Animal Encounter

Red Lily beetles plague my Toronto Tiger Lilies

For the past several years, starting each spring and into the summer months, I have been pestered by Red Lily Beetles (Lilioceris lilii) on my Tiger Lilies . It is actually the beetles’ shiny, hard forewings that are red. These pretty little beetles stand out quite well on green plants, but they are a trick to catch and squash. I declare that I think they see me coming because, often, as I move in on their position, they drop to the earth below and essentially disappear in the shadows. It doesn’t help that, this year, I spread red cedar chips in all my gardens, so imagine trying to find a red bug on that red surface. Read more

Gray Treefrogs At Lower Reesor Pond

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After a stretch of very rainy weather, Bob and I were desperate to get out in the field, and nothing pleases us more than to explore a new trail or go birdwatching in a habitat never before visited by ourselves. Such was the case when we targeted Lower Reesor Pond, a wetland in northeast Toronto, in Ontario, in Rouge National Urban Park. Our outing, as usual, was prolonged but immensely rewarding. Amongst other birds and animals seen that day were several Eastern Gray Treefrogs. Read more

Black Bear Mom and Cubs Eat Blueberries In Algonquin Park

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This past summer, Bob and I once again found ourselves in Algonquin Provincial Park here in central Ontario. We had various objectives during our two-day visit to the area, and one of them was to pick wild blueberries. Having heard that the crop was more plentiful than usual, we were eager to put ourselves to the task of harvesting a few. It was quite a surprise to find that an American Black Bear and two cubs were sharing the blueberry patch with us. Read more

Cow Moose And Calf In Algonquin Provincial Park

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photograph of moose drinking in a swamp in Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario.

On a drive into Algonquin Provincial Park, a few kilometres just inside the West Gate, Bob picked out a cow and calf in the ditch where they were nibbling on tender shoots and having a drink of water. Read more

Raccoon Mother With Cubs Nesting In A Toronto Tree

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Raccoon Mother With Cubs Nesting In A Toronto Tree

Bob and I had taken a drive down to Queen Street East here in Toronto to check out the Cliff Swallows nesting at the Harris Water Treatment Plant. On the way home, we decided to make a quick stop at a shoreline City Park where we caught up with some Baltimore Orioles and a number of Bank Swallows, but not much else was happening there that afternoon. Then, another birdwatcher took us “under her wing” and escorted us to a tree where a family of Raccoons (Procyon lotor) was known to be nesting. Read more

A Groundhog explores the marsh at Milliken Park

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On a spring day, Bob and I visited Milliken Park, in Toronto, to see what’s new. In light of all the migrating birds returning from the south, we thought perhaps we might spot some warblers or sparrows. Instead, Bob observed an Opossum scurrying for its den just as a heavy downpour descended upon us, while I was witness to a Groundhog (Marmota monax) dashing across an open expanse of grass and then taking cover in thick underbrush. Read more

Moose enjoys spring sunshine in Algonquin Provincial Park

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On a visit to Algonquin Provincial Park in Ontario, Bob and I were thrilled to discover a Moose (Alces alces) in a boggy area just to the side of the highway. It was a nice spring day, so the Moose was encouraged to leave the protection of the forest and soak up the warmth of the bright sunshine. Read more

Our Hike In Ashford Castle’s Mystical Forest

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photograph of the ancient oak forest at Ashford Castle near Cong, County Mayo, Ireland.

The estate property of Ashford Castle boasts a dense, healthy forest thanks to the efforts of previous owners Sir Benjamin Lee Guinness and his eldest son, Lord Ardilaun. Sir Benjamin had thousands of trees planted during his occupancy of the castle after acquiring it in 1852, and in later years, when the estate passed to Arthur, he expanded the plantings to create extensive woodlands. Read more

Elk In A Snowy Meadow Near Lake Louise

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One afternoon during our stay in Banff National Park, Alberta, Bob and I decided to take a drive from Lake Louise along the Bow Valley Parkway, a quieter highway than the Trans Canada, only two-lane versus four. We were in hopes of spotting some wildlife and were on the lookout for elk in particular. Seeing another vehicle pulled to the side of the road, we slowed to have a look. At first, we didn’t notice the Elk laying in the snow but rather thought the tourists were admiring yet another beautiful mountain peak. Read more

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Red Lily beetles plague my Toronto Tiger Lilies

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Raccoon Mother With Cubs Nesting In A Toronto Tree

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