Heron, Cooper’s Hawk and Swainson’s Thrush in High Park: September 29, 2020

There were so many photographable birds today (morning & afternoon) that I will include only one plant. One of my favourites (unless I wander into a patch while wearing shorts) : Cut Grass.

Cut Grass (Leersia oryzoides)
Cut Grass (Leersia oryzoides)

The Great Blue Heron was still here and allows very close observation:

Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron (I thought that this might be a wound but it appears to be feathers.
Great Blue Heron

Cooper’s Hawks are always on the look-out for small birds to eat:

Cooper’s hawk from last winter
Cooper’s Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk

Swainson’s Thrushes are the common thrush of the spruce forests of northern Ontario in summer and winter in Central America and South America. They show a prominent eye-ring.

Swainson’s Thrush
Swainson’s Thrush
Swainson’s Thrush

Other birds:

Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Turkey Vulture
Mallard (female)
Mallard (male)
American Robin
American Robin
Northern Flicker (female)
Northern Flicker (female)
Common Grackle
House Sparrows
Red-winged Blackbird (female)
Rock Pigeons with House Sparrows
Rock Pigeons with House Sparrows

Species list: great blue heron, mallard, Cooper’s hawk, red-tailed hawk, turkey vulture, ring-billed gull, rock pigeon, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, northern flicker, blue jay, black-capped chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, white-breasted nuthatch, American robin, Swainson’s thrush, house sparrow, European starling, red-winged blackbird, common grackle, northern cardinal, American goldfinch. (22 species)

Park views:

Sassafras
Painted Turtle

Today’s groups:

Morning group
Afternoon group

NATURE POETRY

Little drops of water,
Little grains of sand
Make the mighty ocean,
And the pleasant land.
Thus the little minute,
Humble though they be,
Make the mighty ages
Of eternity.                                – Julia A. Fletcher (1823–1908) 

Miles Hearn

1 thought on “Heron, Cooper’s Hawk and Swainson’s Thrush in High Park: September 29, 2020

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *