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