In my childhood I never saw a Red-bellied Woodpecker. But, as Sibley Birds tells us “Range is expanding rapidly to the north, where it inhabits suburban woodlots and visits bird feeders.”

The park at Lambton Woods is most definitely a suburban woodlot and Red-bellies have been here for the last few years. I was unable to photograph this morning’s bird but here are photos from previous walks:

Other birds:

Bird Species list: double-crested cormorant, great egret, Canada goose, mallard, American black duck, ring-billed gull, herring gull, mourning dove, northern flicker, downy woodpecker, hairy woodpecker, blue jay, black-capped chickadee, white-breasted nuthatch, American robin, house sparrow, common grackle, northern cardinal, American goldfinch. (19 species)

Lambton scenes:

Today’s group:

Some botany:

NATURE POETRY

Since Poets have told of sunset, 
What is left for me to tell? 
I can only say that I saw the day 
Press crimson lips to the horizon gray, 
And kiss the earth farewell.                                  – Effie Lee Newsome (1885–1978)

Miles Hearn