Taking a short drive from Petrolia, north toward Lake Huron, we spent a beautiful morning walking around Highland Glen Conservation Area. The park itself is quite small but it has a nice picnic area and beach for swimming. For boaters, there is a free boat launch that is very popular for people planning on spending the day on the lake.

Robins were taking advantage of the early morning dew while they searched the grass for worms while avoiding us walking near them.

While walking along the beach were  pleasantly surprised to find a bank sparrow colony flourishing. Above is just a small section of the beach ‘wall’ that had swallow nests along the lakeside bank.

While we stood there and watched, dozens of bank swallows flew out over the water to catch insects to bring back to their nests.

These small, slender songbirds burrow into the side of soft vertical surfaces to create nest chambers that can be approximately 25 inches deep. The males dig the burrows while the female creates the nest using straw, grass and leaves.

Bank swallows can be found throughout North America, as well as Europe and Asia. They migrate to Canada for breeding.  The British call them Sand Martins.

Bank Swallows have a dark band across their chest with white above and below. They are about 12 cm long and the males and females are similar in colour, shape and size.

Along the top of the bank we found these bright Dame’s Rockets growing. This plant is non-native, and although it is not as invasive as Garlic Mustard, it is still spreading and taking over areas that native plants should be thriving.

Across the small creek that feeds into the lake, I spotted this squirrel enjoying a park bench.Among the grasses along the edge of a trail leading down to the creek I spotted a butterfly. Using my 600mm lens I was able to capture an image without disturbing it. I believe it was a Northern Crescent, although the Pearl and Tawny Crescent butterflies are similar.

Highland Glen Conservation Area doesn’t really have any trails to enjoy but it is a great place to have a picnic and go for a dip. The drive in is also particularly beautiful in the fall, but it is steep and narrow and can get very muddy after a rainfall.

Sources:

Garrison, B. A. 1999. Bank Swallow (Riparia riparia). In The Birds of North America, No. 414 (A. Poole and F. Gill, eds.). The Birds of North America, Inc., Philadelphia, PA.