Tag: Canada

Brown-headed Cowbirds In Thickson’s Woods

brown headed cow bird -gives me a look - thicksons woods meadow - whitby - ontario

On a visit to the unique woodlot known as Thickson’s Woods Nature Reserve in Whitby, Ontario, we changed things up a bit, and crossed over the adjacent walkway to the protected habitat of the meadow that borders the forest.  With its abundance of long grasses, bushes, shrubs, evergreens, and the remains of an old orchard, it was teeming with birds of all species.  One type of bird that caught my eye were a group of Brown-headed Cowbirds, at rest on a branch right beside the path. Read more

Broad-winged Hawk Near Dorset, Ontario

Broad-winged hawk on a powerline near Dorset in Ontario, Canada.

As Bob and I were driving along Highway 35 near Dorset, Ontario, Canada, one spring, I caught a glimpse of an interesting bird sitting on the power line that runs parallel to the road. At first, we thought we were seeing a Merlin, but the bird turned out to be a Broad-winged Hawk. Read more

Muskrats Eat, Swim, and Dive at Cranberry Marsh in Whitby

Muskrat holds a stick in its hands - Cranberry Marsh - Lynde Shores Conservation Area

On a visit to the West Cranberry Tract at Lynde Shores Conservation Area in Whitby, Ontario, Canada, we were lucky enough to see some muskrats at the edge of the marsh foraging for food. Read more

Eastern Towhee A Beamer Memorial Conservation Park

eastern towhee - on the ground - Beamer Memorial Conservation Area - Grimsby - Ontario

At Beamer Memorial Conservation Area on the Niagara Escarpment in Grimsby, Ontario, we happened upon an Eastern Towhee at the edge of an open area. Read more

Great Horned Owlets in Whitby, Ontario

Great Horned Owl mom with two chicks - Thicksons Woods - Whitby - Ontario

Only a week after first photographing the Great Horned owlets in Whitby, Ontario, Bob and I returned to catch up on their progress and development.  When we first spotted the mother Owl, she was taking a break from her nesting responsibilities perched at the end of the same branch as that holding the nest. Read more

Ragged Falls Under Spring Flooding

Ragged Falls - spring flooding of falls - Oxtongue River - Ontario - April 20 2013

In the spring of 2013, Bob and I happened to be at Oxtongue Lake, Ontario.  It was far from a normal spring visit.  With the recent warm temperatures, the abundance of late spring snow had all but melted away.  This caused substantial and normal runoff conditions, but when combined with the heavy rainfalls, it resulted in volumes of water and Ragged Falls under major flooding on the Oxtongue River. Read more

Osprey return to their nest at Youngs Point

Two Osprey in their nest at Young's Point - Ontario - Canada

We learned one spring that the Osprey had been sighted at Youngs Point, on the Trent-Severn Waterway at Lock 27, a small village just north of Peterborough, Ontario, in Canada.  They had returned to their nesting grounds for the season.  Read more

Bald Eagles With Their Babies At Cootes Paradise

Bald Eagles together in nest - Cootes Paradise Marsh - Hamilton - Ontario

A pair of Bald Eagles have made their nest in a tall pine tree at Cootes Paradise, part of the Royal Botanical Gardens, in Hamilton, Ontario.  Although they have nested in the same area for a number of years, 2013 was the first time that the pair laid eggs, and two eaglets hatched. Read more

Great Horned Owlets In Their Nest In Thickson’s Woods

great horned owl chicks and mother in nest -- - thicksons woods - whitby - ontario

Bob and I had not gone out to Thickson’s Woods Nature Reserve, in Ontario, for about 5 weeks in the spring of 2013.  Nor had we heard if the babies had hatched, so a visit was in order to check on the status of things.  What a thrill when we sighted two Great Horned Owlets in their nest. Read more

Mink Hunts Muskrats in Ontario Swamp

mink, etobicoke, Ontario

Bob and I spent one afternoon exploring a marsh near Mississauga, Ontario, Canada.  We barely had gotten underway when we spotted a member of the Weasel Family, a Mink, coming towards us, totally unconcerned about our presence in its habitat. Read more