An unusual scene to start the day, a fox eating a dead beaver on the highway.
In June 2025, I was on my way for a sunrise paddle. Arriving at the launch, just off a major highway, I discovered a beaver that had been hit by a car. I have to admit, it was a gruesome sight, and I felt upset for the beaver who had lost his life. As I sat in my car, feeling my emotions, a fox emerged from the dense vegetation along the road. I watched as the fox ventured onto the highway to help itself to an easy meal. Realizing the fox was also likely to be struck and killed by a passing vehicle, I knew I had to do something.
I decided to move the beaver off the highway so the fox or other scavengers wouldn’t meet the same fate. I didn’t want to touch the beaver with my bare hands, so I considered my options. Using my paddle was the only solution I found.
The fox’s fur was wet from rubbing against the dew-covered foliage at the side of the highway.
Traffic was light as it was an early weekday morning. I deemed it safe to enter the middle of the highway with my paddle and attempt to move the beaver. An adult beaver can weigh 35-50 pounds, and this large one easily fell within that range. Hoping to balance it with my paddle, I exited my vehicle.
Before starting, I checked for cars and, reassured by the empty road, took a moment to pick up my camera from the passenger seat and snap a few images of the fox. Afterward, I opened the hatch and grabbed my paddle, wondering if my Werner Camano composite paddle would be up to the unusual challenge ahead.
Capturing these images of the fox in the early morning light required a higher ISO. These images were all shot at ISO 1250, f/7.1, which resulted in a shutter speed of 1/640.
After checking for traffic, I walked to the highway’s center. The skittish fox moved to the shoulder but watched me closely. As I lifted the beaver onto my paddle, the fox ran up and eyed me, as if to ask, “Where are you going with my breakfast?” The beaver was heavy, but surprisingly, I balanced it. The smell was indescribable.
After clearing the beaver off the highway, the fox could safely enjoy its easy meal.
With the beaver balanced on my paddle, I crossed to the far side of the highway. The fox stayed right beside me. In fact, he was better at heeling than most dogs I know. Stepping over the guardrail, I brought the beaver into a gravelly clearing, far from the road, for the fox and other scavengers to enjoy. Some entrails remained on the road. To finish my deed, I needed to move these too.
Even when my subject is slow moving like this great blue heron, I use a fast shutter speed. My camera settings for this shot were 1/1000, f7.1, ISO 800.
I scooped what I could with my paddle, and as I did, the fox reappeared at my heels. The fox grabbed about three feet of what I think was intestine and pranced across the highway, shaking it in its mouth like a dog with a rope toy. Despite how gross it was, it was kind of comical as the fox looked quite proud.
Unsure how close I could get to this cow moose, I used my Canon RF 1.4 extender on my RF 100-500 mm lens. My camera settings for this shot were 1/400, f/10, ISO 1600.
With the beaver clear of the highway and the fox left to his meal, it was time to unload my pack boat and begin my paddle. As I crossed the lake, I heard the haunting call of a common loon. A great blue heron foraged along the shoreline, and at the far end of the lake, I saw a cow moose.
The day began unexpectedly, and the initial sight left me unsettled. Still, knowing I likely saved the fox and later seeing more wildlife made it a good day.
I underexposed this shot by 2/3 in order to properly capture the darks in this scene.
I now carry disposable gloves and garbage bags in my car. If I come across roadkill again without my paddle, I can move it and dispose of the gloves at the next garbage bin.
After getting a little close to the moose I removed my extender. 1/800, ISO 1600, f/7.1
These images and story are more graphic than usual for me, but I wanted to share this message in hopes of preventing more unnecessary roadkill.
Warm gloves are an important piece of gear required to enjoy photographing wildlife during the winter months.
Back in 2017, I published a blogpost recommending the Manzella Bruin asThe Best Gloves For Winter Birding and Photography. The reason I chose these gloves is their combination of warmth, dexterity, and waterproofing.
Before landing on Manzella as my go-to glove, I had tried plenty of others. There were plenty to choose from that were warm enough; the problem was they were too thick to allow me to operate the buttons and switches on my camera and lens, making adjusting my settings on the fly impossible. Conversely, any glove I tried that was thin enough to allow me to operate the buttons just wasn’t warm enough, let alone waterproof and breathable.
Having gloves that allow me to operate the buttons on my camera made adjusting my exposure easy and helped me capture this barred owl with a red squirrel.
