As many of you know, I have an affection for winter tree and shrub buds. Some years ago, I collected twigs from about 125 species and brought them home to photograph the buds. These photos are on this site under “Winter Buds”. I even made a post called “The Three Stars (Winter Buds)”. Had I extended this list to four, the “Bunny Rabbit” bud would have made it.

These are the buds of the Wayfaring Tree which is a Eurasian species, widely cultivated and occasionally escaped to deciduous forests, thickets, roadsides, swamps, thickets and fencerows.

Some people prefer to call it the “E.T.” bud.

The tree (which is really more of a shrub) was often found next to inns in Europe and was associated with travelers (wayfarers).

It was nice to have a break from all of the rain today. It was 3 degrees and overcast at the start.

Here are some scenes from the park this morning:

 

 

We had a good look at a trio of Northern Shovelers:

Other birds that I was able to photograph are:

Species list:  great blue heron, black-crowned night heron, mute swan, Canada goose, mallard, gadwall, northern shoveler, bufflehead, long-tailed duck, hooded merganser, red-breasted merganser, herring gull, ring-billed gull, rock pigeon, belted kingfisher, downy woodpecker, black-capped chickadee, American robin, golden-crowned kinglet, house sparrow, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, American tree sparrow, white-throated sparrow, song sparrow.  (25 species)

Miles Hearn

                                NATURE POETRY

In fields of bush clover and hay-scent grass
the autumn moon takes refuge
The cricket’s song is gold.

– Margaret Gibson  (1944 -)