The Keffer Marsh on the West Don River in Vaughan is a 2 hectare engineered wetland complex consisting of the marsh and a larger deciduous swamp. It is considered to be the largest constructed area of its kind in Ontario.
I never know what birds I might encounter on any day and was pleased to find a Northern Mockingbird here.
Mockingbirds, though not common, are moving farther north as winters become less harsh.
There were also a few starlings:
Some botany:
NATURE POETRY
Announced by all the trumpets of the sky,
Arrives the snow, and, driving o’er the fields,
Seems nowhere to alight: the whited air
Hides hills and woods, the river, and the heaven,
And veils the farm-house at the garden’s end. – Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803–82)
Miles Hearn
I’m going to begin being more attentive to the poetry. I don’t know why I haven’t been–I love literature. I guess I just tend to focus on the pictures.
So where is the snow? Not that I miss it too much–its absence makes my dog walking easier! And speaking of the Northern Mockingbird, this winter has certainly been less harsh–so far.
I look forward to these posts every day–these wonderful pictures keep me in touch with nature. Such beautiful botany details, like the buds. And beautiful scenery!
Thanks, Miles!
Hello Miles……these Nature reports are like travelogues…….showing so many beautiful areas that I never knew existed……how do you KNOW so many places???? as the English would say:I’m gobsmacked!!!!!!!!!!
Wonderful of you to share all this nature with us!!!!! Thank You……
Its interesting to listen to the bird songs on the Internet after you write about them. In case they come into my area I want to make sure I can recognize their song. I had not heard the Redpoll song before that you mentioned imitating. This morning I listened to the Northern Mockingbird’s song and that is entertaining and not one that a person could easily imitate. I wonder if they sing like that in the winter. Perhaps not.
Thanks for the interesting bird and flora shots.