After all these years, considering improvements in technology and materials, do I still wear the Manzella Bruin for wildlife photography? No, I don’t, and the reason why is that they were discontinued. Fret not, they were replaced by the Manzella Woodsman, and you can buy them at your local Canadian Tire store.
Since I posted that original blog, I’ve had a lot of positive feedback from people who tried the gloves themselves and were very pleased with them. The original pair had lasted me over 10 years, so there is no question regarding their durability. As my long-time subscribers know, most of my winter outings have had my old dog, Molly, at my side, and now my new dog, Hulk. Even holding on to a rope dog leash doesn’t wear through the reinforced palms of these gloves.
Thanks to my Manzella Woodsman gloves, my hands were toasty warm as I waited for this moose to pop its head up from behind the evergreens.
On Canadian Tire’s website, they only list large and extra-large sizes. Make sure you get a proper fit, because if they are too big, the air at the tips of your fingers will get cold, and these gloves won’t be as effective. Also, if your finger doesn’t reach the tip, it will be hard to operate the buttons, as you will be trying to use the material rather than your finger.
Ladies, these gloves may be too big for you. Manzella does make women’s gloves, but I have not seen them in the Woodsman model. If you find these gloves too big, you could wear a thinner glove underneath to take up some of the slack. Manzella has three warmth ratings: warm, warmer, and warmest, with the Woodsman falling in the warmest category.
Waiting for a beaver to surface and climb up on the ice takes a lot of patience. Warm hands makes the wait more comfortable.
This winter, I’ve taken up skiing to get deep in the backcountry in search of wildlife to photograph. These warm gloves have been perfect because not only do they keep my hands at a comfortable temperature, but they’re also breathable for this increased activity. Again, the reinforced palms show no wear from the poles. I am not the best skier and have fallen a few times, which has led to my hands being buried in the snow, and these gloves are definitely waterproof.
I have yet to try a glove that can beat Manzella when it comes to warm, breathability, and waterproofing while allowing me to operate my camera properly.
These gloves are also great for using my binoculars, as I can easily adjust the focus dial, eyecups, and diopter without removing them.
If you’re in the market for warm gloves this winter, or if you’re like me, you finally wore out your Bruins, head into your local Canadian Tire and pick up a pair of Manzella Woodman gloves.
This was my first time ever photographing an Algonquin wolf.
It started out like any other day. I got out of bed at 4:00 a.m., turned on the coffee maker, and started to work. The commute from my bedroom to the desk in the living room was uncongested, as it is every morning. After a few hours of work and a couple cups of coffee, it was break time. For me, break time typically consists of a 20-30 minute ride on a stationary bike followed by free weights, breakfast, then a shower, and this day was no different.
Evening grosbeaks and blue jays at my feeder.
I had planned on putting in a full day of work, but was quickly distracted by a flock of evening grosbeaks at my feeders, so I put on my warm clothes, grabbed my camera, and headed into the backyard. I managed to capture a few images of the grosbeaks, but most were on the feeders and not in the adjacent trees. I much prefer to capture birds in a more natural setting than on feeders. It was a cold day with a wind chill of -26, but clear blue skies. There were lots of birds active, and the sunshine was incredible, so I decided to make the short drive into Algonquin Park.
Every seed-eating bird that has visited my yard has used this tray feeder. Here, female evening grosbeaks are enjoying black-oil sunflower seed.
As I made my way through the park, an Algonquin wolf crossed the highway in front of me. I pulled safely off the road, rolled down my window, and enjoyed watching this beautiful animal. I tried for some images, but the light was poor, and the wolf was positioned slightly down a hill, so it was hard to get its entire body in the frame. The wolf stood motionless, looking back at me.
The eye contact we shared was pretty amazing, well, at least for me! I caught movement out of the corner of my eye, and a second wolf appeared. Once the two were together, they high-tailed it into the woods. I’m not one to chase wildlife anyway, but especially ones that have left in such a hurry. I was a little disappointed I didn’t capture any images, but this was the best look I’ve ever had at an Algonquin wolf.
As the shoulder narrowed, the wolf made its way into the forest.
I’ve been fortunate to see Algonquin wolves a few times, but the encounters have been brief and often in poor light. I’ve also heard packs howling, and this is an amazing experience too. As the wolves were now long gone, I pulled back on the highway and carried on through the park.
