I last visited this lovely park in the Finch / Dufferin area in July. Here are two species from that day:
On this sunny January day, I headed there once again as I had heard reports of a visiting Eurasian Teal. I wasn’t the only photographer present:
I was told that this is the first appearance of this species ever in Ontario.
The Green-winged Teal is North America’s smallest “puddle duck” and, at least in the Toronto region, it is often found slithering around on exposed mud flats.
Note that the male Green-winged Teal has a vertical white band on its side.
The Eurasian Teal has a horizontal white band on its side:
One Eurasian Teal (faint horizontal band) was feeding with three Green-winged Teals (vertical band):
If this had been a female Eurasian Teal, no-one would have known as they are indistinguishable from female Green-winged Teal:
Park images:
Other birds:
I received these photos of a Snowy Owl by the lake in Bronte:
NATURE POETRY
But pleasures are like poppies spread,
You seize the flow’r, its bloom is shed;
Or like the snow falls in the river,
A moment white—then melts forever. – Robert Burns (1759–96)
Miles Hearn