Time flies. This morning was the final walk of the TDSB fall session which began back on September 10.
It was overcast, chilly and occasionally windy but a good-sized group appeared.



I have seen some interesting birds in Etobicoke Creek here including a Red-throated Loon.

This morning, there was a male Green-winged Teal.

For weeks, I have been seeing female teals in various locations.

The male, as you can see, is quite different.



Other birds:





















Park views:


Some botany:






NATURE POETRY
I caught this morning morning’s minion, king-
dom of daylight’s dauphin, dapple-dawn-drawn Falcon, in his riding
Of the rolling level underneath him steady air, and striding
High there, how he rung upon the rein of a wimpling wing
In his ecstasy! then off, off forth on swing,
As a skate’s heel sweeps smooth on a bow-bend: the hurl and gliding
Rebuffed the big wind. My heart in hiding
Stirred for a bird, – the achieve of, the mastery of the thing!
Brute beauty and valour and act, oh, air, pride, plume, here
Buckle! AND the fire that breaks from thee then, a billion
Times told lovelier, more dangerous, O my chevalier!
No wonder of it: shéer plód makes plough down sillion
Shine, and blue-bleak embers, ah my dear,
Fall, gall themselves, and gash gold-vermilion. – Gerard Manley Hopkins
Miles Hearn
Wow, that was a longer than usual poem, and a good one, as usual! A grand finale. And more “winter ducks”–and buds!–and hopefully owls, both Snow (hopefully!) and others, on winter walks, by post and/or walk. I can hardly wait!