Towhee at the Bluffs: April 2021

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

many Midges in the air

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

Turkey Vultures
Turkey Vultures
Turkey Vultures

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.

Rufous-sided Towhee
Rufous-sided Towhee
Rufous-sided Towhee

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:

Ring-billed Gull (juvenile)
Mallard (male)
Mallard (female)
Rock Pigeon
Trumpeter Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Northern Cardinal (male)
Red-winged Blackbird (male)
American Robin
Song Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Brown-headed Cowbird (female)
Brown-headed Cowbird (female)
Red-winged Blackbird (male)
Red-breasted Mergansers
Canada Goose
Common Grackle
American Goldfinch (male)
Song Sparrow

Some botany:

Magnolia
Magnolia
European Pussy Willow (Salix caprea)
European Pussy Willow (Salix caprea)
Red-osier (Cornus sericea)
Hemlock (Tsuga canadensis)
Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata)
Choke Cherry (Prunus virginiana)
Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)
Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)
Marsh-marigold (Calthra palustris)
Forsythia (Forsythia intermedia)
Scilla
Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria)
Manitoba Maple (Acer negundo)
Virginia Waterleaf (Hydrophyllum virginianum)
Lungwort (Pulmonaria)
Lungwort (Pulmonaria)

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.

Chipping Sparrow

Miles Hearn

2 thoughts on “Towhee at the Bluffs: April 2021

  1. Gail

    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

    Reply
  2. Lisa Volkov

    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!

    Reply

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *