On December 21, 2021, the sun rose at 7:46 am. Today it rose at 7:27 am as days get longer. Winter is clearly the best time to see the sunrise if you don’t want to be out of bed unreasonably early.

Here is how it looked from the beach at Scarborough Bluffs on this morning of -15 degrees.

I am fascinated by bird song and have spent much of my life trying to discern exactly what differentiates the call of one species from another.

We had several cardinals singing during our walk this morning and many other species will join in the chorus as we approach May 24 – the traditional “most species” day in the Toronto area.

How to describe a cardinal song? Here is what various bird guides say:

• clear slurred whistles, lowering pitch

• what-cheer cheer cheer etc.; birdy birdy birdy

• woit woit woit chew chew chew chew

• pichew pichew pichew tiw tiw tiw tiw tiw tiw

To me, the cardinal has a definitive sound just as a violin or flute have a definitive sound. I listen for that sound rather than any chew chew chew etc. pattern.

Interestingly, female cardinals also sing.

Other birds:

Park scenes:

Today’s group:

MAILBOX

Yesterday’s post had a photo of a male Hooded Merganser.

I received this comment:

Hi Miles! 
Loved your photos today – you captured the cold!!! Icy birds. I sent a friend a pic of a hooded merganser and they sent me a pic of “Beavis”. I will never look at hooded mergansers without seeing this in my mind now. Ha!  

NATURE POETRY

Whose woods these are I think I know.   
His house is in the village though;   
He will not see me stopping here   
To watch his woods fill up with snow.             – Robert Frost (1874–1963)

Miles Hearn