The Limehouse survey begins in Caledon Village and ends near Limehouse. There is a great variety of terrain including forest and farmer’s fields. The Bruce Trail runs nearby.

This morning’s survey began at 5:02 am and finished just before 10 in surprisingly warm temperatures. No jacket was necessary.

MYSTERY BIRD I will identify it at the end of the post.

The Eastern Bluebird used to be common in the Toronto area. Here is what my grandfather, Dr. J. Murray Speirs, wrote in1985 in Birds of Ontario:

In the days of my youth this was a common bird around Toronto, with good-sized flocks migrating over in March and October, and many staying to nest in surrounding farmland. With the advent of starlings, wire fences and urbanization they are now rare in most parts of Ontario.

We had one on this morning’s survey:

Another highlight was several Towhees:

These four species dominated our numbers:

Some botany:

MYSTERY BIRD

The rusty cap, and black line through the eye and a white line over it identify this as a Chipping Sparrow. We heard many this morning.

NATURE POETRY

THE FOUR SEASONS

                              (from a teacher’s perspective.)

MARCH:

      Hunched over folios,

          Dreaming of oceans and sands –

               Mind’s rigor mortis. – J. Barbara

Miles Hearn