Despite a forecast of rain, there was almost no rain during our walk in this 9 degree overcast morning.

We were rewarded with 34 species of birds:

Species list: horned grebe, red-necked grebe, double-crested cormorant, great egret, mute swan, Canada goose, mallard, long-tailed duck, common goldeneye, bufflehead, ring-billed gull, Caspian tern, rock pigeon, mourning dove, belted kingfisher, hairy woodpecker, downy woodpecker, barn swallow,  tree swallow, black-capped chickadee, brown creeper, American robin, ruby-crowned kinglet, European starling, yellow-jumped warbler, house sparrow, red-winged blackbird, common grackle, brown-headed cowbird, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, dark-eyed junco, white-throated sparrow, song sparrow.  (34 species)

A few Horned Grebes were present:

The Red-breasted Mergansers and White-winged Scoters have moved on but we did have a good selection of waterfowl:

Female Red-winged Blackbirds are very attractive at this time of year:

Other birds:

Some botany:

Some park scenes:

This morning’s group:

NATURE POETRY

The thirsty earth soaks up the rain,
And drinks, and gapes for drink again.
The plants suck in the earth and are
With constant drinking fresh and fair.   – Abraham Cowley (1618–67)

Miles Hearn