Soapberry and Buffalo-berry are both in the “Shepherdia” family. Shrubs of Ontario calls the shrub Soapberry or Buffalo-berry. I learned the plant as Buffalo-berry. However a look at Michigan Flora tells me that the plant here is Soapberry and that Buffalo-berry is native to western North America and is planted as a garden plant in this area. Therefore Soapberry is the plant we see at the base of the Scarborough Bluffs.
We had the good fortune of seeing late-migrating Hermit Thrush. The red tail identifies it.
Species list: trumpeter swan, Canada goose, mallard, American black duck, bufflehead, common goldeneye, ring-billed gull, mourning dove, rock pigeon, downy woodpecker, American crow, black-capped chickadee, house sparrow, northern cardinal, American goldfinch. (15 species)
I went early to get a few close-up photos of St. Augustine’s Seminay:
Today’s group on the 0 degree sunny morning:
Park views:
NATURE POETRY
November take flail,
Let ships no more sail. – Proverb
Miles Hearn