Natural Areas of Chatham-Kent, Part 8 (Fletcher Ponds)

Now that the flooding has subsided, I will return to the Natural Areas series. This is another place that probably the vast majority of C-K residents have never heard of. It isn't large and there isn't even a sign at the access point. I'm not even sure if there is an official name for it, but it is a restored/created natural area by the community of Fletcher, so I have taken the liberty of naming it Fletcher Ponds.

It is located along the Merlin Town Line, which is between Chatham and Tilbury, south of Hwy 2/Longwoods Road. Just a few kilometres south of Hwy 2 is the village of Fletcher, and at the south end of the village is the Fletcher United Church. Just beyond the church is a small parking lot, marked with 'X' on the photo map above. A lane leads beyond the parking lot, but it will be closed off by a gate. However there is a pedestrian access beside the gate, and from there you can walk the ~150 metres or so to the edge of this natural area.

The blue line on the photo depicts the boundary of this site as far as I am aware. The red line shows the grassy/gravel trail location.

I'm not sure of all the history of this site, but part of it was at one time used as a local landfill. That area is covered over and not within the accessible area. A couple of decades ago, the larger landholding was restored by creating ponds and trails and planted with shrubs and other vegetation.

It doesn't take a long time to explore this site via the trail, but it can be an interesting short stop. I visit it several times a year, but have yet to see anyone else there.

Since it is surrounded by agriculture, other than the abandoned railway line to the north of it, the vegetation works as a magnet for wildlife passing through C-K, such as migrating birds. Due to the varied shrubby and open areas in addition to the ponds, a reasonable diversity of wildlife can be found.

Birds which likely nest here include:

Brown Thrasher

Great Horned Owl

Northern Mockingbird

Yellow Warbler

Northern Flicker

Swamp Sparrow

Warblers, vireos and other species can be found on migration. There is a total of about 70 species of birds which have been recorded here to date.

There are several ponds which the trail system goes by, providing a look into whatever is happening at the time.

Canada Geese, not surprisingly, are here.

Turtles are fairly common, especially on warm and sunny days.

In the mid summer it is a good time to look for Climbing Prairie Rose, a species ranked Special Concern and therefore rare in Ontario and Canada.

With parts of the site fairly open, there is good habitat for milkweeds, asters and goldenrods which are popular with various species of butterfly. Monarch butterflies, considered Endangered in Ontario and Canada, are found here during the summer and especially as they begin their migration to points much farther southwest.

Fletcher Ponds....another small but interesting natural area worth exploring in Chatham-Kent!