My grandfather, as a professor of zoology at the University of Toronto, would bring students every year to Duffins Creek. Each was given a net and they proceeded to learn about every creature that was briefly pulled from the creek or the shores and then put back. On occasion, I was invited to go along.
Here is how the area looked in early August 2020:
Quite different on this early spring morning in 2021:
Some botany:
MAILBOX
Thanks to a reader for this:
| An owl dangling precariously from a branch has scooped the overall prize of this year’s Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards.Out of the 3,500 entries, Tibor Kercz won the overall prize with his series of images showing an owl losing its footing and trying to claw its way back on to a branch. Other entrants included a yawning dormouse, a photo bombing sea turtle and a rather shocked seal. Take a look at all the winning photos from the competition.Tibor Kercz’s photo of an undignified owl was the overall winner.  Andrea Zampattiwon the Land category with a photograph of a dormouse.  Troy Mayne won Under The Sea category with a photobombing sea turtle.  John Threlfallwon the In The Air category with a bird and an ominous vapor trail.  Daisy Gilardiniphotographed a polar bear clinging on to its mother.  Penny Palmer caught a sea otter reaching for the sky.  Carl Henry’swas highly commended for his photo entitled All Dressed And Ready For Church.  Olivier Collespotted a hare munching on grass.  KatyLaveck-Foster snapped two cheeky monkeys  Jean-Jacques Alcalaycaptured the moment it looked as though a wildebeest was riding on the back of its companions.  George Cathcartwas highly commended for his photo entitled WTF.  Douglas Croft caught a fox getting a hole in one on a golf course.  Daniel Trim snapped two mudskippers appearing to be in mid-song.  |
NATURE POETRY
It is the first mild day of March:
Each minute sweeter than before
The redbreast sings from the tall larch
That stands beside our door. – William Wordsworth (1770–1850)
Miles Hearn
Thanks Miles – this is fantastic on so many counts – love the Duffins Creek photos and the comic shots – hysterical
I am, of course, a complete SUCKER for animals looking cute and happy. Did that poor little owl make it back to the branch, though? Hopefully, it did. Amazing picture! Where is Duffins Creek anyway? Gorgeous pictures. Wonderful details of buds about (relatively speaking, anyway) to blow (I know–very unpoetic–but once I said it, I couldn’t take it back). And yes–I loved the Happy Dogs–see above. Thanks, Miles!