I went just after sunrise into the woods here to photograph some of the plants in what photographers call the “golden light” of early morning:

Some park scenes:

This morning’s group:

Our most common singing bird today was the Gray Catbird:

We also saw some Palm Warblers; a species which exhibits characteristic “tail-wagging” behaviour:

There were many orioles about:

and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks:

Species list: double-crested cormorant, great blue heron, Canada goose, mallard, wood duck, turkey vulture, ring-billed gull, belted kingfisher, hairy woodpecker, tree swallow, rough-winged swallow, blue jay, black-capped chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, gray catbird, American robin, blue-gray gnatcatcher,  ruby-crowned kinglet, warbling vireo, palm warbler, yellow warbler, northern waterthrush,  red-winged blackbird, brown-headed cowbird, common grackle, Baltimore oriole, northern cardinal, rose-breasted grosbeak, house finch, American goldfinch, song sparrow.  (31 species)

NATURE POETRY

This is the weather the cuckoo likes, 
And so do I; 
When showers betumble the chestnut spikes, 
And nestlings fly; 
And the little brown nightingale bills his best, 
And they sit outside at ‘The Traveller’s Rest,’ 
And maids come forth sprig-muslin drest, 
And citizens dream of the south and west, 
And so do I. 

This is the weather the shepherd shuns, 
And so do I; 
When beeches drip in browns and duns, 
And thresh and ply; 
And hill-hid tides throb, throe on throe, 
And meadow rivulets overflow, 
And drops on gate bars hang in a row, 
And rooks in families homeward go, 
And so do I. Thomas Hardy

Miles Hearn