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<\/a><\/p>\nGolden-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.<\/p>\n
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!<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Hermit Thrushes have quite striking stripes on their fronts and a tail with a rusty top.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Several Willow and similar trees are blooming and leafing out.<\/p>\n When I couldn’t find birds and bugs, I tried to get photos of the swinging branches.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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!<\/p>\n This patch of Bloodroot was a pleasant surprise! It was mingled with a big patch of garden escapes and I nearly missed it.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n Not all of the birds were new in town.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n White-breasted Nuthatches have paired up.<\/p>\n A rather lonely looking male Mallard was sleeping in the creek.<\/p>\n This Black-capped Chickadee kept a veil of Buckthorn between me and it, blurring the photos.<\/p>\n A few Dark-eyed Juncos are still here. They usually move north before May.<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n This Woodpecker is busily digging out a possible nest hole. Great to see!<\/p>\n I had hoped to find a Mourning Cloak butterfly like my relative but my insects were much less showy.<\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nTrees Leaf and Leaves Unfurl and Buds Blossom<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nWinter Birds Breathe a Sigh of Relief: and Get Busy<\/h2>\n
<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\n<\/a><\/p>\nA First Insect of Spring<\/h2>\n