About one kilometer down the road, a third wolf was running along the shoulder. With the freshly plowed snow, there was no room for me to pull over, and the wolf kept moving. I slowed down in case the wolf entered the road, and fortunately, oncoming traffic did the same. With no safe place to pull off, I did what I often do when photographing wildlife: I don’t go where the animal is; I try to anticipate where it’s going and put myself there.
Words can’t describe how excited I was to see the wolf emerge from the trees.
Knowing there was a trail down the road, I decided to go there and wait for the wolf. It was a long shot that the wolf would travel this far, but I knew it was my best opportunity to see and photograph the wolf.
After parking my car, I climbed up on a ridge. Sure enough, the wolf was still travelling down the highway. If it kept coming my way, I was going to get some shots. My only gripe was that the wolf would pass by me with a guardrail behind it, and not the natural forest scene I was hoping for. To my delight, the wolf crossed the road, the side with no guardrail. I quickly crossed the road and hid behind a snowbank. As the shoulder narrowed, the wolf entered the woods. I’m not surprised, as my long-shot plan was unfolding too perfectly.
Those are my tracks just in front of the wolf. It seemed very curious about them, smelling and evening peeing on them.
The wolf continued east just at the edge of the forest. I snapped what images I could, but with so many trees, there were lots of obstructions. To make things even more challenging, the trees were casting shadows, and the wolf was moving from full sun to full shade to everything in between. I thought my chances of getting a clear shot were done.
I don’t think the wolf knew where I was, as I was very concealed. Not only did I not want the wolf to see me, but I also didn’t want any motorists to see me taking pictures of something in the woods, or they’d be sure to stop. This is how Algonquin’s infamous “moose jams” happen. The wolf made it to the area where I had previously been standing on the ridge and was quite interested in the smell of my footprints in the snow. The wolf moved along slowly with its nose to the ground and even peed several times in my tracks.
The trees made getting an unobstructed shot challenging as well as casted shadows on the wolf.
At this point, the wolf began to emerge from the trees, offering an opportunity for a photo. It was then that I realized the wolf knew I was there as it looked right at me. The wolf continued to make its way along the tree line following my tracks before disappearing into the woods. This was truly an incredible encounter, and I was sure I captured some images I’d be happy with.
One final glance before disappearing back into the forest.
After making my way back to my car, the wolf appeared out of the forest again. This time, it was walking right toward me. Not wanting to be too close, I opened the car door and got in. As I sat in the driver’s seat, the wolf passed by, only a car width away, before disappearing into the woods for the last time.
In my last blog post, My Photography Wish List For Winter 2026, I mentioned several species I wanted to photograph this winter. Although it wasn’t mentioned in that post, the Algonquin wolf was on my list.
I’m glad I was in my car for this shot. This photo is uncropped taken at 100 mm.
The Algonquin wolf, also known as the Eastern wolf, is often the subject of debate when one is sighted. Often, Algonquin wolves are mistaken for coyotes. In fact, when I first moved to the area, the first one I saw, albeit briefly, I thought was a coyote. Algonquin wolves are typically larger than coyotes and smaller than gray wolves. Proper identification requires genetic testing, but when I spoke to a member of Ontario’s Ministry of Natural Resources a few years back, he said there are no coyotes in this area; they’re all Algonquin wolves.
Algonquin wolves are currently listed as threatened on Ontario’s Species at Risk list and are a fragile species. This is yet another reason to drive slowly when visiting the park. I consider myself very fortunate to have had this experience. I’ve had many great encounters over the years in Algonquin Park, but I think this one might take the cake. Seeing three of these elusive animals, one of them so photogenic, is a memory I’ll never forget.
Though not the biggest bull in the park, any moose encounter is a great encounter.
In late 2019, I purchased a small travel trailer as an experiment to see if I could live in a tiny space. My end goal is to build a small cabin in the woods if I can find land and if living small works out. I was fortunate to find a location for my trailer not too far from Algonquin Provincial Park and have been living in it from May to October since 2020. Happy with the small space and location, it was time to experience a full winter here. I’ve spent time in the area during the winter months in each of the past six years either winter camping, house-sitting, or staying in motels, but I felt experiencing snow from November to April was a good idea before committing to buying land.
Canada jays are always a treat to see and photograph in Algonquin Park.
In October, I rented a small cabin a stone’s throw from where my trailer is located. What was nice is I didn’t have to commit to a full year lease but chose eight months so it overlaps with my time at the trailer allowing me to take my time moving in and out. The cabin is simple, nothing fancy, just the amenities I need (a roof over my head, heat, water, and a place to work).
