Phoebe, Heron and Hawk in the Don Valley: October 24, 2020

Eastern Phoebes generally perch low in trees or on fencelines.

Eastern Phoebe

They are very active, making short flights to capture insects and very often returning to the same perch. 

Eastern Phoebe

When perched, Eastern Phoebes wag their tails down and up frequently.

Eastern Phoebe

 Like most small flycatchers, phoebes have short, thin bills used for catching insects.

Eastern Phoebe

Phoebes  favour open woods such as yards, parks, woodlands, and woodland edges. 

Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Phoebe

Other birds:

Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Cooper’s Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Mallard (female)
Mallards
American Robin

Bird species list: great blue heron, mallard, Cooper’s hawk, red-tailed hawk, belted kingfisher, hairy woodpecker, downy woodpecker, blue jay, American crow, eastern phoebe, black-capped chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, American robin, European starling, northern cardinal. (15 species)

Valley views:

former railway tracks

Today’s group:

Some botany:

showing very large burdock leaf
Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia)
Catnip (Nepeta cataria)
Red-cedar ((Juniperus virginiana)
Black Oak (Quercus velutina)
Bur Oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
Swamp White Oak (Quercus bicolor)
Fragrant Sumac (Rhus aromatica)
Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)
Daisy Fleabane (Erigeron annuus)
Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis)
Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)
White Spruce cone (Picea glauca)
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

NATURE POETRY

Hail, old October, bright and chill,
First freedman from the summer sun!
Spice high the bowl, and drink your fill!
Thank heaven, at last the summer’s done!      – Thomas Constable (1812–81) 

Miles Hearn

2 thoughts on “Phoebe, Heron and Hawk in the Don Valley: October 24, 2020

  1. Gloria James

    I read in my reference book that phoebe are adaptable to suburban life and often make nests in the overhangs of garages.

    Reply

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