The Robin's Song

The robin sings before the dawn,

trusting that day will come.

I listen while lying sleepless

wondering if my heart will still beat

once his song is done.

2018

(from the book Discoveries In The Dark by Doris Potter)

© Doris Potter

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Wildlife and sights in the neighbourhood

One sees these signs in many windows in Quebec regarding COVID-19 (the novel coronavirus disease which began in 2019) and roughly translated it means "We will be fine".  I understand that in Ontario, people put teddy bears in their windows which pleases passing children. :-)

Because of the restrictions put in place to stay at home and only go out for solo walks or to get groceries and other essential supplies, I have been limiting my photographic excursions to a small area in my neighbourhood within the Montreal borough of Saint-Laurent.  Luckily for me, this area encompasses two college campuses.  I have explored these places before but never to any great extent.  The wildlife I have encountered these last few weeks has been amazing!  The most exceptional creature being a Wild Turkey!

Here is a sample of the wildlife I have been able to photograph (with varying degrees of success):

Wild Turkey

Hairy Woodpecker

Groundhog

Robin

Ring-billed Gull

Canada Geese

Turkey Vulture

Crow

Eastern Phoebe

Gray Squirrel

American Goldfinch (in changing plumage)

Downy Woodpecker

Eastern Cottontail

Song Sparrow

Cooper's Hawk

Others that I saw but didn't get an acceptable photograph: Killdeer and Cardinal.  

And last but not least, here is a photograph of the recent super Moon.  I guess I can't claim that it is in my neighbourhood (as the title implies) but it sure was a lovely sight from my window!

Keep well everyone!

Leucism in Animals

I've come across some interesting creatures while out with my camera!  

In the process I have learned of a term called "leucism".  Wikipedia describes it as follows: "Leucism is a condition in which there is partial loss of pigmentation in an animal resulting in white, pale, or patchy coloration of the skin, hair, feathers, scales or cuticle, but not the eyes.  Unlike albinism, it is caused by a reduction in multiple types of pigment, not just melanin."

More about leucistic birds can be learned at this site:

http://www.sibleyguides.com/2011/08/abnormal-coloration-in-birds-melanin-reduction/

Here are my photos of birds (with a couple of mammals thrown in at the end).

American Robin

Canada Goose

Slate-coloured Junco

Gray Squirrel

Raccoon

Common birds

Sometimes we overlook the beauty of what we consider to be "common". The birds depicted here all fall under that category but if we look closely, are they not quite exquisitely beautiful?

It's always a good idea to look at everyday things with "new" eyes once in awhile and thus appreciate what is right under our noses or outside our windows.


The starling

The sparrow

The robin