Trumpeter Swans at the Bluffs: November 3, 2020

Originally native to Ontario, the Trumpeter swan’s extirpation from eastern Canada over 200 years ago was primarily due to hunting pressure and habitat loss.

Trumpeter Swan

Biologist Harry Lumsden began a provincial reintroduction program in the early 1980’s to re-establish the Trumpeter swan in its former habitat and range.

Trumpeter Swan

Trumpeter swans are well named and we heard a few of their brassy “blasts” today.

Trumpeter Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Trumpeter Swan

Other birds:

Blue Jay
American Robin
American Tree Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
European Starlings
Cedar Waxwings
Rock Pigeons
Canada Goose
Hybrid “bib” duck
American Black Duck
Herring Gull
Ring-billed Gulls
Ring-billed Gull
Ring-billed Gull (showing brown of first plumage cycle)
Ring-billed Gull (showing brown of first plumage cycle)
Ring-billed Gull (showing brown of first plumage cycle)
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk

Species list: trumpeter swan, Canada goose, mallard, American black duck, red-tailed hawk, ring-billed gull, herring gull, rock pigeon, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, blue jay, common raven, eastern phoebe, black-capped chickadee, European starling, cedar waxwing, American robin, ruby-crowned kinglet, house sparrow, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, American tree sparrow, song sparrow.  (22 species)

Some botany:

Amur Cork-tree (Phellodendron amurense)
Red-osier (Cornus sericea)
Autumn-olive (Elaeagnus umbellata)

Park scenes:

Recently much soil slid from the top of the bluffs here.

soil at the base of the cliff

Today’s groups:

morning group
afternoon group

NATURE POETRY

Bright yellow, red and orange,
The leaves come down in hosts;
The trees are Indian princes,
But soon they’ll turn to ghosts.        – William Allingham (1824–89)

Miles Hearn

1 thought on “Trumpeter Swans at the Bluffs: November 3, 2020

  1. Lisa Volkov

    I love the Trumpeter Swans–great music! The Hawk looked very grand perched on top of the bluff. Wonderful pictures of a great place!

    Reply

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