We’ve been blessed with many fine days since these walks began in September. Today, however, was not one of them. Though it was not cold, off and on drizzle permeated the morning. As I did not want to expose my long lens camera to moisture, these photos were take with a smaller camera which I could easily hide away from the elements.

Today’s group:

I frequently see this cat at Col Sam and it followed us for quite some time today.

Some months ago I spotted it about 4 metres high in a tree.

Col Sam Smith Park scenes:

Some birds:

Species list: red-necked grebe, double-crested cormorant, mallard, American Black duck, American wigeon, mute swan, killdeer, ring-billed gull, Cooper’s hawk, mourning dove, belted kingfisher, blue jay, black-capped chickadee, gray catbird, American robin, golden-crowned kinglet, ruby-crowned kinglet, European starling, yellow-rumped warbler, house sparrow, northern cardinal, American goldfinch, white-throated sparrow, song sparrow. (24 species)

NATURE POETRY

The way was black,
The night was mad with lightning; I bestrode
My wild young colt, upon a mountain road.
And, crunching onward, like a monster’s jaws,
His ringing hoof-beats their glad rhythm kept,
Breaking the glassy surface of the pools,
Where hidden waters slept.
A million buzzing insects in the air
On droning wing made sullen discord there.        – José Santos Chocano (1875–1934)

Miles Hearn