Looking out over Lake of Two Rivers on a frosty morning.
With a full fall and winter ahead of me, I created a wish list of things I wanted to see and photograph. In past years when I’ve visited Algonquin in late fall and winter, the longest I’ve stayed each time has been a week, so have felt a bit rushed to see as much as I can and found myself visiting only the well-known, well-travelled areas in search of wildlife. I still visit those areas on my trips into the park, but I’ve also spent a lot of time off the beaten path searching areas few or no human ventures once the snow flies.
Male pine grosbeak
So far, I’ve already crossed several items off my list. The first item was to capture an image of a bull moose in late fall posing in front of some golden tamarack trees. Tamaracks have a special place in my heart because we had one in the backyard growing up my dad planted. It was in that backyard my love of nature was sparked. When I bought my first home, I purchased a tamarack tree for my own yard. At the time, I was recovering from back surgery and couldn’t dig, so my dad came over and dug the hole and planted the tree for me. Needless to say, when I see a tamarack tree I think of my dad.
Though not on my wish list, this Harris’s Sparrow was a pleasant surprise. These birds rarely venture this far east and are more commonly found in Central North America.
Early in November, while driving through the park, I noticed a bull moose standing at the edge of a pond. There was a nice spot I could pull completely off the highway and watch/photograph the moose. I was fortunate to watch this bull for an extended period of time and capture several images. During this time, it fed on water lilies and even crossed the pond. It glanced over at me several times but since I kept a respectful distance it didn’t care I was there and went about his business.
One of the items on my wish list was to photograph a bull moose in front of golden tamarack trees.
After watching for several minutes, the bull made its way along the edge of the pond. In the direction it was heading were three small tamarack trees sporting their golden fall foliage. My excitement built (I was already pretty excited) as I said in my head, or maybe even out loud, “keep going, keep going.” Sure enough, the bull walked right in front of those tamaracks. Now it wasn’t the biggest bull in the forest, but hey, beggars can’t be choosers!
This red fox was photographed just before dark at high ISO. I’ve been very impressed with my new Canon R6 MKII.
Another item on my list was a fox in the snow. Late one afternoon, after one of our first snowfalls, I was following two sets of moose tracks and several wolf tracks. I’m not sure if the wolves were following the moose or just using the same trail, but the tracks were fresh, and it looked promising. I was losing daylight, but after hearing a pack of wolves howl, I decided to continue on. A lone Algonquin wolf appeared briefly, then darted back into the woods. What an amazing experience! Realizing I was about an hour from the car and had about the same amount of time before it was completely dark, I turned around.
If you are planning a trip to Algonquin Park, the Visitor Centre feeders are a good place to search for pine grosbeaks.
On my way back to the car, something appeared on the trail. It was far away, and I couldn’t tell what it was other than it moved. I raised my camera to zoom in, and sure enough, it was a fox. It sat on the middle of the trail watching me. As I moved towards the fox, it would move a few feet then sit back down. The fox repeated this several times as I got closer. I snapped several images at a high ISO but didn’t expect much.
Even when I don’t find something on my list, there’s always something to see. I watched this otter catch and eat several catfish in a short period of time.
Since the spring, I’ve been using a newCanon R6 MKIImirrorless camera but haven’t really pushed its low light capabilities until now. Eventually, the fox disappeared off the trail. When I reached the area I last saw the fox, I took my time and looked around. Sure enough, to my left I located the fox standing next to a tiny patch of snow. It wasn’t the completely snowy scene I envisioned, but I’ll take it! More importantly, given the distance the fox was (the images are heavily cropped) and the lack of light and high ISO I was impressed with the R6’s performance.
Female pine grosbeak
According to the annual finch forecast, an irruption is predicted for this winter. An irruption is when a large number of a species migrate south due to a lack of food in their typical winter range. In the case of birds this is common with finches, red-breasted nuthatches, and even owls. These irruptions are cyclical and happen every few years. I’ve experienced finch irruptions over the years including the winter of 2024 when evening grosbeaks, redpolls and purple finches were abundant in the park. In fact, I wrote a blog post called Finch Me I’m Dreaming about my week in Algonquin at that time.
Male pine grosbeak eating grit and salt at the side of the road.
