American Robins at Thompson Park; September 23. 2020

The American Robin is probably the best known Ontario bird.

American Robin in Mountain Ash

Robins were named by Europeans after the European Robin:

European Robin

They are considered by many to be the harbinger of spring:

American Robin

In fact, many spend the winter with us where fruits remain on the trees. I see them during most of my winter walks:

American Robins

The robin is a great consumer of worms and insects in our gardens during the summer and it nests on our houses and shrubs nearby.

American Robin
American Robin on nest
American Robin
American Robin in Mountain Ash

Juvenile robins can look quite comical:

American Robin (juvenile)

Other fliers:

Mallard (male)
Mallard (female)
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Seven Spotted Ladybug
Clouded Sulphur Butterfly

Bird species list: mallard, hairy woodpecker, blue jay, American crow, black-capped chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, white-breasted nuthatch, gray catbird, American robin, black-throated blue warbler, Baltimore oriole, northern cardinal, American goldfinch. (13 species)

Park scenes:

Some botany:

Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)
Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron annuus)
Calico Aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum)
Purple-stemmed Aster (Symphyotrichum puniceum)
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
Panicled Aster (Symphyotrichum lanceolatum)
Pinkweed (Persicaria pensylvanica)
Pinkweed (Persicaria pensylvanica)
Barnyard Grass (Echinochloa crusgalli)
Beggar-ticks (Bidens frondosa)
Great Burdock (Arctium lappa)
Spindletree (Euonymus europaea)
Boneset (Eupatorium perfoliatum)
Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens grandulifera)
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Jerusalem Artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)
Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)
Black Walnut (Juglans nigra)
Black Walnut (Juglans nigra) fallen onto grill
left to right: Horse Chestnut, Horse Chestnut out of shell, Chinese Chestnut, Tennis Ball

Today’s group:

Thank-you so much to Nadine Price who informs me that yesterday’s Painted Turtle is, in fact, a red-eared slider. These have a bumpy, not smooth shell.

Red-eared Slider, an invasive species. Unfortunately released by people when they no longer want them as pets. 

NATURE POETRY

O wild West Wind, thou breath of Autumn’s being,

Thou, from whose unseen presence the leaves dead

Are driven, like ghosts from an enchanter fleeing,

Yellow, and black, and pale, and hectic red,

Pestilence-stricken multitudes: O thou,

Who chariotest to their dark wintry bed. – Keats

Miles Hearn

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