Friday, January 1, 2021

Short Hikes near Home

 December 31-January 1 2021


On December 31, we walked west on Banner to Stapledon, then entered the Greenbelt forest trail system.  We had not gone far before we saw lot of birds ahead in the trees - Bohemian Waxwings.





We also saw several robins and a Pileated Woodpecker in the same area.





We came to Graham Creek and followed it to the Bruce Pit, where many people were skating and playing hockey on the ice.





On January 1, we tooik a short drive to Skipton Road in Manordale, and parked at the end of Kirkstall Avenue beside Ben Franklin Park.  We entered the forest, then hiked all along the back of the houses on Kirkstall and Kelvin Crescent separated from busy Hunt Club Road, by a wooded artificial berm.  A few houses had feeders, but we did not see much beyond a few chickadees and a Northern Cardinal.





When we got to Sherry Lane Park, we took to the streets to head back via Majestic Drive.  At one point we noticed about 10 medium-sized birds in a crab apple tree still loaded with fruit.  My goodness, they were Pine Grosbeaks.  What a surprise!







So on both hikes, we had come upon some good unexpected birds.




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