Red-breasted Mergansers are Back: Oct. 20, 2022

Red-breasted Mergansers spend the cold weather months with us and can be seen regularly in the Toronto harbour and all along the lakeshore. In the breeding season, they can be found all over northern North America but rarely in our area.

This morning, near the Guild Inn, we were treated to the sight of hundreds of just-returning birds both diving for fish and flying.

Red-breasted Mergansers
Red-breasted Mergansers
Red-breasted Mergansers

Here are some close-ups from last winter:

Red-breasted Merganser (male)
Red-breasted Merganser (female)

Other birds:

American Robin
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
American Robin
Hairy Woodpecker (male)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Downy Woodpecker (male)
Song Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Song Sparrow

Some botany:

Polypores
White Ash (Fraxinus americana)
American Beech (Fagus grandifolia)
Hackberry (Celtis occidentalis)
Multiflora Rose (Rosa multiflora)
Basswood (Tilia americana)
Panicled Aster (Symphyotrichum lanceolatum)
New England Aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)
Heart-leaved Aster (Symphyotrichum cordifolium)
Spindletree (Euonymus europaea) also called Burning Bush
Amur Maple (Acer ginnala)
White Oak (Quercus alba)
Norway Maple (Acer platanoides)
Virginia Creeper (Parthenocissus inserta)
Sugar Maple (Acer saccharum)
Spindletree (Euonymus europaea) also called Burning Bush

Today’s group:

MAILBOX

Hi Miles,

I visited this rescue centre in Nova Scotia recently. This is a good example of what they do. Curious – what kind of physiotherapy do you give a Barred Owl with a broken wing? 😊

NATURE POETRY

Ruffling the colors of the forest leaves,
The winds make music as they come and go.   – John Critchley Prince (1808–66)

Miles Hearn

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