Linear Trail, Cambridge, ON

23 October, 2025

      Predictably, Mallards (Anas platyrynchos) were easily found.

     You will note just left of centre in the picture a female Common Merganser (Merganser merganser). In fact there were several Common Mergansers, seemingly content to keep company with the Mallards.

     Goutweed (Aegopodium podagraria) was still green and glossy.

     Greater Celandine (Chelidonium majus) has finished blooming for the year.

     Water droplets on plants are nothing short of entrancing.

     There is a farm that abuts the trail and this curious bovine was peering through the chain link fence.

     A Cedar Waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum) perched high overhead.

     Angelicas (genus Angelica) are impressive plants, growing up to 2.5 metres tall.

     They are alleged to have medicinal value, but their primary commercial use is to flavour liqueurs and aquavit (e.g. Chartreuse, Bénédictine, Vermouth, and Dubonnet).

     This Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubsecens) was reluctant to emerge into the open.

     Most of the birds that day were high in the treetops; it's easy to see why a stiff neck sometimes accompanies a day's birding.

     A Hairy Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus villosus) refused to face us, but the broken red at the back of the head is a key identification feature of the male of the species.

     The day was chilly and Miriam had not brought gloves, so Victoria lent her one of hers.

     Now that's real friendship if you ask me!

     Another heifer was curious about the humans on the other side of the fence.

     Do you think she might have been curious at seeing two women with one glove apiece?

     It's always great to see a Canada Goose (Branta canadensis).

     Northern Cardinals (Cardinalis cardinalis) are bracing for the winter ahead.

     You see here how shallow are the roots of most trees, and how vulnerable they are to strong wind.

     Great Stinging Nettle (Urtica dioica) is a plant you don't want to mess with.

     Despite the sign, there are those who still do not pick up after their dog(s).

     As for the fine, I have never seen an enforcement officer, so I suspect that it is seldom, if ever, imposed and collected.

     A Belted Kingfisher (Megaceryle alcyon) proved once again that it has much more skill than the human fisherfolk who sometimes line the shore, and are seldom seen to catch anything.

     Here and there the colours of fall were still vibrant.

     The Speed River was tranquil.

     This river is actually at the end of its meander. In an area known as The Confluence it meets the Grand River and merges to form one.

     The Speed is in the foreground with the Grand snaking in from behind. Just to the left of the land jutting out, the two rivers join together. 

     Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis) and Double-crested Cormorants (Nannopterum auritus) found the confluence to their liking.

     It is always a pleasure to keep company with American Crows (Corvus brachyrynchos).

     A couple of Common Mergansers formed an honour guard as we made our way back to our cars.

     We were headed to Victoria's favourite noodle house for lunch. A bowl of hot, steaming noodles on a raw fall day seemed just the ticket for these three birders - and indeed it was!

A Morning with a Chinese Home School Group

“To raise a nature-bonded child is to raise a rebel, a dreamer, an innovator… someone who will walk their own verdant, winding path.” 

Nicolette Sowder

13 November, 2025

Linear Trail, Cambridge, ON

     Once a month I have the great pleasure of getting together with a group of children and their moms to engage in a little outdoor education. It speaks to their enlightened view of learning that they consider time spent in nature an important part of their curriculum.

     The mothers are delightful, fun to be with, kind and considerate, and the children are a model of enthusiasm, filled with the joy of life, yet attentive and anxious to learn.

     On this occasion, even three grandparents joined us to absorb a little of the outdoors.

     Josh was ready and willing to signal the entrance to the trail.

     Before embarking on our walk, I took a group picture to memorialize the event.

     Who would not be happy to be in the company of this jovial group?

     The colours of fall have not quite faded totally, and a fine burst of brilliant foliage was appreciated by everyone.

     At the Speed River the first birds we encountered were, almost predictably, Canada Geese (Branta canadensis). 

     They are familiar birds, but quite regal in their own way, and the members of a pair are faithful for life and devoted to each other.

     Mallards (Anas platyrynchos) were also present in small groups out on the water.

     A few of them quacked quite vociferously, no doubt saying "Good morning" to the children.

      All of the kids are observant and curious, and Theodore's keen eye spotted a piece of wood that had the distinctive contours of a duck.

     He took it a home as a unique souvenir of his walk along the river's edge.

     As might be expected, we got strung out a little from time to time.

      As we proceeded farther along the river, a couple of Great Blue Herons (Ardea herodias) flew alongside us, looking for all the world like a relic from the Cretaceous.

     One of the truly endearing aspects of this group is that the mothers encourage the children to be children. The pleasure of climbing a tree is eternal, reawakened in every generation, and should not be forbidden because it might pose a hazard. 

Photo: Penny Li

     Children should be adventurers and explorers, not cocooned in over-reaching concerns about a scrape or two.

     As a total aside, did you ever see anyone cuter than the little girl at the right? I still can't remember all the kids' names - but I am getting there.

     Several Ring-billed Gulls (Larus delawarensis) flew overhead.

     Some of the children ran ahead and rolled balls of snow to block the path.

     Soon they were joined by the others as a gesture of solidarity.

     I suspect they wanted to charge a toll to let us through, but they relented and pushed the snow aside. Phew!

     We were happy to see one female Common Merganser (Mergus merganser).

     At The Confluence, where the Speed and Grand Rivers unite, a squad of Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula), recently arrived from the north, was quite far out, but no less delightful.

     Before turning to head back to our vehicles we offered the kids a choice. Dawdle and play on the way, or walk briskly and move over to nearby Riverside Park to hand feed some chickadees. We received a unanimous vote for Riverside Park!

     And the birds were cooperative.

Photo: Penny Li

Photo: Penny Li

     House Sparrows (Passer domesticus) do not come to the hand, but are always ready to vacuum up any seed that has spilled from outstretched hands.

     Squirrels are not at all shy about getting their share - or even more than their share!

     An American Red Squirrel (Tamiascirus hudsonicus) guarded its stash against all comers.

 

Photo: Penny Li

     At one point four Blue Jays (Cyanocitta cristata) were in a bush barely more than arm's length away, and as soon as we placed some seed on the rail they came down to feed.

     A White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) was just a little hesitant to land on Josh's hand, but it came very close.

     High overhead a magnificent adult Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephala) showed us every aspect of its plumage.

     All the while, a Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) remained aloof to the activities going on around him.

     And happy children continued to feed the chickadees, keeping score of their success.

Photo: Penny Li

     It really doesn't get much better than that!