Every winter, I notice holes in Goldenrod galls.

I’ve guessed that it is Chickadees or Woodpeckers. At least part of the mystery was solved today as you can see from these photos.

Species list: mallard, wood duck, red-tailed hawk, ring-billed gull, belted kingfisher, hairy woodpecker, downy woodpecker, blue jay, American crow, black-capped chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, American robin, veery, European starling, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, white-crowned sparrow, song sparrow.  (18 species)

There were many grasshoppers and some butterflies present in both morning & afternoon on this sunny, 10 – 15 degree day.

Some Botany:

Park scenes:

10 a.m. group:

1 p.m. group

NATURE POETRY

Every leaf speaks bliss to me,
Fluttering from the autumn tree.       – Emily Jane Brontë (1818–48)

Miles Hearn