It was a cute scene at High Park today with a Wood Duck and chick at first seated together:
Then both decided to swim separately:
Next the parent returned:
Followed by the chick:
MYSTERY BIRD
I will identify it at the end of the post.
My favourite field is the one in the Black Oak Savannah at the northern edge of High Park.
I say my favourite though, in actual fact, my favourite field is usually the one that I am exploring at any given moment.
The High Park field today included flowering New Jersey Tea, Butterfly Weed, two species of Tick-trefoil, Bush-honeysuckle and Day-lily.
Sadly, this year there are very few leaves on the oak trees here.
I noticed the same thing on the Vista Trail in Rouge Park.
Here is a Toronto Star article on the subject:
Hemingway feared for High Park’s great trees | The Star
MYSTERY BIRD
This is a juvenile Cooper’s Hawk.
NATURE POETRY
Come to me in the silence of the night;
Come in the speaking silence of a dream;
Come with soft rounded cheeks and eyes as bright
As sunlight on a stream. – Christina Rossetti (1830 – 1894)
Miles Hearn
I got the mystery bird! Not that it was a juvenile, but that it was a Cooper’s Hawk!
I am shocked and saddened by the state of the Oak trees in High Park. Amazing that Hemingway wrote about the situation so long ago. Very informative–and profoundly discouraging.
On the brighter side, the pictures of Wood Ducks and botany (and beetle) are stunning! The detail of colour and markings on mother and chick were a revelation. Their behaviour together (and apart) was precious!
But to lose the Oaks–what a perfectly terrible situation.
Thanks, Miles!
Thanks, Miles! Lovely photos as usual. Gypsy moth infestation… they love oaks and other deciduous trees. We also saw similar sights on highway 7 towards Ottawa. Let’s hope the trees will recover. Word from my daughter has it that they will.