COMMON MERGANSER, COLONEL SAMUEL SMITH PARK, TORONTO, ON

    This was idendified as a male Common Merganser in eclipse or nonbreeding plumage (rather than a similar looking  Red-breasted Merganser) as follows:

• The bill near the base is thick vs. the thin bill of the Red-breasted Merganser.
• The brownish head contrasts sharply with the white chin, unlike the Red-breasted which is much more diffuse.
• This Common Merganser has the dark back and ragged crest on the head of a male.

FLOWERS AT ROSETTA McCLAIN GARDENS, SCARBOROUGH, TORONTO, ON

BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON FAMILY, STORMWATER TREATMENT PONDS, BLUFFER'S PARK, SCARBOROUGH, TORONTO, ON

   Here is a family of Black-crowned Night-Herons.  The first two photos are of the juvenile night-heron.  The third photo is of the juvenile with one of its parent's.  The last two photos are of the other parent.

DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, STORMWATER TREATMENT PONDS, BLUFFER'S PARK, SCARBOROUGH, TORONTO, ON

AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, ROSETTA McCLAIN GARDENS, SCARBOROUGH, TORONTO, ON

COMMON GRACKLE, ROSETTA McCLAIN GARDENS, SCARBOROUGH, TORONTO, ON

   This is probably a female Common Grackle as its tail is long but not keel shaped, as is the male's.

BLUE JAY, ROSETTA McCLAIN GARDENS, SCARBOROUGH, TORONTO, ON