Some years ago, a friend and I went for a fall walk in the meadow area just west of Crothers Woods. We started to notice a few Northern Flickers flying about and began to count them. After an hour we had counted 50!

Flickers are migrating south at this time of year.

They leave the northern parts of their range to winter in the southern U.S.

Birds that breed farther south typically stay put for the winter.

Northern Flickers are found in Cuba and parts of Mexico year-round.

This morning we saw about half a dozen flickers.

Other birds:

We had a big excitement this morning as a mink and a Northern Waterthrush were spotted by the Don River.

Species list: mallard, red-tailed hawk, northern flicker, downy woodpecker, white-breasted nuthatch, blue jay, black-capped chickadee, gray catbird, American robin, northern waterthrush, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, song sparrow.  (13 species)

Park views:

This morning’s group:

Some botany:

NATURE POETRY

Through sunny days and yellow weeks,
With clouds that melt in tears,
The glory of the harvest speaks
In all the silken ears.                                    – J. Hazard Hartzell (1830–90) 

Miles Hearn