Colonel Sam Smith Park proved once again that it is one of our finest birding areas.

On the same docks where we often see Snowy Owls in winter, a Cattle Egret had come to roost.

This African species was first reported in North American in 1941 in Florida and in 1956 in Ontario.

In Africa it follows elephants and other big grazing animals picking off insects they kick up.

Cattle serve this purpose in North America.

The shrill calls of the Sandhill Crane alerted me to a flyover by several. Cranes fly with the necks outstretched.

I got these photos of a crane in June in Northern Ontario.

It is rare for a Blue-headed Vireo to be in the Toronto region past early October but we had a straggler this morning:

Other birds:

Today’s group:

NATURE POETRY

In the dreamy silence
Of the afternoon, a
Cloth of gold is woven
Over wood and prairie.     Alexander Posey (1873–1908)

Miles Hearn