You never know what you will see you when beginning a nature walk. I headed out to the Pottery Road / Don River area assuming that I would photograph wildflowers.

One of the first things I saw was a little lump on a somewhat distant tree brach.

Closer inspection indicated that this was a Green Heron, a reasonably common species but one that does a good job in staying out of sight.

Shortly afterward, the heron was replaced on the same branch by a magnificent Great Blue Heron.

The bird remained close-by for a considerable length of time and I began to notice the amazing flexibility of that long neck.

MYSTERY BIRD

I will identify it at the end of the post.

Some botany

MYSTERY BIRD

The needle-like bill identifies a hummingbird. Most of the hummingbirds in our area are Ruby-throated Hummingbirds.

NATURE POETRY

There was a summer every rain was rare;
There was a season every wind was warm . . .
And now you pass me in the mist . . . your hair
Rain-blown about you, damp lips curved once more
In that wild irony, that gay despair
That made you old when we have met before. – F Scott Fitzgerald

Miles Hearn