White-crowned Sparrow shows up...

Photo by Barry Wallace

A White-crowned Sparrow has finally showed up in the backyard,  in this late-starting (weather-wise) spring.  Now, the one and only (so far) White-throated Sparrow will have some company.   Below is a photo I took,  a little later in the spring a couple of years ago, of the two different sparrow species side-by-side.   They make for an interesting pair, I think.

   

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Barry Wallace

Spring grosbeak welcomed...

Photo by Barry Wallace

Linda and I don't get many grosbeaks in the backyard, but can usually count on one or two each spring and at a few other times in the summer and fall.   We had a Rose-breasted Grosbeak show up this past Friday but its visit was short as it didn't want to compete with starlings at the feeders.  They are such a wonderful sight when on the wing.  Those flashing black and white wings, and red throats, are so eye-catching and compelling.

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Barry Wallace

Bird list at Koffler Scientific Reserve

    Yellow-rumped Warbler - Photo by Barry Wallace

I noticed a few days ago that the official list of birds seen and recorded at the Koffler Scientific Reserve at Jokers Hill, on Dufferin Street, stands at 163 species.   The list includes many species of warblers, such as the Yellow-rumped Warbler (photo above) which I photographed at Jokers Hill, in 2009 while attending a naturalists training course.   The list of 163 species is impressive and is the work of many qualified birders over a span of 43 years.  Of course, KSR at Jokers Hill is located on the Oak Ridges Moraine, a landform which must be preserved in perpetuity ... for the birds and for us.

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Barry Wallace

The gatehouse at Marylake...

                                                                                                Photos by Barry Wallace

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Barry

Wallace

Last Sunday afternoon at Humber Trails...

                                                                                                        Photos by Barry Wallace

Bloodroot

Red Osier Dogwood

Massive Oak

River refuse

Beaver's been busy

Peaceful non-flooding Humber River

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Barry Wallace

Horse blankets in May...

Photo by Barry Wallace

 There are lots of horses out and about in King still wearing blankets in early May; begging the question: where is spring?

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Barry Wallace

Last year's catnip still potent...

 Photos by Barry Wallace

We retrieved last year's catnip from the garden shed and set it out to see if it would revive itself.   Jamie, our cat, was all over it in minutes.   He sniffed it, rubbed the dead stems with his face, ate some of them, sneezed and shook himself silly.

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Barry Wallace