Up until this year, I had never seen a pine grosbeak. With an entire winter ahead of me and an irruption predicted, would this finally be the year? As you might have guessed pine grosbeak went on my list. Despite the name grosbeak, like the evening grosbeak, pine grosbeaks are in the finch family.
I’ll take any opportunity I get to photograph a spruce grouse. I love the intricate feather patter on these birds.
I did some research on pine grosbeak habitat to hopefully improve my chances of locating these. It turns out their preferred habitat and food essentially comprises all of Algonquin Park. Fortunately, grosbeaks are often found along roads, consuming grit and salt. The grit ingested enters the bird’s gizzard and grinds up seeds, aiding in digestion, while sodium is an important mineral in their diet. So far this winter, I have seen several flocks of pine grosbeaks feeding on or beside Highway 60. If you are planning a trip to Algonquin Park this winter, drive slowly and watch out for flocks of birds on the road. The feeders located at the visitor centre is another spot where pine and evening grosbeaks can be found.
Evening grosbeaks have migrated south in large numbers as part of this year’s finch irruption.
So far this winter, I’ve crossed several items off my photography wish list, and this post shares my encounters with only a few. I have several other exciting sightings to share in future posts including barred owl and Algonquin wolves! If you haven’t already, subscribe to my blog, and be notified via email of new posts once published.
The fresh snow on Christmas Eve day added to the beauty of the landscape.
I’ve been on a real hiatus from updating my blog but am going to do my best to post more frequently. Since 2024, along with my niece, Megan, we have published two books featuring my images and bird knowledge combined with her writing skills, so much of my time focused on them. A huge thank you to everyone who has purchased copies, we can’t thank you enough for your support! I appreciate everyone who reads my blog and follows along on my adventures, and I’m looking forward to sharing more in 2026.
Happy New Year and of course,
Good birding,
Paul
* Please note this post contains Amazon affiliate links. You can help support my website by using the above links when you purchase products on Amazon (they send me a few bucks when you do at no additional cost to you). I only provide links to products I have purchased and am satisfied with based on my own experience. Thanks for your support!*
It was great seeing Cardinals once again. We are truly fortunate in London to have such an abundance of these beautiful birds.
Returning to London this fall left me with mixed emotions. Having spent so much time up north, I didn’t want to return to the city but tried to see the silver lining. Being back in town means I’m close to my Dad and can resume more frequent visits with him. After all, it was my dad who got me interested in birds. Also, it allows me to return to some of the areas I love birding at and see several bird species I haven’t seen for months.
My favourite bird is the Red-bellied Woodpecker.
London is known as the cardinal capital of Canada, and I have to admit having lived here my whole life, I have taken these birds for granted. Spending the summer outside the cardinal’s range, I go six months without seeing one. Also, absent each summer for me is my favourite bird, the Red-bellied Woodpecker.
One of the most productive areas in London for birding at this time of year is the Westminster Ponds ESA. It also happens to be a great place to enjoy the fall colours. With temperatures still feeling like summer, I waited for a cooler day to head over to the ponds. After all, if I was doing some fall birding, I wanted it to feel like fall.
Juvenile White-crowned Sparrow.
The open meadow south of Commissioners Road was where I started. There is an abundance of goldenrod here and with it having gone to seed I knew there would be lots of small songbirds drawn to this food. Sure enough, not long after entering the field, I could hear a variety of bird calls coming from the dried stalks.
Small songbirds like the American Goldfinch can be found feeding on goldenrod seed during the fall.
Goldfinches, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and several sparrows were present including White-throated, White-crowned, and Song. Some White-throated Sparrows were trying to break out into their signature Oh Sweet Canada, Canada, Canada song but stopped after only a few notes. The goldenrod here was almost as tall as me keeping me well hidden; however, made picture-taking a real challenge. Juncos typically return to London for the winter around Thanksgiving each year and were also present enjoying the bounty of seeds.
This Great Blue Heron was perched overlooking Saunders Pond.
Happy with my sightings, I headed through the woods to Saunders Pond. The loud shriek of a Great Blue Heron could be heard from the pond. On the far side of the pond, I heard a strange call and saw a large bird which I presumed was a raptor up in a tree. As I did not recognize the call as a raptor I was confused by what I was seeing. It was a large bird with its wings spread wide appearing to be falling out of the tree. As it flapped its wings to keep its perch, it made a sound I had never heard. I still had no idea what I was seeing and was torn between making my way down to where I could still hear the heron or trying to figure out what this was.
