I headed out to Marie Curtis Park hoping to photograph the terns and gulls which sometimes perch on the railings at the mouth of Etobicoke Creek. Too many people walking about I guess, as there was not a single one.

Option 2 was to visit the 2 ponds which are located out on the former arsenal lands.

Better luck here, especially with Goldfinches who were busy harvesting Canada Thistle plumes. In Québec a thistle is a chardon and goldfinches are named chardonnerets after their love for these plants.

MYSTERY BIRD

I will identify it at the end of the post.

Other birds:

After a long winter of hibernation, Painted Turtles luxuriate in the warmth of the sun.

Some botany:

MYSTERY BIRD

Stocky, rather long-tailed with some bold coarse streaks indicate a Song Sparrow.

NATURE POETRY

I meant to do my work today—
But a brown bird sang in the apple-tree
And a butterfly flitted across the field, 
And all the leaves were calling me.              – Richard Le Gallienne (1866–1947)

Miles Hearn