A Walk Along the Mill Race

17 April, 2026 

     We were joined by Victoria for a pleasant stroll along the Mill Race, hoping for a few spring migrants. The weather was a little cool, but not unpleasant.

     It was no surprise that two of the first birds we saw were Blue Jay (Cyanocitta cristata) and Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) - both resident species.

     Bracket fungi (family Polyporaceae) hold eternal appeal.

     A Baltimore Oriole's (Icterus galbula) nest from last year still looked in good shape.

     Our first bona fide migrant was a Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus), an exceedingly attractive bird.

     Turkey Tail (Trametes versicolor) is one of our most common bracket fungi.

     A Red-bellied Woodpecker (Melanerpes carolinus) was having its feathers ruffled by the wind.

     It turned to face into the wind and its plumage was sleeked down appreciably.

     New life is emerging in a rotting stump.

     Everything in the living world is recycled and nothing is wasted; a stark contrast to the way humans abuse the planet, discarding waste at every turn, much of it toxic and harmful to all life.

     I doubt that many people pay attention to Broad-leaved Dock (Rumex obtusifolius), but I would invite you to take a look at it.

     There is much to be admired in this hardy plant.

     Marsh Marigolds (Caltha palustris) are on the verge of blooming. I can hardly wait.

     The same may be said of Yellow Iris (Iris pseudacorus).

     To see a White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis) evokes a response akin to seeing a favourite child. No matter how often the encounter, no matter the mood, to share the moment always evokes intense pleasure.

     A male Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) is a splendid fellow indeed.

     A few Brown Creepers (Certhia americana) overwinter with us, but most are migratory and return when the weather is more gentle.

     A Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) is always chary to display its eponymous crown, but this individual gave us the merest glimpse.

     Mosses (phylum Bryophyta) were widely used by Indigenous people as soft material for baby diapers, and I imagine it was very effective. It looks plush and inviting in its forest home.

     One day when your curiosity overwhelms you, examine it through a loupe or other magnification device, and what you see will amaze you.

     At the end of the trail, just before crossing Three Bridges Road, we saw another Downy Woodpecker.

     A Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus) was no surprise.

     The Conestogo River, swelled by snowmelt and heavy rains formed a torrent that washed over the bridge, resulting in the closure of the road.

     A Red-bellied Woodpecker remained indifferent to this turn of events.

     An Eastern Chipmunk (Tamias striatus) scampered wherever dry ground permitted.

     Friendly people had left peanuts and that's an opportunity not to be missed.

     On the way up to the dam we were serenaded by a couple of Song Sparrows (Melospiza melodia).

     Double-crested Cormorants (Nannopterum auritum) had claimed a tree as their own.

     Several Canada Geese (Branta canadensis) patrolled along the opposite shore; a couple of them seemed to be nesting but they were concealed by grass and rushes and not amenable to photography.

     More views of the swollen, surging, roiling,  malevolent river.

     Water, essential to all life on Earth, can become lethal in an instant.

     Violets (genus Viola) are evidence of early spring.

     A Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) patiently worked still pools in small, sheltered coves.

     An American Robin (Turdus migratorius) was already occupied with the important work of producing the next generation.

     A Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula) peeked out from behind a wall.

     This robin, clad impeccably as befits a bird in spring, was perhaps the father of the young in the nest we saw earlier.

     It had been a great walk.

Staggering Facts

96% of the mass of all mammals on Earth is humans and our domestic livestock

Only 4% remains for everything else

70% of all birds are domesticated poultry

And the human population of the world continues to grow