Pipit and a Bluebird (!!) at Col. Sam Smith Park: Nov. 17, 2022

Whenever I walk along the shores at Col. Sam Smith Park in November, I am always on the lookout for an American Pipit. These little birds, which look a bit like Yellow-rumped warblers, are on their way from the Hudson Bay region to the southern USA and Central America.

We had a small flock this morning and I was able to photograph this one:

American Pipit
American Pipit
American Pipit

I certainly wasn’t anticipating seeing an eastern Bluebird. These little beauties, which were common in the Toronto area until the 1920’s arrival of the more aggressive Starling, are usually seen in more rural areas where they sit on fence posts in grassy areas with scattered trees. One found a wooden bench to perch on and then allowed us a close look as it moved from tree to tree.

Eastern Bluebird (male)
Eastern Bluebird (male)
Eastern Bluebird (male)
Eastern Bluebird (male)
Eastern Bluebird (male)
Eastern Bluebird (male)

Other birds:

Downy Woodpecker (female)
Bufflehead (female)
American Robin
Dark-eyed Junco
Mallards
House Sparrow (female)
Common Goldeneye (male)
Northern Cardinal (female)
Pied-billed Grebe
American Wigeon (male)
Canada Geese
Pied-billed Grebe
American Wigeon (male)
American Black Ducks
Double-crested Cormorant
American Wigeon (male)
Northern Cardinal (male)
Ring-billed Gulls
Long-tailed Ducks (female)
Mallards

Today’s group:

NATURE SONG LYRIC

And when he sings to you
Though you’re deep in blue
You will see a ray of light creep through
And so remember this, life is no abyss
Somewhere there’s a bluebird of happiness – Edward Heyman 1934

Miles Hearn

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