My curiosity got the best of me and I got into a position where I could see better through the trees and identify this bird. I raised my binoculars and as the bird came into focus I could see it was a Wild Turkey. It had regained balance and was perched high in a tree adjacent to the pond. The sound it was making was no gobble, cluck, yelp, or cackle I’ve ever heard from a turkey but I guess when about to fall 60 feet into water Turkeys make whatever sound they want.
This male Wood Duck gave the leaves a run for their money for best fall colours.
I quietly snuck down to the pond and saw the heron that was making a ruckus earlier. I raised my camera and snapped a few pics. Swimming on the surface just in front of the heron was a stunning male Wood Duck.
In my opinion, the west side of Saunders Pond is the best place to find Rusty Blackbirds in the Forest City during fall migration.
I made my way around the north side of Saunders Pond to the boardwalk and lookout behind Tourist Information on Wellington Road. My hope here was to see some Rusty Blackbirds. These are one of my favourite birds to see in the fall because as their name suggests their fall plumage is a beautiful rusty colour. This location is the best place to see Rusty Blackbirds in the fall. These birds are listed as special concern on Ontario’s Species at Risk list. The water level was low so I scanned the low shrubs and mudflats for movement as I’ve seen Rusty Blackbirds foraging here in previous years.
White-crowned Sparrows are migrating through London in good numbers. These birds will frequent backyards and can be seen on the ground under feeders.
Movement caught my attention. Sure enough, a Rusty Blackbird appeared from the thick brush. Achieving focus I fired off a series of images. Several other Rusty Blackbirds could be seen down low and higher up in the trees as well as flying overhead mixed in with grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds. I couldn’t help but get a little emotional as this is where I saw my first Rusty Blackbird so many years ago with my dad. Unfortunately, my dad can’t get out with me anymore and I find myself cherishing memories like this one more and more.
Northern Cardinal
Next, I heard the churr, churr, churr call of the Red-bellied Woodpecker. As I looked up a stunning male flew in and landed right in front of me. A broken snag on a dead tree made a perfect perch. A male cardinal landed in the tree next to where I was standing. There certainly was a lot of bird activity in this spot. Out on the pond were a pair of Pied-billed Grebes and the fall colours along the north side of Saunders Pond looked good with the beech and maple trees showing off some nice reds and yellows.
Cedar Waxwings were observed on the west side of Saunders Pond.
For anyone wanting to see these birds or the leaves, this area is fully accessible. There is plenty of parking behind Tourist Information and the wide, asphalt path takes you down to the recently resurfaced wood lookout.
Many Robins overwinter at Westminster Ponds due to the abundance of berry-producing trees and shrubs but their numbers increase during migration.
Returning to Westminster Ponds after such a long hiatus certainly made for a great day of birding. We are so fortunate as Londoners to have this gem and I look forward to spending more time there this fall and winter. If you are looking for a great place to enjoy nature and forget you’re in a city of over 400,000 people, I highly recommend visiting Westminster Ponds.
Good birding,
Paul
*My new book Backyard Birds: A Beginner’s Guide to Backyard Birds in Southwestern Ontario is available now. Together with my niece Megan, we’ve written a book to help identify and attract 24 species of birds living in Southwestern Ontario. This book is geared towards beginners young and old making the perfect gift for anyone introducing a child to birding, a new homeowner unfamiliar with the birds in their yard, or someone new to Southwestern Ontario. Find out more and order here*
Binoculars make viewing small birds like this Red-breasted Nuthatch much easier.
Whether you are an avid birder or someone who enjoys watching the birds at a backyard feeder, binoculars are a great investment.
The magnification binoculars offer allows us to identify birds more easily while better admiring their stunning plumage and intricate feather detail.
The Vortex Triumph HD binoculars come with a case that doubles as a chest harness.
Over the years, I have tried a multitude of binoculars and own three pairs by different manufacturers that provide 8X magnification. Wanting something more powerful for smaller songbirds and far away subjects, I found myself in the market for another pair.
I currently own a pair ofVortex Vanquishcompact binoculars and love everything about them, so naturally I looked at Vortex again when searching for a new pair.
The Vortex Triumph HD magnify the subject 10X which makes identifying similar songbirds like sparrows much easier.
