In the early 20th century, Bluebirds were common around Toronto. Good-sized flocks migrated over in March and October and many stayed to nest in surrounding farmland. With the advent of starlings and urbanization They are now rare in most parts of Ontario.

The best place to see one near Toronto is in May or June on the upper Vista Trail at Rouge Hills. We had some today in 5 degree, windy with light rain conditions.

The only other bird that I was able to photograph was an American Goldfinch:

Species list: turkey vulture, ring-billed gull, downy woodpecker, eastern kingbird, American crow, house wren, American robin, eastern bluebird, pine warbler, red-winged blackbird, northern cardinal, rose-breasted grosbeak, American goldfinch, song sparrow.  (14 species)

Park scenes:

Today’s group:

There are many interesting plants at Rouge Hills. Here are some of them:

NATURE POETRY

The Snow

It sifts from leaden sieves,
It powders all the wood,
It fills with alabaster wool
The wrinkles of the road.

It makes an even face
Of mountain and of plain, —
Unbroken forehead from the east
Unto the east again.

It reaches to the fence,
It wraps it, rail by rail,
Till it is lost in fleeces;
It flings a crystal veil

On stump and stack and stem, —
The summer’s empty room,
Acres of seams where harvests were,
Recordless, but for them.

It ruffles wrists of posts,
As ankles of a queen, —
Then stills its artisans like ghosts,
Denying they have been. Emily Dickinson

Miles Hearn