The World Through Our Lens
The trees at Second Marsh Wildlife Area were bubbling with melodious birdsong when Bob and I visited there one spring, and when we caught a flicker of yellow in the top of a brightly lit tree, our eyes honed in on a Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia). The little male has the trademark chestnut streaking that help make these birds recognizable, and it pleased us that the warbler was singing his song. Read more
Second Marsh Wildlife Reserve provides wonderful opportunities for birdwatching, and on a visit to that extensive wetland in Oshawa, Bob and I were lucky to see an Eastern Kingbird (Tyrranus tyrannus). Read more
Bob and I get very excited when it comes to checking out new potential birdwatching locations. Numerous reports about sightings at Forks of the Credit Provincial Park had us headed that way in early June to see what we might see. Among the many birds spotted that day was a colourful Eastern Towhee. Read more
On a warm, sunny June morning, Bob and I set off to explore Forks of the Credit Provincial Park near Caledon, Ontario. We had never visited that park before, but it seemed a likely destination for us given the bird sightings reported there over the previous few days. We were excited to see what species we might discover. As we followed the movements of an Eastern Towhee, lo and behold, we caught sight of another bird in the same tree: a Black-billed Cuckoo. Read more
For my mom and dad, seeing a Northern Flicker is a fairly common occurrence at Oxtongue Lake, in Ontario, Canada. The birds frequent their backyard and beach property because both locations have sandy soil with a good supply of ants. When Bob and I visited in mid-May one spring, I was lucky enough to see a female flicker industriously trying to find some grubs in an old tree stump. Read more
On an outing to Forks of the Credit Provincial Park, Bob and I were winding down our day after having spent several hours on the beautiful trails there. As we strode across Kettle Trail to regain the Trans Canada Trail and then the parking lot, an unfamiliar sound met our ears. We soon spotted the source in a treetop not far away. A bobolink (Dolichonyx oryzivorus) in full song was in profile against an azure sky, making for a perfect snapshot. Read more
On spring, as I went about cleaning up the dishes after breakfast, out of the corner of my eye I saw a blur fly past the patio door and make a sharp veer to the left. I was grateful that the bird hadn’t been fooled into flying into the window’s reflection. I was keen to locate it in my backyard and thrilled when the bird turned out to be a Gray-cheeked Thrush. Read more
One of my favorite backyard features is the flowering crab apple tree outside our bedroom window. It reminds me fondly of the wild cherry tree that bloomed next to my bedroom window when I was a child growing up at Oxtongue Lake. Bob and I scrutinize this apple tree for avian visitors every time we pass by the window. A pleasant surprise greeted us late one afternoon when a Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla) sat nestled in amongst the pink flower buds. Read more
Towards the end of May one spring, Bob and I were visiting my parents at Oxtongue Lake, in Ontario, and, as usual, we kept a keen eye on the trees for any visiting migratory or local nesting birds. As on one other occasion earlier in the spring, mass confusion was inspired when a Merlin Falcon erupted out of the pine trees alongside my dad’s driveway and spooked a number of the songbirds. This time, we were very saddened to see that a pair of Magnolia Warblers (Setophaga magnolia) had crashed into the windows of the sunroom. Read more