Rain was predicted for late morning, so I headed out at dawn:
This is always an exciting time of year for naturalists. What birds will I find? How is spring progressing in the plant world?
The time around sunrise is the best for bird song and many were calling. By 9 am, there is much less singing.
After hearing 4 plaintive whistles, I knew that a Blue-headed Vireo was nearby. I prefer the former name of Solitary Vireo as this call sounds as if the singer is feeling lonely.
Other birds that I was able to photograph:
In the Antarctic region, cormorants are called “Blue-eyed Shags.” You can see the blue eye on this bird in the Don Valley.
Some Valley images:
This is a good year for Trilliums which were at their height of flowering on this day:
Other botany:
NATURE POETRY
O day! O day!
You lift and sway your colors on the sky
Till I am crushed with beauty. – Marion Strobel (1895–1967)
Miles Hearn
My husband and I enjoyed your wonderful photography and were excited to see a new bird for us. I am going to listen to the Vireo song now and think of your Solitaire comment.
Thank you Miles. Its nice to see you out there hiking in this dreary, blustery, cool May.
Thank you, Miles, for my beloved Don Valley and all the beautiful things there! Thanks to Bonnie, too, for the wild turkeys! They’d better watch out, though –I have noticed in previous times that hawks like being in these places, too–probably because of all the squirrels they can watch for from headstones. It may be that wild turkeys are a bit big for hawks to take on, however–I don’t know!