Wanting something high quality without breaking the bank I decided on the Vortex Triumph HD 10 x 42 binoculars. I was drawn to this pair by Vortex claiming these binoculars to be their class’s best image quality, ergonomics, and durability. At a price of only $169.00 and backed by Vortex’s unconditional, unlimited lifetime warranty, I was certainly intrigued and eager to see how they perform.
With 10X magnification you can really see all the intricate feather detail.
Birders often shy away from binoculars that offer higher magnification as it narrows the field of view, but the Vortex Triumph has a field of view of 334’ at 1000 yards which is comparable to the 8X magnification pairs I own by Vortex and Nikon.
Whether you are an avid birder or someone who enjoys watching the birds at a backyard feeder, binoculars are a great investment.
My biggest issue in the past with binoculars featuring 10X magnification has been holding them steady. Not only is the subject magnified so too is any shake. What is the point of having a closer view if the subject is bouncing up and down? The other pairs of 10 power binoculars I have tried have been too big and heavy, while others are too small to manage a steady grip. At 6.1” x 5.0” inches and weighing only 1.43 pounds the Vortex Triumph features a rubber armour non-slip coating allowing me to easily hold these binoculars steady. The rubber armour also adds protection making these binoculars shockproof.
Waterproof binoculars are not only great on land in a rainstorm, they are perfect when searching for birds and wildlife from a canoe.
The multi-coated lenses deliver exceptional clarity and light transmission even in low-light conditions. Nitrogen purged and sealed with an O-ring these binoculars are waterproof and fogproof.
The GlassPak harness makes carrying the binoculars incredibly comfortable while providing quick access.
Carrying these binoculars on my chest with the included Vortex GlassPak harness was incredibly comfortable and provided quick access when hiking outdoors. The mesh side pockets and zippered rear pouch fit a variety of items like the eyepiece covers and cleaning cloth.
The adjustable eyecups are a key feature for those who wear glasses as this allows you to leave your glasses on while looking through the lenses.
Small mammals appear much bigger when viewed through binoculars.
The neoprene neck strap is the most comfortable factory strap I have ever worn on any pair of binoculars and is another welcome feature.
Using these binoculars with 10X magnification made identifying confusing fall warblers and other small songbirds much easier and I could not be more pleased with my purchase.
The performance and features packed into this pair of binoculars that arrived at my door for under $200 taxes in is quite impressive. The unconditional, unlimited lifetime warranty gives me peace of mind that Vortex stands behind its product.
As someone who struggles with butterfly identification, the 10X magnification makes seeing fine details on butterflies much simpler.
With the holiday season fast approaching, these binoculars are a great gift idea for any bird lover regardless of whether they are a beginner or advanced. The price point, features, and high-quality construction of these binoculars make them a perfect choice. If you are looking for a great pair of binoculars at an affordable price, I highly recommend the Vortex Triumph HD 10×42 binoculars.
Good birding,
Paul
* Please note this post contains an Amazon affiliate link. You can help support my website by using the above links when you purchase products on Amazon (they send me a few bucks when you do at no additional cost to you). I only provide links to products I have purchased and am satisfied with based on my own experience. Thanks for your support!*
Northern Cardinals are a welcome addition to any yard. These four steps have resulted in success in attracting them to my yard.
Northern Cardinals are one of the most recognized birds throughout their range and a favourite backyard visitor of many. Cardinals are often the bird homeowners most wish to attract when placing a feeder in their yard.
This winter I regularly have a dozen cardinals visiting my feeders at the same time providing an incredible sight. To entice cardinals to my yard I have implemented a few simple measures to make my landscape more enticing. Attracting cardinals is quite simple if you follow these four easy steps.
Cedars provide shelter from the elements and predators making them a perfect tree for attracting cardinals.
Provide Adequate Habitat
Northern Cardinals prefer a habitat consisting of dense thickets that provide cover. If your yard is void of this type of vegetation, add a few trees and shrubs. I know what you are thinking, “Trees take years to grow, and I won’t see cardinals for decades.” By carefully choosing which species to plant the benefits will be reaped much sooner. Fortunately, cardinals tend to hide low to the ground, which means large mature trees are not required to attract cardinals.
Two of my favourite native species which provide great cover for cardinals are Red Osier Dogwood and Eastern White Cedar. Both are readily available at area nurseries, are inexpensive to purchase, and as is the case with all plants native to our area are extremely easy to grow even if you lack a green thumb.
Female Northern Cardinal perched in the safety of a dense thicket.
