The low, coarse, rude-sounding notes of the Northern Rough-winged Swallow always alert me to its presence. Then I search for these drab-coloured birds flying over a pond or stream with wings pulled back at the end of each stroke. Now and then, they will perch on a nearby twig and will allow you to approach very closely. I took many photos of a small group on this day.

Male Mallards are going through a moult at the moment:

Other flyers:

Thanks to Meegan Conklin for the moth identification.

I learned to ski at Earl Bales Park:

It is a fine place for nature walks as it has stream, field, pond and forest.

This was the site of the coldest walk I have ever led. -23 degrees. Valentine’s Day in 2016. Here is the group:

We met a Russian gentleman who exclaimed “This is spring weather in my country!”

i photographed a few plants here which I seldom see:

Other botany:

NATURE POETRY

O summer day, surpassing fair,
With hints of heaven in earth and air.       – Eben Eugene Rexford (1848–1916)

Miles Hearn