I went early to Ashbridge’s Bay hoping to get some photos of the snow that fell yesterday. My neighbourhood was full of it.

Curiously, there was no snow at Ashbridge’s perhaps because the lake keeps the area warmer than residential streets further north.

Some botany:

This is my 3rd post of the fall which highlights Redpolls. We have also had them at Col Sam Smith Park and Marie Curtis Park plus a short fly-by at the Bluffs.

Redpolls are small, stubby-billed finches with a bright red cap, blackish chin and dark streaks on the side.

They particularly enjoy the many Black Alder cones found here.

They are winter visitors are usually seen in twittering flocks of various sizes, feeding either in weed patches on the ground or in trees.

As usual here, the chickadees were happy to see us and brought a White-breasted Nuthatch with them.

Other birds:

Species list: mute swan, Canada goose, mallard, American black duck, gadwall, long-tailed duck, common goldeneye, red-breasted merganser, common merganser, bufflehead, ring-billed gull, black-capped chickadee, American robin, white-breasted nuthatch, northern cardinal, common redpoll. (16 species)

Today’s group:

Here is a fine short video of a starling “murmuration.”

POETRY

Away with the bird that twitters!

All that glitters is jitters!

Roses, roses are gray,

Violets cry Boo! and frighten me.

Melancholy is what I brag and boast of,

Melancholy I plan to make the most of.

You beaming optimists shall not destroy it,

But while I am at it, I intend to enjoy it. – Ogden Nash

Miles Hearn