For many years, I taught at the Toronto District School Board Music Camp for ten days in June. My accommodation was a cabin in the woods which always had American Redstarts nearby. Needless to say, I became very familiar with their singing. They have several songs but the most distinctive is a buzzing with an emphatic last note. We heard this version many times this morning during a rainy walk at Beechwood / Don Valley.

Other birds:

Some botany:

Valley views:

Today’s group:

The camera lens I use is excellent for bird and wildlife photography but also works well for sports.

I took these at my grandson’s baseball game:

NATURE POETRY

May is a green as no other,
May is much sun through small leaves,
May is soft earth,
And apple-blossoms,
And windows open to a South wind.     – Amy Lowell (1874–1925)

Miles Hearn