July 26, Lands End, Tobermory

Today is an in camp day, no driving, a few chores like hand laundry, reading, walking, relaxing. We enjoyed a lazy late morning breakfast of pancakes, bacon and fresh Ontario peaches grown in the micro climate created by the Niagara escarpment.

I have mentioned the Niagara Escarpment several times. It was an important geological feature for me growing up in Hamilton Ontario at the western tip of Lake Ontario. Hamilton was first settled at the base of the escarpment and expanded to the top of it. We called it ‘the Mountain’. Hamilton is literally a two tiered city. escarpment was a normal vocabulary word. As kids, a regular summer activity was to climb one of the several sets of stairs from the bottom near where I lived, to the top. Of course there was road access for vehicles. When telling friends now about our trip this summer, we found we had to explain what an escarpment is. Didn’t everyone grow up with the Niagara Escarpment in their back yard?

Niagara Escarpment

The Niagara Escarpment is a prominent geological formation that stretches over 725 kilometers (450 miles) across parts of the United States and Canada, most famously running through Southern Ontario. It is best known as the cliff over which the Niagara River plunges, forming Niagara Falls.

Key Features and Geography:

• The escarpment starts near Lake Michigan in the U.S., curves through Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and Ontario, and ends near Rochester, New York.
• In Ontario, it forms a defining ridge running from Niagara Falls, through Hamilton, Milton, Collingwood, and Tobermory, where it dips under the water and reappears on Manitoulin Island and the Bruce Peninsula.
• It is composed mainly of dolostone, a hard sedimentary rock that erodes more slowly than the softer rock beneath it, which contributes to its cliff-like structure
• The escarpment is ecologically rich, with diverse habitats, old-growth forests, and rare species. It has been designated a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve (1990) due to its unique biodiversity and the sustainable development it supports.

The Niagara Escarpment is not just the backdrop for Niagara Falls, but a massive, ancient, and ecologically significant landform with deep geological, cultural, and environmental value.

Merlins in our campsite

We have a family of very noisy birds in our campsite. At first we thought they we just gulls making a lot of racket but Brian’s bird app, appropriately named Merlin, identified them as Merlins. Apparently they have a nest, with young, very close by. We did see a young one on the ground yesterday.

Their calls are sharp and repetitive, often described as a high-pitched “ki-ki-ki-ki”, especially during territorial displays or when alarmed. They are more vocal during breeding and less so at other times. We can attest to that. They really are very noisy. They don’t build their own nests; instead, they use abandoned nests of crows, magpies, or hawks.

Merlins primarily hunt small birds, using fast, low flight or ambush techniques. Unlike peregrine falcons, which dive from great heights, Merlins often chase their prey in level flight.

In summer, Merlins breed in northern forests, especially in Canada, Alaska, and parts of northern Europe and Asia. In winter, they migrate to more southern areas, including parts of the U.S., Central America, and even northern South America.

They’re adaptable and can be found in woodlands, grasslands, and increasingly in urban and suburban areas, where they prey on birds at backyard feeders. Once threatened by pesticide use (like many raptors), Merlin populations have rebounded well.

Historically, Merlins were known as “lady hawks” in falconry, often used by noblewomen in medieval Europe due to their manageable size and feisty nature.