This morning awoke to the first light snowfall of autumn.

I am always excited to visit Col. Sam Smith Park as you never know what ornithological treasures might be found there.

Today featured a Northern Pintail:

Pintails are usually seen in early spring and late fall migration.

The name comes from the longish spiky central tail feathers.

Pintails are common in the West and uncommon in the East. They are found on shallow ponds and marshes usually with emergent vegetation.

Ruby-crowned Kinglets measure about 10 cm in length; about the length of my thumb. The scarlet crown patch is often concealed.

Other birds:

Species list: red-necked grebe, Canada goose, mallard, gadwall, American black duck, red-breasted merganser, hooded merganser, northern pintail, bufflehead, ring-billed gull, black-capped chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, ruby-crowned kinglet, yellow-rumped warbler, house sparrow, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, American tree sparrow, white-throated sparrow, field sparrow, song sparrow.  (23 species)

Park views:

Today’s group:

NATURE POETRY

Late in November, on a single night
Not even near to freezing, the ginkgo trees
That stand along the walk drop all their leaves
In one consent, and neither to rain nor to wind
But as though to time alone: the golden and green
Leaves litter the lawn today, that yesterday
Had spread aloft their fluttering fans of light.

What signal from the stars? What senses took it in?
What in those wooden motives so decided
To strike their leaves, to down their leaves,
Rebellion or surrender? and if this
Can happen thus, what race shall be exempt?
What use to learn the lessons taught by time,
If a star at any time may tell us: Now. – Howard Nemerov

Miles Hearn