Hummingbird at Thomson Park: June 6, 2022

At only three inches in length, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds are remarkable creatures. My grandfather, Dr. J. Murray Speirs, told this story in his Birds of Ontario:

I well remember one that perched so often on the same spot on a hydro wire that it had worn the insulation smooth and I could confidently focus my telescope on the spot and show the perched bird to boys at a camp in Muskoka.

We had one this morning in the same spot where one of the groups spotted it on Saturday.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Other birds:

Mallard (male)
Song Sparrow
Baltimore Oriole (male)
Mallard (female)

Some botany:

Philadelphia Fleabane (Erigeron philadelphicus)
Orchard Grass (Dactylis glomerata)
Honewort (Cryptotanenia canadensis)
Dame’s Rocket (Hesperis matronalis)
Hound’s-tongue (Cynoglossum officinale)
Hound’s-tongue (Cynoglossum officinale)
Hound’s-tongue (Cynoglossum officinale)
Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)
Ground-ivy (Glechoma hederecia)
Flowering Cherry
White Mulberry (Morus alba)
Great Burdock (Arctium lappa)
Red Raspberry (Rubus strigosus)
Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea)
Yellow Avens (Geum aleppicum)
Spittlebug on Garlic Mustard
White Clover (Trifolium arvense)

Todays’ group:

MAILBOX

Hi Miles,

An update on the progress of the Manhattan balcony hawk family. All grown up and thriving!

https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fp%2FCebqrrPubgG%2F%3Figshid%3DZjhmMmE0MjU%3D&data=05%7C01%7C%7C1cfb7723c8b148709e6c08da47b624c7%7C84df9e7fe9f640afb435aaaaaaaaaaaa%7C1%7C0%7C637901144879780206%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJWIjoiMC4wLjAwMDAiLCJQIjoiV2luMzIiLCJBTiI6Ik1haWwiLCJXVCI6Mn0%3D%7C3000%7C%7C%7C&sdata=4vFKW7%2Bcne%2B7MaPukAANT9t%2F%2FKgV8fs5ieKDQRhijaY%3D&reserved=0

NATURE POETRY

The work is done; no more to man is given;
The grateful Farmer trusts the rest to Heaven.  – Robert Bloomfield, of planting (1766–1823)

Miles Hearn

3 thoughts on “Hummingbird at Thomson Park: June 6, 2022

  1. Sophie Popielak

    All great pics, however, the peak, the length of the peak of the hummingbird is what really amazed me.

    Reply
  2. Catherine Gautry

    Beautiful pictures, as always! I especially like the one of the Philadelphia Fleabane with petals curled up in a kind of circular way. Thank you, Miles!

    Reply
  3. Leigh

    Your grandfather’s dependable hummingbird reminds me of a similar experience at a friend’s cottage on Lake of Bays. For a few years, as we enjoyed dinner or drinks on the screened verandah, hummingbirds would swoop in and hover at the precise spot (exact lat / long / altitude) where she USED to hang a feeder. (She removed the feeder for good after a bear got too interested in it.) Google says hummingbirds live 3-5 years. Clearly their memory and “GPS” skills stay with them.

    Reply

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