Boreal Chickadees In Algonquin Provincial Park

A Boreal chickadee checks out the suet feeder in Algonquin Park

One winter day, Bob and I drove into   Algonquin Provincial Park,   in Ontario, with plans to walk the Spruce Bog Boardwalk Trail.  It is there that we sighted numerous Boreal Chickadees. Read more

Our Tour of Chateau de la Bourdaisiere’s Award-winning Gardens

An image of the rose and vegetable gardens at Chateau de la Bourdaisiere in the Loire Valley, France.

An image of the main entrance gate to Chateau de la Bourdaisiere in the Loire Valley, France.

Chateau de la Bourdaisiere in the Commune of Montlouis-sur-Loire, in France, is elegantly situated on a 54-hectare estate of combined gardens and mixed woodlots in the famed Loire Valley.  Having changed hands many, many times over the centuries, it was lastly bought, in 1991, by the brothers Prince Philippe Maurice and Prince Louis Albert de  Broglie. Read more

Pileated Woodpeckers sighted near Oxtongue Lake

Female Pileated Woodpecker pecks at a tree

A closeup of the red head of a Pileated Woodpecker near Oxtongue Lake

One winter, Bob and I took advantage of the lovely ski trails at Oxtongue Lake to explore the woods along the west side of Patterson’s Bay.  It is there that we located two Pileated Woodpeckers, a male and a female, working industriously for their breakfast.  In this closeup, the bright red pointed crest is really conspicuous. Read more

Chateau de la Bourdaisiere A Magnificent French Castle

An image of Chateau de la Bourdaisiere in the Loire Valley in France.

An image of the main entrance gate to Chateau de la Bourdaisiere in the Loire Valley, France.

One of my hopes on our trip to France was to spend a night in a “real” castle like Chateau de la Bourdaisiere.  By happenstance we learned about this castle when we came upon a little tourist information booth along a country road in the Loire Valley.  It happened to be staffed by an English-speaking young woman.  Read more

Snowy Owl Sighting At Frenchman’s Bay in Ontario

Snowy Owl sits on icey Frenchman's Bay - Ontario - Canada

After one failed attempt, Bob and I made our way back to the shores of Frenchman’s Bay in Pickering, Ontario, to see if we could spot the Snowy Owl that has been making its stay there during the past winter.  We drove to a little park on the east shore of the bay, and started scanning with our binoculars. Read more

A Red-Bellied Woodpecker at Lynde Shores Conservation Area

A Red-Bellied Woodpecker at Lynde Shores Conservation Area

Red-bellied Woodpecker - takes a break after eats snow - Lynde Shores - Whitby - Ontario

With a gusty northwest wind blowing, Bob and I headed to Lynde Shores Conservation Area in Whitby, Ontario.  We wondered if the Red-bellied Woodpecker was still lingering in the woods there, and sure enough, I heard its repeated chiff-chiff and rolling churrr before actually spotting the Woodpecker on a nearby tree. Read more

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