Limerick Forest is an active forest managed by United Counties of Leeds and Grenville. It is located a few kilometres south of Oxford Station, not far off Hwy #416, south of Kemptville. There are a series of trails which guide the visitor through the forest, including going by several good size ponds. It took us about 2 hours to walk the trails stopping for the "occasional" photograph.
The forest with its many wetlands looks like a rain forest in spots with the moss covered fallen tree trunks
As we walked past the marshy/swampy areas I expected to hear a chorus of spring peepers (frogs) but instead heard a "chatter" of something else. At first I thought it might a flock of grackles or ducks, neither of which made sense. Later I learned they were wood frogs
Some of last year's mushroom and fungus was still around
The beavers had been very active with fresh cuttings very much in evidence.
There were at least 4 beaver lodges, the last one picture below still had some of its winter larder remaining
One young garter snake (60cm±/2ft±) was sunning itself on the trail. It moved off the trail, but not far, with tongue flicking when we came along
Canada geese were on at least two of the ponds; a hairy woodpecker was looking for grubs in a tree
The lack of other birds was made up for by 15 or more trumpeter swans in one of the ponds. They kept their distance from us, but I still managed a few OK photos of them. (Clicking on an individual picture will give a larger view on some of the less cropped photos)
Including this pair that put their necks and heads on their backs, kept their eyes open at first and then closed with what looked like white buttons over the eyes
A Compton tortoiseshell butterfly settled long enough for me to get a photo, (another different butterfly didn't). Several coltsfoot plants were in bloom, usually the first wild flowers out in the spring.
The waterlilies could easily be seen reaching for the water's surface
