White-throated Sparrow at Humber Bay: Oct. 7, 2022

White-throated Sparrows have a very recognizable spring song which I learned as “Dear, sweet Canada, Canada, Canada.” Quebeckers hear it as “Mon cher Fréderic, Fréderic, Fréderic.” New Englanders hear it as “It’s Sam Peabody, Peabody, Peabody.”

There are many white-throats about these days as they head south. We had this one at Humber Bay.

White-throated Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow

In spring the colours are much more vivid.

White-throated sparrow
White-throated Sparrow

Other birds:

Great Blue Heron

Hooded Merganser
Hooded Mergansers
Great Egret
Hooded Mergansers
Song Sparrow
Mallard (female)
Mallard (male)
Herring Gull (juvenile)
Great Blue Heron
Double-crested Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Palm Warbler
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Great Blue Heron
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Great Blue Heron
Mute Swan
Northern Mockingbird
Ring-billed Gull (juvenile)
Mute Swan
Northern Mockingbird

Some botany:

Staghorn Sumac (Rhus typhina)
Black Cherry (Prunus serotina)
Red-osier Dogwood (Cornus sericea)
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus inserta)

NATURE POETRY

The beech is dipped in wine; the shower
Is burnished; on the swinging flower    
The latest bee doth sit.
The low sun stares through dust of gold.
And o’er the darkened heath and wold
The large ghost-moth doth flit.
In every orchard Autumn stands,
With apples in his golden hands.               – Alexander Smith, Scottish poet (1829–67)

Miles Hearn

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