The World Through Our Lens
Photography of birds we have observed in the wild.
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
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
On a frigid yet sunny winter day, Bob and I ventured out to a forest in Whitby, Ontario, to see if we could spot one of the two Great Horned Owls that makes that forest it’s home. Read more
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
As another winter storm hit Toronto, many of us were, without a doubt, contemplating how we would weather the onslaught of another heavy snow. Well, this poor unfortunate Sharp-shinned hawk was not faring very well in my backyard as it looked for some unsuspecting prey. Birds seem to know when nasty weather is brewing, and this bird has been visiting my property frequently, likely hoping for an easy catch to sustain him while the blizzard unfolded. Read more
One winter, Bob and I went cross-country skiing on the Fen Lake Trail in Algonquin Provincial Park, in Ontario. As luck had it, we spotted two female Pileated Woodpeckers working industriously on the same tree in the depths of the forest. Pileated Woodpeckers are the largest woodpeckers you will find in the wilds of Ontario. Read more
With Arctic air being driven into Southern Ontario by a gusty wind right out of the north. Bob and I, nevertheless, seized the opportunity to go in search of a Northern Mockingbird, in Thickson’s Woods in Whitby, Ontario. Read more
On a bitterly cold January day with temperatures of -20 Celsius when the wind chill was factored in, Bob and I, drove out to Thickson’s Woods in Whitby, Ontario, because we had heard that two Great Horned Owls make their home in that unique small forest. As it turned out we didn’t find the Great Horned Owls, but did find this Barred Owl sitting in the woods. Read more
Late one fall, Bob and I hiked a new trail at Rouge National Urban Park, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. We were amazed at how remote it felt on the edge of a big city, and the Bufflehead ducks that are from the Arctic seemed right at home. Read more
