Brown Thrasher near Little Britain, Ontario: Spring, 2020

Sometimes, while I am out for a walk, a lovely bird appears, stays in one spot and allows me to get a good photograph. This, however, is the exception to the rule.

On this day, while sauntering on a remote gravel road, I heard the couplet song of a Brown Thrasher: “Yes-yes-siree-siree, sirah, sirah, oh-oh” etc.

I could not see the singer but knew that it was at least 200 metres away across overgrown old fields. I started walking.

Eventually I caught my first glimpse:

Brown Thrasher

As I got closer:

Brown Thrasher

and closer:

Brown Thrasher

Finally I got this close:

Brown Thrasher
Brown Thrasher

After that, the bird fled. Here are some photos I have taken previously of the Brown Thrasher:

Brown Thrasher
Brown Thrasher
Brown Thrasher

In the field, I also had this butterfly:

Mourning Cloak Butterfly

Scenes along the road:

sign on Trans Canada Trail

Some botany:

White Elm (Ulmus americana)
last season’s Foamflower
last season’s Cat-tail
Marsh-marigold (Caltha palustris)
Trembling Aspen (Populus tremuloides)
Willow (Salix)
Willow (Salix)
Bloodroot (Sanguinaria canadensis)
Trout-lily (Erythronium americanum)
Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)
Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago)
Last season’s Highbush-cranberry

A little farther along the road, I found this:

Salem United Church

Little Britain

Little Britain is a primarily agricultural town. It also has a fairly significant tourist presence from the influx of cottagers on nearby Lake Scugog.

Little Britain United Church
former library
Baptist Church
former school now apartments

NATURE POETRY

Loveliest of trees, the cherry now
Is hung with bloom along the bough,
And stands about the woodland ride
Wearing white for Eastertide.              – A. E. Housman (1859–1936)

Miles Hearn

3 thoughts on “Brown Thrasher near Little Britain, Ontario: Spring, 2020

  1. Deborah Susan Gladstone

    I can’t express enough how much your walks mean to me, now that I am “housebound!” Nature, that you bring to me, are just the refresher, and the harbinger of hope, that I need so badly. Thanks, Miles.

    Reply
  2. Lisa Volkov

    These are great pictures, Miles! I get that when you got the closest to that Thrasher, you didn’t quite get to focus–but the step by step progression, picture by picture, and then, the final one, made me laugh out loud. Thanks! And the Bloodroot–they just couldn’t be more beautiful. It was great!

    Reply
  3. Agustin Gonzalez

    Miles, Yesterday I saw this Brown Thrasher for the first time in my life outside in my Etobicoke backyard. What a sight!. Immediately brought me memories of your nature walks. This morning there he was again and what a coincidence to see your blog highlighting this beautiful bird.

    Reply

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