Some consider April and May as the two best months for bird observation. Just about every day a new bird species arrives or passes through on their way north. All of this leads to the largest number of bird species that can be found in the Toronto area – usually on about May 24. After that, there are many fewer species present and bird song diminishes considerably.
I visited Col Sam Smith park on a lovely, sunny day and wasn’t alone as the parking lot was full by 8 am.
It was a good day for Golden-crowned Kinglets:
Golden-crowns are slightly smaller than Ruby-crowned Kinglets.
Apart from hummingbirds, kinglets are our smallest birds.
There was lots of Goldfinch activity and song:
In breeding dress the black head, with fiery red eyes and jaunty golden “horns” running back from the eyes to the angle where crown and nape come together, the Horned Grebe is quite distinctive.
Here is a Mute Swan coming in for a landing:
Other birds:
Other sights:
NATURE POETRY
Sunshine trying hard awhile
On the bare brown fields to smile;
Frozen ruts and slippery walks;
Gray old crops of last year’s stalks. – Christopher Pearse Cranch (1813–90)
Miles Hearn
Great photos, Miles. I especially like the photograph of the American Goldfinch (female), with its muted yellow palette and the individual feathers of the wings showing – plus, the balance of the grasses and the subdued yellow background bokeh.
Beautiful place to visit! We were at Samuel Smith a few days ago, and saw some smaller gulls with black beaks and black heads, couldn’t figure out what type of gull they were.
Yes, spring is very much about the arrival of song birds! And there are so many other wonderful sights, too. I loved seeing the rabbit. Should be plenty of baby rabbits, soon. Thanks, Miles!