Black Creek Recreational Trail: February 2021

It felt like a real winter morning; dark, frigid and windy as I explored this area which runs along Black Creek in Downsview. Wearing 3 pairs of socks did not prevent my feet from becoming cold. I thought of an Antarctic cruise co-worker who had special boot insoles which he plugged in every evening.

Deer tracks

I had two birds; a distant Red-bellied Woodpecker and this Song Sparrow which is probably braving the winter here rather than being in early northward migration.

Song Sparrow

Otherwise I had a good look at plants as they are in winter:

Cottonwood (Populus deltoides)
Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)
Linden (Tilia cordata)
Panicled Aster (Symphyotrichum lanceolatum)
Manitoba Maple (Acer negundo)
Canada Goldenrod (Solidago canadensis
Butternut (Juglans cinerea)
Butternut (Juglans cinerea)
Black Alder (Alnus glutinosa)
Black Alder (Alnus glutinosa)
Goldenrod gall with woodpecker drilling
Hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)
Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
Black Locust (Robinea pseudoacacia)
Highbush-cranberry (Viburnum opulus)
Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)
Amur Maple (Acer ginnala)
White Spruce (Picea glauca)
Phragmites (Phragmites australis)
Cat-tail (Typha)

NATURE POETRY

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago. – Charlotte Church

Miles Hearn

2 thoughts on “Black Creek Recreational Trail: February 2021

  1. Joyce Sparks

    Hi Miles. I look forward to opening my iPad every morning to see where you’ve been and what you’ve seen. Thank you.

    Reply
  2. Lisa Volkov

    Gorgeous scenery, stunningly beautiful details. Sorry you were so cold, and I hope that poor Song Sparrow is able to survive! Thanks, Miles!

    Reply

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