| ◘ Scout Valley | ◘ Geo. Langman Wildlife Sanctuary | ◘ Grant's Woods |
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Part of the laneway at the Geo. Langman Wildlife Sanctuary in Oro-Medonte Twp. This is located are bare 5 minute drive from the Westridge area in Orillia and the sanctuary is open from early morning to late evening, pretty much every day in any season. The sanctuary is owned and operated by the Orillia Fish and Game Conservation Club, who also have admin. offices on the property.
The marsh contains a variety of bird life (mute swans, trumpeter swans, canada geese, ducks, and smaller birds such as swallows, robins, chickadees, red-winged black birds, cedar waxwing, sparrows and most other small birds), and the waters contain fish, water snakes, turtles, frogs and other acquatics.
Cages (yuk) contain peacock and peahen, and a variety of pheasants, sometimes wild turkey and usually a variety of bunnies, and you'll find all variety of insects and small mammals like chipmunks and squirrels.
There is also something like 6 km. of walking trails through the marsh with a wide variety of plant life.
You can find more about the Sanctuary here: Langman Wildlife Sanctuary or from the Orillia Fish and Game Conservation Club website: OFGC Website
One of the the infant swans from 2009 - this one is one of the mute swan babies, easily distinguished from the trumpeter babies by it's black beak. Although full grown mute swans have an orange beak, the babies have a black beak, while trumpeter babies have a pale coloured beak and adults have a black beak.
A perfect line of ducks in the pond at Geo. Langman Wildlife Sanctuary. This is parent and ducklings, though the ducklings are close to full grown here. It amazed me to see them in such a perfect line...when the ducklings are very young they follow behind the parents, but not in such a perfect formation.
This bush honeysuckle (lonicera) is just one of the many plants and shrubs (flora) found throughout the Sanctuary property. Pretty and delicate in blooms, the bushes survive our harsh winters and hot summers with no help from human hands.
Scenic views of the marsh area (above two photos) at Geo. Langman Wildlife Sanctuary . These darker views were taken in the early evening hours (around supper time); here in the second image, two Canada Geese stand atop a submerged log or rock, their reflections in waters beneath them nearly perfect.
An old metal boat at the edge of the marsh is used for patrolling the waters by the caretakers of the sanctuary - the Orillia Fish and Game Conservation Club members.
Orillia: Marsh Reflections
On a day when the water is still the marshes are reflected beautifully in the pond waters. Here, one can see dried cattails at the water's edge, while yellow pond lilies (aka "cow lilies" or spatterdock) grace the surface.
Orillia: Mute Swan Babies
The mute swan babies from 2009. Note here that four are the distinctive brown of the young swans, while the fifth is white. Newborn youngsters already the whitish-colour are more rare than the brown feathered babies. This is the first one I've seen from the mute swans; previous years have seen only the brown babies. All young swans will lose their brown colour as they mature.
Orillia: Sanctuary Swan: This is one of a pair of mature swans at the Langman Sanctuary. The pair of swans have had babies in the last few years. These mute swans have a regal air about them and can be quite protective of their young.
Orillia: Speaking of Ducks
A pair of talking ducks at the Geo. Langman Wildlife Sanctuary just outside of Orillia's city limits.They aren't really talking ducks, but they certainly appear to be conversing while they perch on this driftwood log, while the duck in the water listens to the goings-on.
Orillia: Trumpeter Swan Family (2008)
Trumpeter swans at the Langman Wildlife Sanctuary - here they are out for the day in the large pond area of the sanctuary with the whole family. These swan babies have orange to peach colored beaks which will become black as they mature.
Since the Sanctuary has both trumpeter and mute swans, and usually babies from both, you'll note something mildly interesting - as mentioned above, the adult trumpeters have black beaks, and their young have orange beaks. The adult mute swans have orange beaks, while their babies have black beaks.
A digital painting of an irate Canada Goose at the Langman Wildlife Sanctuary. Here, he's rather annoyed with a cardinal for encroaching on his turf, but the cardinal is unruffled by the noisy goose.
Late winter/early spring at the Langman Wildlife Sanctuary - Canada Geese have returned to the still frozen pond. At this time of year the trumpeter swans are seldom seen here, and the geese have only themselves to fight amongst.
A watercolour of Canada Geese at the Langman Wildlife Sanctuary. Though it looks like winter, it is very early spring. The pond is beginning to thaw with small areas of open water, and a small robin is perched on one of the shrub branches.
A territorial spat between two Canada Geese at the Langman Wildlife Sanctuary. In the background, a bluejay calmly watches the noisy goings-on. Early in the spring, the geese return to the sanctuary even though the waters are still covered with ice.
The male peacock at the Langman Wildlife Sanctuary with his feathers spread in full display. The sanctuary has both a male and female peacock, as well as infants from time-to-time. Check the sanctuary site(s) linked above for photos of the infant peacocks.
Trumpeter swan babies sheltering under the outspread wings of a protective parent. The adult trumpeter swans can be quite large. This one, when standing upright as in this image, was as tall as an 11 year old child.
A youth (mute swan) which is now nearly a year old. These pair are two of the babies from the 2009 brood (this image shot in early spring 2010).
Within the marsh areas of the Langman Wildlife Sanctuary there are many bits and logs of driftwood. Here, an old rotting tree stump is home for a bit of new growth.
An overview of the sanctuary in the form of a painting - here, the sanctuary is quiet and peaceful, with no swans, ducks or geese in sight.
View Langman Wildlife Sanctuary in a larger map