1 | Vancouver Island Nature Viewing Region | ||
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2 | Comox Valley Area | ||
3 | Little River Nature Park, Comox | ||
4 | |||
5 | Mallard: Bill Heybroek drawing | Little River ponds: Krista Kaptein photo | Common Green Darners: Terry Thormin photo |
6 | Spherical Panorama | ||
7 | Photo Gallery | ||
8 | Explore diverse habitats at Little River Nature Park including ponds, salt marsh, and the lower portion of Little River - a provincially designated sensitive stream. The main entrance on Wilkinson Road near the Powell River Ferry Terminal provides access to two small man-made ponds and a revegetated meadow. Ring-necked and Mallard ducks frequent the pond, and there is evidence of Beaver. In the summer, dragonflies cruise over the ponds. Though semi-open, there are many willow, black-cottonwood and Douglas-fir trees. Another section of the park, inland from a row of waterfront houses, features an estuarine salt marsh with rare plant species including elegant rein-orchid. The wetlands provide critical habitat for birds and fish. Watch for birds of prey such as Bald Eagles and Merlins, as well as a variety of songbirds. Mink, Raccoon and Black-tailed Deer are among the mammals that call the park home. The trail by the ponds may be subjected to seasonal flooding. | ||
9 | Comox Valley Naturalists Society | ||
10 | Site Map | ||
11 | Geographical Description | Two park sections: ponds & revegetating meadow in former gravel extraction area, and sandy beach meadow; connected by statutory road access through private forest. Right-of-way access to beach. | |
12 | Area/ Trail Length | 4.2 ha. ponds & meadows area; 2.2 ha. beach meadow; .5 km. one way from parking area to beach. | |
13 | Habitat | Ponds, revegetating meadow & forest, sandy beach meadow. | |
14 | Highlights | Best accessible site for dragonflies; rare seaside plants; beaver and lodge in ponds. | |
15 | Best Season | Spring for flowers; summer for dragonflies and butterflies. | |
16 | Main Access | Wilkinson Rd., .4 km. east of Ellenor Rd. junction to Little River Ferry terminal. | |
20 | Secondary Accesses | ||
21 | Cautions | Seasonal flooding. | |
22 | Jurisdiction | Comox Valley Regional District Park (Area B). Private land between ponds and meadow sections of park. Statutory access along access road to sandy beach meadow; 3m wide right-of-way to beach. Intertidal zone: Provincial MOE; Fish & fish habitat: Federal DFO. | |
23 | Birds | Bald Eagle; Merlin, Ring-necked Duck, Mallard, American Wigeon, Green-winged Teal, Northern Shoveller, Killdeer (nesting), Northern Flicker, American Robin, Towhee, Pacific Wren, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco. | |
24 | Bird List | ||
25 | Mammals | Beaver and lodges, Mink, Raccoon, Black-tailed Deer. | |
26 | Reptiles | Common garter snake. | |
27 | Amphibians | Pacific tree frog, red-legged frog, rough-skinned newt. | |
28 | Fish | Cutthroat trout & coho in ponds. | |
29 | Other species | Banana slug, millipede, terrestrial snail. | |
30 | Insects | 20 species of dragonflies; sand wasps, tiger beetles, crickets, mud daubers, bald-faced hornet nest, ten-lined June beetle. Tufted tussock moth (woolly bear caterpillar). | |
31 | Trees | Black cottonwood, red alder, grand fir. | |
32 | Shrubs | Snowberry, Pacific willow, Scouler's willow. | |
33 | Flowering Plants | Watershield, yellow pond-lily, seaside plantain, Douglas' knotweed, yellow sand-verbena, claytonia, blue-eyed Mary, gumweed, northern wormwood, elegant rein-orchid , sea asparagus, sea rocket. | |
34 | Ferns, Lichens, Mosses | ||
35 | Other Species | Cattail, dunegrass. | |
36 | Invasive/ Non- native species | Invasive: Scotch broom. Non-native: sedum, brass buttons. | |
38 | Plant List | ||
39 | Mushrooms | Amanita. | |
40 | Geology | Former gravel pit area. | |
41 | Regulations | No parking 11 pm to 5 am. Dogs on leash at all times. | |
42 | Facilities | Parking lot on Wilkinson Road. | |
43 | Other Features | ||
44 | Other Connections | To King Coho Greenway east along beach. To Little River Ferry west along Wilkinson Rd. | |
46 | FMI | Comox Valley Regional District Parks |