Three Singing Birds at the Island: Jan. 17, 2023

Bird song, in earnest, begins in April and continues well into June.

Even so, we heard a considerable amount of song this morning at the rainy Toronto Islands.

From the ferry, we could hear the “owl-omelet” calls of Long-tailed Ducks.

Long-tailed Ducks
Long-tailed Ducks
Long-tailed Duck (male)
Long-tailed Duck (male)
Long-tailed Duck (male)

Near birdfeeders we could hear the loud “chirps” of House Sparrows.

Black-capped Chickadee and House Sparrow (male)
House Sparrow (male)

And then, just three or four times, we heard the clear “tea kettle, tea kettle” of the Carolina Wren. This 5 – 6 inch long bird is at the northern limit of its range here but spends winter with us.

Carolina Wren
Carolina Wren
Carolina Wren

Other birds:

American Robin
Red-breasted Merganser (female)
Mute Swan with Red-breasted Mergansers
Rock Pigeons
Mallard (male)
Common Goldeneyes (female)
Mallard (female)
Common Goldeneyes
Northern Cardinal (male)
Northern Cardinal (female)
Northern Cardinal (male)
Black-capped Chickadee
Canada Geese
Downy Woodpecker

Today’s group:

MAILBOX

 I just noticed that PBS Nature on Wednesday this week is going to focus on a 500 year old Scots Pine in the Scottish Highlands. I’m planning to record and watch it. Perhaps some of your regular walkers will be interested.

WILDHEART | About | Nature | PBS

NATURE POETRY

January is here,
With eyes that keenly glow—
A frost-mailed warrior striding
A shadowy steed of snow.         – Edgar Fawcett (1847–1904

Miles Hearn

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