Poison Ivy is plant that can look quite different according to habitat. Plants that grow in the shade tend to turn yellow in fall:

Plants that grow in sunnier spots tend to turn red in fall:

The flowers of Purple-stemmed Aster are usually blue. We found some with white flowers this morning:

Other botany:

Park scenes:

Species list: double-crested cormorant, mallard, northern flicker, blue jay, black-capped chickadee, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, song sparrow.  (8 species)

A good turnout on this 10 degree morning with off and on light rain:

BIRDWATCHING ANECDOTE

While birdwatching in Cedarvale Ravine in 1959 (a western tanager had been reported there) an odd-looking character was ahead of me. Catching up to him, I asked if he was looking for birds. He said he certainly was not. I asked if, by chance, he had seen a strange bird. He said he certainly hadn’t. “I just wondered because a few hours ago, a friend of mine saw a western tanager.” Whipping a pair of binoculars from under his jacket, he wheeled and said, “Western tanager! Where?”

Miles Hearn