gatineau Park, usually a rhapsody of colours was not living up to its usual fall song. There were yellows, some browny oranges . Interspersed were a very few reds and oranges.
Some coloured leaves at ground level (Scroll over for ID)
Strpied maple
Red(?) oak
Beech seedling
Pine needles
The bull rushes were nice in the sun. Very few cat tails though
There weren't many birds: a few shy blue jays in the main picnic area, chickadees that were not interested in coming to hand and several red-breasted nuthatches in one spot. I even caught one nuthatch looking up. (They usually come down a tree head first)
There only seemed to be red squirrels and they were always in a hurry
A few large-mouth bass minnows, that had eluded the resident loons, were swimming in close to shore
Several snail shells had washed up on the beach
Despite the lack of mosquitos and very few bugs there were still some meadowhawk dragonflies
The rental canoes, kayaks and standup boards were locked up, but one person was returning from a standup board trip down the lake and back. The sun was warm, but it was quite chilly. She was wearing a toque, padded jacket and warm leggings along with her lifejacket.
A very few flowers were in bloom. (Scroll over for ID)
heal all
daisy
bull thistle
Most of the bull thistle had gone to seed and many of the milkweed pods had split open
The inside of a dead cedar tree trunk caught my eye, as did lichen on another tree
Once I got home I identified this bush as an invasive Japanese knotweed
We came home via the main Gatineau Parkway stopping at the top, Champlain Lookout.
And a short stroll at Mulvihill Lake where the beech trees were glowing yellow and shadows playing on a maple tree trunk
