In 15 years of TDSB nature walks, I have never before encountered a Redpoll. Common Redpolls breed in the far north. Great numbers invade southern Ontario during some winters, often followed by one to three winters with few or none.

They frequently associate with goldfinches and this individual was among a goldfinch flock.

Thank-you to Ian Valentine for these photos of this morning’s bird!

It was an interesting morning bird-wise with a Kingfisher:

and a Great Black-backed Gull:

Other birds:

Species list:  Canada goose, mallard, American black duck, red-breasted merganser, hooded merganser, red-tailed hawk, ring-billed gull, herring gull, great black-backed gull, belted kingfisher, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, American crow, black-capped chickadee, red-breasted nuthatch, white-breasted nuthatch, American robin, European starling, house sparrow, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, common redpoll. (22 species)

Park views:

We also found two brownsnakes, one of which we removed to safety from a busy bike path:

Today’s group:

NATURE POETRY

Listen . . .
With faint dry sound,
Like steps of passing ghosts,
The leaves, frost-crisp’d, break from the trees
And fall.                                                              – Adelaide Crapsey (1878–1914)

Miles Hearn