Signs of Spring in South West Mississauga

Like everyone else, my family is staying home as much as possible this spring. I have gone for some walks, staying well back from any passersby, through my closest (walkable from home) park. Although it is mostly playing fields and cultivated grass, there is a small section of remnant woodlot along a polluted creek. I had not been down the trail since the Ash trees all died. I was impressed at how much work local volunteers have done planting new shrubs and trees. There is still a huge amount of Periwinkle, and many thickets of Buckthorn and what looks like Honeysuckle, but there are some native shrubs and trees, too. Here’s what I found during a few walks at the beginning of April. These signs of spring were truly welcome given the barrage of gloom.

First Spring Migrants Fly Briskly Back into Mississauga

Photo of Golden Crowned Kinglet TP on NaturalCrooksDotCom

Golden-crowned Kinglets occasionally over-winter in Mississauga. This one seemed in pretty well-fed condition so I suspect it migrated back from better hunting grounds. It was, in usual Kinglet fashion, flitting madly from twig to branch to stem and fluttering in a hover to snatch food. Trying to get a photo was great practice for muscles that have weakened and need improvement before the arrival of the waves of warblers.

Photo of Golden Crowned Kinglet Dive on NaturalCrooksDotCom

Photo of Golden Crowned Kinglet V on NaturalCrooksDotCom

Photo of Song Sparrow Ground on NaturalCrooksDotCom

This Song Sparrow, not the one singing near the foot bridge, was impersonating a wren. It was quickly and secretively moving under fallen branches and low dense bushes. Having seen a Winter Wren a few days before out the kitchen window, I was tricked into thinking wrens. When I finally got a clear line of focus, I found a good-sized Sparrow. Oops!

Photo of Hermit Thrush TP on NaturalCrooksDotCom

I had a Hermit Thrush in our yard in January, so this one may actually have spent the winter here. Either way, I love these round-bellied birds. They remind me of young Robins, which are another type of Thrush.

Photo of Hermit Thrush Face On TP on NaturalCrooksDotCom

Hermit Thrushes have quite striking stripes on their fronts and a tail with a rusty top.

Photo of Brown Creeper on NaturalCrooksDotCom

One day I was sure I would not see anything. As I back tracked up the trail, a bird flew quickly to the base of a trunk in front of me and started climbing. I was very happy to meet my first Brown Creeper of the year. Although I stayed in the area for a while to see if it was part of a flock, I only found the one bird.

Trees Leaf and Leaves Unfurl and Buds Blossom

Photo of Multiflora Rose Hips Leaves on NaturalCrooksDotCom

Although neither of these are native species, I still thought the combination of small bright red Multiflora Rose hips and leaves of a spring bush (possibly Honeysuckle, Privet or Buckthorn) made a nice bright spot in the grey-brown bush.

Photo of Trout Lily Leaf TP on NaturalCrooksDotCom

Many Trout Lily leaves are up. I don’t know if there will be lots of flowers later or not: sometimes they produce only leaves for years. They are probably Yellow Trout Lily but we do have White ones in Mississauga too, so I will wait and see.

Photo of Greening Leaves on NaturalCrooksDotCom

Several Willow and similar trees are blooming and leafing out.

Photo of Willow TP on NaturalCrooksDotCom

When I couldn’t find birds and bugs, I tried to get photos of the swinging branches.

Photo of Staghorn Sumac TP on NaturalCrooksDotCom

The Staghorn Sumac still has lots of fruit, just like the rose bushes. It was a pretty mild winter and the local over-wintering birds didn’t have to strip everything bare.

Photo of Violets Blue TP on NaturalCrooksDotCom

I haven’t posted photos of the garden-escaped Scilla and Lungworts, but these Violets could be garden escapes or natives. I don’t know anything about Violets so I have no clue!

Photo of Bloodroot TP on NaturalCrooksDotCom

This patch of Bloodroot was a pleasant surprise! It was mingled with a big patch of garden escapes and I nearly missed it.

Photo of Bloodroot 2 TP on NaturalCrooksDotCom

They may be a remnant of a wild population, or they may be escapes from a “native wildflower” garden. Either way, they were beautiful. They still have the leaves protectively wrapped around the stems.

Photo of Loyalist Creek TP on NaturalCrooksDotCom

Most of the area is still dormant. Views like this made me wish the creek was actually healthy. Most of it, though, is moving between wire gabion cages and through sewer pipe. I’m sure the salt content must be very high in the spring.

Winter Birds Breathe a Sigh of Relief: and Get Busy

Not all of the birds were new in town.

Photo of Northern Cardinal Male TP on NaturalCrooksDotCom

There were several pairs of Cardinals. I know because they spent a lot of time singing at each other and even driving each other away from contested territory. Either side of the strip of wood is back yards, so there is lots of room for multiple pairs to successfully nest.

Photo of White Breasted Nuthatch Odd Bill 3 on NaturalCrooksDotCom

White-breasted Nuthatches have paired up.

Photo of Mallard TP on NaturalCrooksDotCom

A rather lonely looking male Mallard was sleeping in the creek.

Photo ofBlack Capped Chickadee TP on NaturalCrooksDotCom

This Black-capped Chickadee kept a veil of Buckthorn between me and it, blurring the photos.

Photo of Dark Eyed Junco TP on NaturalCrooksDotCom

A few Dark-eyed Juncos are still here. They usually move north before May.

Photo of American Robin TP on NaturalCrooksDotCom

Lots of Robins over-wintered this year. This one could have migrated south or not. It’s hard to tell once they put the suitcases away.

Photo of Woodpecker Nest Hole TP on NaturalCrooksDotCom

This Woodpecker is busily digging out a possible nest hole. Great to see!

A First Insect of Spring

I had hoped to find a Mourning Cloak butterfly like my relative but my insects were much less showy.

Photo of Flying Insect TP on NaturalCrooksDotCom

A group of these flying insects were checking out a few logs and shrubs. I hate to say it but the area may have been “watered” by a passing dog.

Either way, if these insects are edible, there were several birds around that would have liked to meet them.

Even Starlings Can Be Welcome

On the walk home, the only new birds were some Rock Doves (or Pigeons) and a Red-tailed Hawk. Then I saw a small flock of European Starlings. They are actually pretty birds, even if undesired by most.

Photo of European Starlings TP on NaturalCrooksDotCom

Trying to avoid being a “speciest” I have included an unflattering photo of them too.

I hope if you get out for a walk this spring you can see some migrants or ephemerals. We all need some cheer in our lives.

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2 thoughts on “Signs of Spring in South West Mississauga

  1. Spring comes late in Rapid City, SD. Believe it or not, one of the truest signs is the return of the flock of turkey vultures that roosts along Rapid Creek on the west side of town. The first sight of bulbs poking up makes me smile, but we have a long way to go!

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