In the past, on a morning like this with -6 degree temperature and blowing snow, I would have had few who would venture out for a nature walk.

Once or twice no-one showed up.

However this morning, we had an excellent turnout considering the conditions:

The winds were up to 80 km an hour from the north west so I did as much of the walk in sheltered areas. Even so, lots of snow was blowing about.

We started at the High Park Zoo:

We found a good-sized flock of robins and about 10 starlings eating Oriental Bittersweet berries:

Species list: red-tailed hawk, hairy woodpecker, downy woodpecker, black-capped chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, American robin, European starling, red-winged blackbird, northern cardinal, house finch. 10 species)

Park scenes:

When February sun shines cold,
There comes a day when in the air
The wings of winter
Slow unfold,
And show the golden summer there.    – Philip Savage (1868–99)

Miles Hearn