Every year from as soon as early September to as late as November, Chinook Salmon, Atlantic Salmon, and Coho Salmon voyage upstream from Lake Ontario to lay their eggs in shallow water. It varies from year to year, but the salmon run occurs in the window of fall, where temperatures sit between highs of 18 C and lows of 3 C. (blogTO)

During each walk from now on at Beechwood / Don Valley, I will take groups to hopefully see this phenomena. This morning we saw several salmon trying to climb over this man-made waterfall.

Thank-you to Eugene Knapik from this morning’s group for this photo:

Some birds:

Area scenes:

Some botany:

Today’s group:

MAILBOX

Hi Miles,

Could you please show a picture of a Silver Fox sometime in one of your blogs.  They are so impressive and not often seen. 

Miles note: a Silver Fox is a melanistic (unusual darkening of body tissues) version of a Red Fox.

NATURE POETRY

Take the fruit I give you, says the bending tree;
Nothing but a burden is it all to me.
Lighten ye my branches, let them toss in air.
Only leave me freedom, next year’s load to bear.    – Lucy Larcom (1824–93)

Miles Hearn