The canopy in vivid colour, October 25th.
Rain and cold temperatures on October 30th took down many of the leaves. The canopy has lost much of its colour and will soon have the monochrome palette of November.
You can also see in the photo below, taken October 31, that the city is in the process of removing and replacing the floodlights at Labatt Stadium. We were alerted to this change by city officials. They hope that, since the new light standards will be lower than the former ones, the Ospreys will adopt the low nest platform, seen just to the right of the stadium and parking area. They have been advised that raising the level of the nesting platform would make it more attractive to the Ospreys, but we doubt that the city will take this advice. We will see what happens when the Ospreys return in the spring…
On November 1st, we awoke to a dusting of snow. There were flurries during the day before the snow finally disappeared.
The transition from summer into fall has been apparent in our photos and on our walks over the past two months
Early September was still warm. On September 4, folks were fishing on the river. A Spiny Softshell Turtle was sunning on a rock. Two Common Mergansers searched the water for fish or invertebrates. These were likely immature mergansers, born this year and migrating farther south for the winter from their northern breeding grounds. Nearby, an immature America Goldfinch sheltered in the shade of a sunflower.
In September and beyond, wildflowers were still in bloom and some insects were still busy.
Red Admiral on New England Aster, September 14, 2023
There were still many wildflowers in bloom on September 14th: Broad-leaved Goldenrod, Virgin’s Bower (with seed heads), Cut-leaved Coneflower, Pale Jewelweed, and asters.
On September 29th, there were still blooms in the Blackfriars community gardens. Common Eastern Bumble Bees were active. The ornamental grasses along the walkway added some colour.
On October 5th, asters and fleabane were in bloom but Staghorn Sumac was displaying its rainbow fall colours.
By October 28th, the leaves had started to fall, but there was still plenty of colour to be found. The White Ash leaves often have a tinge of burgundy. The maples in these photos are likely Freeman Maples, a hybrid between Red Maple and Silver Maple.
Rolling Stones Covers
For a rocking weekend:
And because she does such a great job on several Rolling Stones songs, here is one more Margot Cotton.
And a bonus track with Jimmy Fallon and Keith Richards.