Gray Treefrogs At Lower Reesor Pond

Gray treefrog at Lower Reesor Pond in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

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

black bears eat blue berries - algonquin park - ontario 3

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

Nashville Warbler Visits Our Toronto Backyard

Nashville warbler sitting on a water fountain in Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Of the various Warblers frequenting our backyard one spring, it was the Pine Warblers and this  Nashville Warbler (Oreothlypis ruficapilla) that made the longest stays.  We experienced long periods without rain that spring so the water fountain on our property was a real attraction for a lot of migrating birds. Read more

Scarlet Tanagers at Ashbridge’s Bay Park In Toronto

Scarlet Tanager, ashbridges bay park, toronto

After hearing about the scores of different bird species being seen at Ashbridge’s Bay Park in Toronto, Ontario one spring, Bob and I made it our mission to be up and out early one Sunday in mid-May in order to check out the lakeside park where hundreds of birds rest after crossing Lake Ontario.  It was not until lunchtime, however, that we unexpectedly came upon two Scarlet Tanagers adjacent to the park’s restaurant parking lot. Read more

Cow Moose And Calf In Algonquin Provincial Park

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

moose calf - in algonquin provincial park - ontario 2

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

Tennessee Warbler In My Toronto Backyard

tennessee warbler in our toronto backyard

Earlier one spring, Bob and I found ourselves unable to keep up with the bird sightings even in our own backyard.  Such was the case the day I spotted this Tennessee Warbler (Oreothlypis peregrina).  I had been kept busy at the kitchen window that morning, taking photographs of a House Wren and Magnolia Warbler, when another flash of yellow drew my attention to the crabapple tree beside our deck. Read more

A House Wren Builds A Nest In My Toronto Backyard

house wren, toronto

To our knowledge, Bob and I have never had a House Wren visit our backyard before, but this past spring, many new species stopped in at our small suburban property for a rest en route to their breeding grounds.  Among them was this House Wren.  We were delighted that it decided to stay put and build a nest in one of our birdhouses. Read more

Rose-breasted Female Grosbeak In Our Backyard

Rose-breasted Gosbeak, female, toronto, ontario

In years past, on a couple of rare occasions, we have had a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak drop by our backyard during spring migration.  This past spring, a pair of males spent several days around our property enjoying the bird food and water fountain before moving on.  Bob and I were pleasantly surprised late one afternoon to see that a female Rose- breasted Grosbeak had come to join in the free-for-all. Read more

Raccoon Mother With Cubs Nesting In A Toronto Tree

raccoon mother with cub in tree nest - toronto

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

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