Greater Black-backed Gull by the Unwin Ave. Bridge: Dec. 17, 2022

There is a bridge on Unwin Ave. near the entrance to Tommy Thompson Park which is a good spot to see a variety of waterfowl in winter.

Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup (female)
Greater Scaup (male)
Mallard, American Wigeon (female), Scaup, Common Goldeneye
Common Goldeneye (male) and Gadwall
Mallards
Greater Scaup
Mallard (female), American Wigeon (female), Scaup, American Coot
Mallards
Gadwall (male)
Mallards, American Wigeon (female), Scaup, American Coot, Gadwall (female)
Common Goldeneye (male)

In with all of these was a Greater Black-backed Gull. A Ring-billed Gull measures about 19 inches. A Herring Gull: 23 – 26 inches and a Greater Black-backed Gull: 28 – 31 inches.

This handsome, big gull breeds along the coasts of the Atlantic Provinces and occasionally winters around the Great lakes.

Greater Black-backed Gull
Greater Black-backed Gull
Greater Black-backed Gull with fish
Greater Black-backed Gull
Greater Black-backed Gull
Greater Black-backed Gull
Greater Black-backed Gull

At one point, wet snow began to fall so I put some seed on a rock to see who might come by.

Northern Cardinal (female)
American Tree Sparrow
Northern Cardinal (male)
Northern Cardinal (female)
American Tree Sparrow
Northern Cardinal (male) and American Tree Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow

MAILBOX

Thought of you when i saw this fabulous photo collage praising the beauty of winter tree buds 

NATURE POETRY

Here delicate snow-stars, out of the cloud,
Come floating downward in airy play.   – William Cullen Bryant (1794–1878)

Miles Hearn

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