Second Marsh - Oshawa

Really, we are extremely lucky to have important wetlands and marshes in southern Durham Region. Visiting them is like being in another world. Through visiting them and learning about them, we have developed a respect and awe for the history and efforts that have gone into preserving them. It has become clear that due to the needs of our modern day society,  there will always be a struggle for maintaining balance between the natural environment and the industrial and life sustaining needs of the ever increasing human race. It's just a given, and isn't soon going to go away, not unless we suddenly revert back to living like humans did 1 million years ago.

Visiting these areas, one feels like they are closer to the natural environment; experiencing the sounds of birds, water, trees creaking in the wind, seeing growth and decay, etc. However, there is always that reminder that modern human society is right there; the odd piece of garbage, controlled paths, water filtration plants, bromine like scent in the air, water level control or direction devices, bridges, etc. In a way, it is an interesting experience to see and feel nature mixed with bits and pieces of the city and human needs. I myself often like the mix of man made objects and nature mixed visually as a subject matter.

This past weekend, we visited the Second Marsh area in Oshawa. The day was threatening rain, which did end up happening. I had to keep putting away my camera in the knapsack, then getting it back out when it stopped.  This area was real cool! My boyfriend saw a humming bird first off, which I unfortunately missed seeing. We followed for a bit, a path that would lead to a pond, but since we forgot bug spray, it was a short exploration of that path lol! It was all a path of laid boards, through a real foresty marshy area, very neat, other worldly and lush. We'll do another trip there With bug spray, and follow the path to the pond. We stayed on the gravel path that paralleled the marsh, which had an occasional little human formed path that lead closer to the water edge in spots. We saw red wings chasing a blue heron, swallows, wood ducks and turtles, blue herons and a smaller heron, and swans. There were also an abundance of sparrows, yellow warblers, orioles, robins, flycatchers, sharp shinned hawk flying,  and black birds. This path lead to the shore of Lake Ontario. There was another entrance off Colonel Sam, which had a paved path, that then lead to a real thin path through the forest to near the opposite side of the river. It was pouring so we turned around. There were people fishing, not really allowed there, but I guess lucrative since we had seen a couple huge fish jump out of the water on our earlier walk between the marsh and river.

The area was wonderful and we'll definitely visit there again!