Hermit Thrush / Catharus guttatus

I don't know "small birds" very well at all, especially when it comes to things like Thrushes and Warblers. Also, I so rarely see either, and this was a lucky, distant shot. Would really appreciate any help - thanks!

"An unassuming bird with a lovely, melancholy song, the Hermit Thrush lurks in the understories of far northern forests in summer and is a frequent winter companion across much of the country. It forages on the forest floor by rummaging through leaf litter or seizing insects with its bill. The Hermit Thrush has a rich brown upper body and smudged spots on the breast, with a reddish tail that sets it apart from similar species in its genus." From AllAboutBirds.

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Hermit_Thrush/id

Yesterday, 16 September 2015, I called in at the Reader Rock Garden after my volunteer shift. There seemed to be more flowers in bloom than on my previous visit. Also quite a few distant small birds flitting from tree to tree at one point They were impossible to see well enough to get photos or IDs - this was the only bird I managed to photograph.

Ha, I overslept by almost an hour this morning, 17 September 2015, which was not good, as I had a birding walk with friends to get to. Rather a mad dash, though I did make sure I at least rapidly posted my "daily three" before I went.

This morning, our walk started (after the first heavy frost of the season last night) at the Bow Valley Ranch area in Fish Creek Park. We then drove to the end of the park road, to walk in the Boat Launch area. Perhaps the highlight of the morning was seeing a female Pileated Woodpecker, plus 35 American White Pelicans and 20 Double-crested Cormorants.

After the walk, I decided to drive SW of the city and W of Millarville. A few years ago, after a day of botanizing someone's land, we called in (with permission) at a nearby field to see a wonderful display of Amanita mushrooms. We don't get the red ones (Fly Agaric) with small white spots here, but we do occasionally see bright yellow ones and sometimes even an almost orange one. I was so longing to see one again and thought it was worth the drive just to check. Well, I found the field easily, but had forgotten about the sign there that said No Trespassing, No shooting, Patrol Area. I wasn't sure what Patrol Area meant, but I could almost imagine several Dobermans being released to attack me. I never go anywhere that has a No Trespassing sign, anyway. So, I walked through the trees along the edge of the field and tried to peer into the field, being careful of the barbed-wire fence. I caught sight of a cluster of maybe three fungi that looked like they were Amanitas, though they were fully "opened" and I couldn't see any spots from that distance. Got a lousy photo, but maybe it will be enough for ID confirmation of correction sometime. It has been a lovely, sunny day today, with a high of 15C, and the scenery I drove through was beautiful. Thankfully, the orange Engine Warning light didn't come on in my car at all.