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!