The Clay-coloured Sparrow is a common inhabitant of shrubby country in the prairies. In Ontario it will occur almost anywhere where suitable habitat exists.

The sharply outlined ear patch is the best identification tool.

Clay-coloured Sparrows winter in Mexico.

We also had White-crowned Sparrows this morning. These were juveniles who show a brown crown.

In Ontario, the White-crowned Sparrow nests mainly in the vicinity of James and Hudson Bays.

They winter in the Southern United States and Mexico.

Here is the mature bird:

Other birds:

High Park is the best place to see Wood Ducks during most months of the year:

Species list: double-crested cormorant, mallard, wood duck, red-tailed hawk, rock pigeon, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, northern flicker, blue jay, American crow, black-capped chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, white-breasted nuthatch, house sparrow, European starling, red-winged blackbird, common grackle, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, clay-coloured sparrow, white-crowned sparrow, white-throated sparrow, song sparrow. (22 species)

Friendly chipmunk:

Several of us saw a fox before the walk. Here are photos from a previous walk:

Today’s group:

Views from “Hawk Hill” at dawn:

NATURE POETRY

It is the summer’s great last heat,
It is the fall’s first chill: They meet.          – Sarah Morgan Bryan Piatt (1836–1919) 

Miles Hearn