I noticed considerable activity in a far away tree as I walked about near Lake Ontario in Scarborough.

Flickers seem to prefer to be left alone but a cheeky Starling landed right next to one.

The Flicker didn’t appreciate this:

Perhaps the Flicker has a nest nearby with eggs and the Starling wants to grab one.

MYSTERY BIRD

I will identify it at the end of the post.

A Warbling Vireo was doing its best to impress a nearby female.

Posing slyly:

Playing hide and seek:

Leaping:

Showing off tail feathers:

Warbling at top volume:

and gracefully taking off:

Is that a smile on her face?

Some Red-winged Blackbirds had a unwanted guest:

Eventually the Red-wings were able to chase it away. No doubt that they are protecting a nearby nest.

Even though I was far from these Red-breasted Mergansers, they took off in a hurry when they spotted me:

Other birds:

MYSTERY BIRD

The yellow below, olive-green back and white eye ring make this a Nashville Warbler.

MAILBAG

Something to be mindful of!

Ontario hikers are seeing more ticks this spring and Lyme disease reports are on the rise (blogto.com)

NATURE POETRY

Spring
by Gerard Manley Hopkins

Nothing is so beautiful as Spring—
        When weeds, in wheels, shoot long and lovely and lush;
        Thrush’s eggs look little low heavens, and thrush
Through the echoing timber does so rinse and wring
The ear, it strikes like lightnings to hear him sing;
        The glassy peartree leaves and blooms, they brush
        The descending blue; that blue is all in a rush
With richness; the racing lambs too have fair their fling.
What is all this juice and all this joy?
        A strain of the earth’s sweet being in the beginning
In Eden garden.—Have, get, before it cloy,
        Before it cloud, Christ, lord, and sour with sinning,
Innocent mind and Mayday in girl and boy,
        Most, O maid’s child, thy choice and worthy the winning.

Miles Hearn