Long-tailed Ducks At Toronto’s Tommy Thompson Park
Toronto’s Tommy Thompson Park is revered as a magnificent location for birdwatching. On one visit, Bob and I saw many species of birds, among them a pair of Long-tailed Ducks. Read more
A Yellow-rumped Warbler At Ontario’s Oxtongue Lake
Bob and I visited the community of Oxtongue Lake, in Ontario one spring to help celebrate my dad’s 90th birthday. Being early in May, there was lots of activity in the trees with migrating birds returning to their nesting grounds. Along Oxtongue Lake Road, we were lucky to see a Yellow-rumped Warbler singing merrily from the branch of a tree at roadside. Read more
Various Types of Turtles We Have Sighted Across Ontario
As Bob and I so often do, we walked to Toronto’s Milliken Park one afternoon in early spring. It was an unusually hot day which explained the assembly of turtles basking in the sun at the side of the park’s largest pond. I couldn’t help think of the adage, “get your ducks all in a row” because there were the turtles, all lined up in order. They certainly occupied every inch of available space on that log. Read more
Black-Crowned Night Herons At Toronto’s Tommy Thompson Park
For my Mother’s Day outing one spring, our family decided to go for a hike at Tommy Thompson Park here in Toronto. It is reputed as a birdwatchers’ paradise, and I would have to agree with whomever made that proclamation. One of the most thrilling sightings we made that day was a nesting colony of Black-crowned Night Herons. We saw at least 12 pairs of these magnificent birds, some on their nests, others perched in the trees. Read more
A White and Grey Rabbit in Toronto’s Milliken Park
A White and Grey Rabbit in Toronto’s Milliken Park
On a recent walkabout in Milliken Park, in Toronto, Bob and I were surprised to see, hopping about the lawns and gardens, an unusual looking rabbit. Unlike our common Cottontail Rabbit, this rabbit was white with a smokey grey snout and a grey wash on its hind quarters. Could it be that someone’s pet escaped and is now making the park its home? Or is it possible that someone released their pet for no longer wanting to care for it? Read more
Common Terns At Toronto’s Tommy Thompson Park
Common Terns At Toronto’s Tommy Thompson Park
For a Mother’s Day outing one spring, my family suggested a visit to Tommy Thompson Park in Toronto. Well known for fabulous birdwatching opportunities, it sounded like the perfect place to go for my special day. Little did I know just how much success we would have at spotting birds. A large number of Common Terns (Sterna hirundo) caught our eye in a bay on the west side of the Leslie Street Spit. Read more
Northern Flickers in Whitby’s Thickson’s Woods
Bob and I were on one of our regular visits to Thickson’s Woods Nature Reserve, in Whitby, Ontario, to check out the development of the Great Horned Owl babies. As we turned to leave, Bob noticed a large woodpecker zipping through the tree tops. A Northern Flicker landed near the top of a snag. Read more
Glendalough, One Of The Most Beautiful Places In Ireland
Bob and I had wanted to visit Ireland and visit the Valley of the two lakes at Glendalough in County Wicklow, Ireland, for many a long year. So finally, we booked a flight and made for Dublin, and Glendalough. We were excited about exploring the land of Bob’s ancestors. The Emerald Isle, as Ireland is fondly called, had me envisioning rolling hills burgeoning with lush green vegetation, and sprawling masses of shamrocks in shady glens. Read more
Driving the backroads of Wicklow In The Shadow of Sugar Loaf Mountain
After leaving Powerscourt House, our drive became very interesting because Bob and I avoided using the main thoroughfares. Instead, we took to driving the back roads in County Wicklow in the Shadow of Sugar Loaf Mountain. We were on a search for adventure. Bob and I loved the canopy of trees that spanned the carriageway from one side of the road to the other, creating a living, green tunnel. It was reminiscent of our drives on the country roads in England. Read more