Nature by the Airport: June 2021

milesghearn

5 years ago

I’ve always wondered about the greenbelt area just west of the airport, so today I went to investigate.

Etobicoke Creek, which I am used to seeing at Marie Curtis Park, runs through the area:

A paved cycling trail also follows the western perimeter of the airport.

MYSTERY BIRD

I will identify it at the end of the post.

Some botany:

Dame’s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis)

Birdfoot Trefoil (Lotus corniculatis)

Rough Cinquefoil (Potentilla norvegica)

Dame’s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis)

Crown Vetch (Securigera varia)

Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus inserta)

Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea stoebe)

Canada Anemone (Anemone canadensis)

Honeysuckle (Lonicera)

Bittersweet Nightshade (Solanum dulcmara)

Leafy Spurge (Euphorbia virgata)

Squirrel-tail Grass (Hordeum jubatum)

Indian Mustard (Brassica juncea)

Hop-hornbeam (Ostrya virginiana)

Ox-eye Daisy (Leucanthemum vulgare)

Staghorn Sumac pollen cone

Goat’s-beard (Tragopogon)

Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea)

Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia)

Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

Purple Loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria)

Field Bindweed (Convolvulus arvensis)

Buckhorn (Plantago lanceolata)

Yellow Sweet-clover (Melilotus officinalis)

Indian-hemp (Apocynum cannabinum)

MYSTERY BIRD

This one was singing its heart out. Gray, longer-tailed than a robin and showing white patches indicates a Northern Mockingbird.

Northern Mockingbird

MAILBOX

Hi Miles,

I was very amused a couple of weeks ago to see a Kingbird chasing a Raven.

NATURE POETRY

Wake up, golden Head! Wake up, Brownie!
Cat-bird wants you in the garden soon.
You and I, butterflies, bobolinks, and clover,
We’ve a lot to do on the first of June. – Charles G.D. Roberts (1860–1943)

Miles Hearn

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