Raven at Thompson Memorial Park: October 8, 2020

Until relatively recently, ravens were a very uncommon bird in the Toronto area due to DDT which softened egg shells.

These days I see (and hear) them fairly regularly especially near the lake.

Common Raven
Common Raven

Crows far outnumber them in Southern Ontario but they outnumber crows north and west of Sudbury.

Common Raven

Ravens are found in Europe, North and South America.

Common Raven

This is not a migrating species.

Common Raven
Common Raven

Other birds:

Mallard (male)
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Yellow-rumped Warbler
White-throated Sparrow
American Goldfinch
Downy Woodpecker (female)
Hermit Thrush

Species list: mallard, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, common raven, American crow, blue jay, black-capped chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, white-breasted nuthatch, Carolina wren, hermit thrush, American robin, ruby-crowned kinglet, yellow-rumped warbler, house sparrow, common grackle, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, white-throated sparrow, song sparrow. (20 species)

Park views:

moon
Coyote
Coyote

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church is just north or here:

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church
St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church

Today’s group:

Some botany:

Chinese Chestnut
Horse-chestnut (Aesculus hippocastanum)
Red Maple
Ostrich Fern
Calico Aster (Symphyotrichum lateriflorum)
Spindletree (Euonymus europaea)
Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)
Bush-honeysuckle (Diervilla lonicera)
Arrow-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum urophyllum)
Arrow-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum urophyllum)
Balsam Poplar (Populus balsamifra)
Field Sow-thistle (Sonchus arvensis)
Red-osier (Cornus sericea)
Great Burdock (Arctium lappa)
Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)
Panicled Aster (Symphyotrichum lanceolatum)

NATURE POETRY

A touch of cold in the Autumn night—
I walked abroad,
And saw the ruddy moon lean over a hedge
Like a red-faced farmer.
I did not stop to speak, but nodded,
And round about were the wistful stars
With white faces like town children.       – T.E. Hulme (1883–1917) 

Miles Hearn

1 thought on “Raven at Thompson Memorial Park: October 8, 2020

  1. Lisa Volkov

    And WHAT, prEy tell, is that Raven eating?
    Just “bugging” you, after that “crack” about some Nuthatches and their eating habits (last post, if anyone is wondering)
    Though I am curious. I think!
    Wonderful pictures of wonderful things!

    Reply

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