Deer Mouse and Merlin at Thomson Park: Oct. 6, 2022

Deer Mice are tiny – about 3 inches long. Even though they are found all over North America and into Mexico, I had never seen one until this little creature passed our trail. They feed on seeds, nuts, acorns and insects and store food just as squirrels do. Some live in forests, others in grasslands. They do not hibernate.

Deer Mouse
Deer Mouse
Deer Mouse

At one point, we saw a small raptor being harassed by crows and then landing far away high on a hydro tower. When I magnified the photos at home I can see that it is a Merlin.

Merlin
Merlin
Merlin
Merlin

Other birds:

Mallard (female)
American Robin
European Starlings
Yellow-rumped Warbler
American Robin
Dark-eyed Junco
White-breasted Nuthatch
Dark-eyed Junco
American Robin

Some botany:

White Vervain (Verbena urticifolia)
Forsythia (Forsythia intermedia)
Arrow-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum urophyllum)
Black Raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)
Riverbank Grape (Vitis riparia)
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus inserta)
Himalayan Balsam (Impatiens grandulifera)
Reed Canary Grass (Phalaris arundinacea)
Panicled Aster (Symphyotrichum lanceolatum)
White Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)
Tulip Tree (Liriodendron tulipifera)
Spindletree (Euonymus europaea) also called Burning Bush
Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica)
Linden (Tilia cordata)
Wild-cucumber (Echinocystis lobata)

Today’s group:

MAILBOX

This story in National Geographic originated from Baycrest Research and Teaching Hospital in Toronto.

https://www.nationalgeographic.co.uk/family/2022/10/can-bird-watching-improve-your-childs-memory

NATURE QUOTE

“I cannot endure to waste anything so precious as autumnal sunshine by staying in the house.” – Nathaniel Hawthorne

Miles Hearn

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