The World Through Our Lens
Ontario is one of the ten provinces of Canada, located in east-central Canada.
It had been several years since Bob and I came across a Northern Saw-whet Owl, the first time being in our local park in late October of 2012. It was that bird sighting that got us hooked on bird watching. It was a long interlude but not for lack of trying. Our patience and persistence finally paid off when we located this Northern Saw-whet Owl on a recent warm February day near Oshawa, Ontario. Read more
With the recent substantial snowfalls, our home and property is ready to celebrate a White Christmas. And when I awoke this morning, I found that yesterday’s wind and warm temperatures had sculpted the snow into an artful scalloped edge that neatly framed each Christmas bulb. Read more
It was this past spring that Bob and I finally visited the Long Point area of Ontario during the peak period of songbird migration. We had a long wish list of new birds that we would like to see, and on this list was a Northern Parula. We failed to spot any when in that area of the province but did have one spend the afternoon in our Toronto backyard soon thereafter. What a pleasant surprise! Read more
Our morning started out rather ordinary with the sun shining brightly and fluffy clouds floating across the sky. Wait! What’s that? What the heck!
On a mid-June visit to Carden Alvar in Ontario, Bob and I opted to tour the area in the reverse direction from our first visit when we crossed Canal Lake at dusk. First thing in the morning provided better light for photography, and there was no lack of activity near the Osprey nests. We were hoping that the Osprey did not drop its load as they flew over! Read more
When Bob and I headed out to Darlington Provincial Park to have a look at the Piping Plovers, it was because 4 recently-hatched babies could be observed on the beach there. They were creating much excitement in the world of birding here in Ontario. Never before had Piping Plovers nested in the Park or in Durham region. Read more
It was late spring when Bob and I undertook our second notable bike ride of the season, May 28, and because of the warm temperature, we opted to cycle from Scarborough to the Lake Ontario shoreline. At the first rocky breakwater east of Highland Creek Trail, we spotted 5 Whimbrels grouped on some large flat slabs of concrete. Read more
The day in June that Bob and I chose for our visit to the Carden Alvar was a steamy one in a string of hot days more characteristic of the tropics. Our first stop was at Cameron Ranch where friends had photographed beautiful expanses of Indian Paintbrush wildflowers only a couple of days earlier. The flowers were past their prime, but I came face to face with this Brown Thrasher as it waited to supply its nestlings with these freshly-caught insects. Read more
Bob and I have learned so much through different groups on Facebook, and one of the areas that was brought to our attention was the Carden Alvar here in Ontario. Our second visit in mid-June was a bit late and too hot for much activity where migrating birds were concerned, but our list of sightings was still long and included this female Black Bear and her three cubs. Read more