Last fall I saw a Red-throated Loon here and I was hoping that another might be present taking a break from its long spring migration between the Atlantic coast and the arctic. Here is last fall’s bird which is a fall adult nonbreeder showing a white face:

At the conclusion of this morning’s walk (which was done in 4 degree weather with very windy even snowy conditions at times) a Red-throated Loon did appear. This one is a juvenile with less distinct colouration than the fall bird:


My camera battery was exhausted by this point so I thank Eugene Knapik for the photos!
Here are other birds that I was able to photograph:





The complete list: red-throated loon, mallard, American black duck, wood duck, common goldeneye, turkey vulture, ring-billed gull, mourning dove, black-capped chickadee, hairy woodpecker, northern mockingbird, American robin, European starling, red-winged blackbird, common grackle, brown-headed cowbird, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, song sparrow. (19 species)
Some signs of spring:



Other botany:


Today’s group:

Scenes from the park:



NATURE POETRY
Suddenly, with lifted eyes you said, “Oh look!”
There, on the black bough of a snow flecked maple,
Fearless and gay as our love,
A bluejay cocked his crest!
Oh who can tell the range of joy
Or set the bounds of beauty? – Sara Teasdale (1884–1933)
Miles Hearn