Shagbark Hickory becomes more common as you head south into the United States but there are a few in our area. Usually the thorny blackberry bushes make it very difficult to approach the one at Marie Curtis Park, but at this time of year it is possible;
I’m often asked which birds eat the lovely red sumac fruit. We got one answer this morning:
The fields at Marie Curtis Park are often a good place to spots hawks in the air.
Here is the distinctive silhouette of a Red-tailed Hawk:
If you are in any doubt, the red tail clinches it!
Cooper’s Hawks are pigeon-sized and show a longish, rectangular tail. The well-rounded tail distinguishes them from the Blue Jay-sized Sharp-shinned Hawk which has a squarish end to the tail.
Species list: Canada goose, mallard, American black duck, red-tailed hawk, Cooper’s hawk, turkey vulture, herring gull, ring-billed gull, downy woodpecker, blue jay, black-capped chickadee, ruby-crowned kinglet, American robin, European starling, house sparrow, red-winged blackbird, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, song sparrow. (19 species)
Some botany:
While it was still dark, I spotted a very tame coyote on a nearby street. Some neighbours told me that they have phoned the city about it, but the city says that they can do nothing because it is healthy.
Park scenes:
Today’s group on this 4 degree, overcast morning:
and one more member:
NATURE POETRY
The sun’s away,
And the bird estranged;
The wind has dropped,
And the sky’s deranged;
Summer has stopped. – Robert Browning (1812–89)
Miles Hearn