It’s the middle of October, and Marthaville Habitat is starting to change colours and only the last of the wildflowers are still in bloom. Several days this month, Maya and I walked through the area and spotted toads, butterflies and even an egret fishing in the deeper pond. Each day we had grasshoppers noisily jumping out of our path, butterflies sunny themselves after a cool night and a variety of birds migrating overhead.
The trail the leads from the parking lot is quite welcoming this time of the year. The trees and staghorn sumacs create a tunnel effect that lures you into the habitat.
The day before I brought my camera, we saw several different types of butterflies on our walk, but on this day we only saw this medium sized species throughout the trail. I think it may be a Checkered White but I’m not sure.
Marthaville has a variety of goldenrods that grow throughout the property. Most, like this one, have already gone to seed. These seeds will be enjoyed by several different bird species in the coming months.
Sumacs and maple trees are already changing colours and as the temperatures and water table drop, more trees will join the maples in their fall transition.
The inner leaves of several cedar trees were turning orange at the park. This is called fall flagging and is a natural process in cedar trees during late summer or early fall, especially if there has been some hot weather. 
Here we see a maple that is in full transition while surrounding trees have yet to even start changing colour. Maples usually are some of the first trees to change in the fall, while oaks and ashes are likely to be the last.
A variety of goldenrods at different stages. In front you can see the ones that have gone completely to seed while further back you can still see some yellow.
The light was quite beautiful on this day and the wind was rustling through the trembling aspens and the reeds on the edge of the ponds.
Staghorn sumac is one of the first shrubs to change colour in the early fall. In the winter Chickadees will enjoy eating the seeds in the middle of the winter.
Further along the path we found some more of the same butterflies. This one sat on these asters until a Cabbage White butterfly came along and ‘pushed’ it off.
Marthaville is home to frogs, snakes and toads. This fairly large American Toad was sitting in the sunlight on the path and barely moved as I photographed it.
Every season offers different sights and sounds for the nature lover to observe and enjoy. Take the time to get outside this fall and enjoy this beautiful and often short season. Winter always comes faster than we hope.
If you want to enjoy the fall colours in Ontario’s Provincial Parks, check out their regular reports to time your visit.
Sources:
“Why Cedar Tree Branches Are Turning Brown.” Home Guides. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 Oct. 2016.
