In summer it is likely that only mallards and the occasional black duck will be found at Humber Bay. This morning we had 8 species of ducks that come to spend the winter with us.

Because of the snow (-1 degree) making photography tricky, I include some photos from past walks.

Species list:  great blue heron, mute swan, Canada goose, mallard, gadwall, redhead, bufflehead, common goldeneye, white-winged scoter, long-tailed duck, hooded merganser, red-breasted merganser, ring-billed gull, rock pigeon, American robin, European starling, house sparrow, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, dark-eyed junco, American tree sparrow, song sparrow.  (22 species)

Some botany:

Park scenes:

This morning’s group:

NATURE POETRY

And how like a field is the whole sky now
that the maples have shed their leaves, too.
It makes us believers—stationed in groups,
leaning on rakes, looking into space. We rub blisters
over billows of leaf smoke. Or stand alone,
bagging gold for the cold days to come.              – David Baker (b. 1954)

Miles Hearn