As birdsong is always strongest at dawn, I headed out at that hour to the Brimley Rd. / Bluffs area.







An apparently loving pair of Turkey Vultures had spent the night here:



Hearing a call that sounded something like “Drink your tea” repeatedly coming from shrubby vegetation, I know that an Eastern Towhee was near.
I spent quite a bit of time trying to find it out in the open for a photograph but never really succeeded. You can see from the photos I did get why this bird was formerly called the “Rufous-sided” Tohwee.



I received a letter suggesting that I add an unidentified “test” bird or plant to each post and I do this today:

At the conclusion of the post, I will identify it.
Other birds:




















Some botany:


















NATURE POETRY
Blossom of the almond trees,
April’s gift to April’s bees,
Birthday ornament of spring,
Flora’s fairest daughterling. – Sir Edwin Arnold (1832–1904)
TODAY’S TEST BIRD
This bird landed for one second and this darkish image is the only photo I got. It is a rusty-capped sparrow but which one? The black line through the eye with the white line over it identifies it as a Chipping Sparrow.

Miles Hearn
The colours and the bursting of the spring tree and bush blossoms are stunning against their winter surroundings. So heartwarming.
Great to see the variety of birds you captured , the vultures in particular.
One could not paint the male and female mallards in their copper and blue swirling respective pools of water. The colours are too dramatic to be believed .
Thanks again for these daily treats Miles
Wonderful birds, squirrel, gorgeous botany. I love this place! As for the Pomeranians–yes, I’ve seen that sign before. Wish I could see the slavering, wrongly-insulted beasts. Thanks, Miles!