Fruit from the Red Osier Dogwood is consumed by over 100 bird species in Ontario making it my favourite native shrub. Since introducing this species to my landscape several years ago, I have seen an increase in the variety of birds visiting my yard and an increase in the number of cardinals. This plant is incredibly hardy and does best in full sun to part shade. An incredibly versatile shrub, it can tolerate dry conditions but will also grow in standing water.
Red Osier Dogwoods are fast growing reaching a maximum height and spread of 12 feet in only a few years. Dogwoods are easily pruned if a smaller shrub is more suited to your yard. Comprised of multiple stems, Red Osier Dogwoods provide excellent shelter to a multitude of songbirds including the cardinal. The deep red branches add a beautiful element of colour to any landscape, especially during the winter months when colour is absent from most yards.
Female Northern Cardinal
When searching for a cedar tree, make sure you purchase an Eastern White Cedar. Emerald Cedars are often sold in mass quantities at every garden centre, home improvement store, and just about any other retailer selling live plants come spring. The reason to avoid these trees is their foliage is too dense denying birds access to the inner branches, thus providing no shelter at all. The Eastern White Cedar’s drooping branches and dark green foliage provide protection from the elements and predators not to mention the perfect location to construct a nest.
Tolerant of some shade, the Eastern White Cedar can reach a height of 50 feet and prefers moist soil. These trees can be purchased at area garden centres as 3 to 4-foot specimens, sufficient size to attract cardinals. Like the Red Osier Dogwood, Eastern White Cedars can be topped and pruned to contain their size and make beautifally dense hedges the perfect cover for birds.
Regardless of time of year, a source of fresh water will attract more cardinals.
Add A Water Source
Fresh water is an excellent way to attract more birds and is an even bigger draw than food as not every yard has a water source. Water can be offered in various ways, from a simple dish to an elaborate water feature. Bird baths are one of the most common ways to provide water as birds can both drink and bathe. For the chilly winter months consider a heated bird bath to prevent the water from freezing.
Despite frigid temperatures across our region during winter months, birds still need to bathe as feather maintenance is vital to their survival. A heated bird bath will certainly attract more cardinals to your yard as this can be the unique feature that makes your yard more attractive than your neighbour’s.
After clearing the seed ports of my feeders, cardinals will readily cleanup spilled seed from the ground.
Offer Their Two Favourite Seeds
Cardinals will consume a wide variety of seeds, but they do have two favourties, sunflower, and safflower. Black oil sunflower seed is the most economical seed on the market and is consumed by all songbirds that frequent our area. If I could only have one type of seed to offer in my feeders, black oil sunflower would be my choice.
Female Northern Cardinal and male House Finch feeding on black oil sunflower seeds in my Squirrel Buster Classic feeder.
If cleaning up shells from beneath your feeder is something you wish to avoid, hulled sunflower seed is the perfect choice. Hulled sunflower is simply black oil sunflower seed out of the shell. This is more of a premium seed and costs a bit more money due to processing costs, but will keep your lawn or patio much cleaner. Keep in mind that when buying a bag of hulled sunflower seed, you are only paying for seed and not the shells. A good portion of a 10-pound bag of black oil sunflower seeds is shell weight, so once this is factored in paying extra for hulled sunflower is easier to swallow, for you and the birds.
Safflower seed is another great option for attracting cardinals. This white seed is a favourite of cardinals and is also consumed by Mourning Doves, House Finches, and Black-capped Chickadees. Another benefit of safflower seed is that it is less desirable to squirrels and blackbirds. If squirrels, Common Grackles, and European Starlings are a problem in your yard, try switching to safflower seed.
Northern Cardinals prefer to feed on the ground. During the winter months be sure to keep the snow beneath your feeders packed down to provide these birds an added place to feed.
Choose The Right Feeder
Northern Cardinals are ground-feeding birds by nature, so this is important to keep in mind when choosing a feeder. Cardinals prefer feeders with large perching areas.
Tray-style feeders are perfect for attracting Northern Cardinals.
A hanging tray feeder offers plenty of room for cardinals to land and is a great option. These feeders feature a mesh bottom made of metal which allows rain and snow to drain keeping the seed fresh longer. These can be hung from any pole system or shepherd’s hook and using a squirrel baffle will keep the squirrels from getting to the seed.
Something to keep in mind when choosing a feeder is cardinals prefer to face forward when they feed. This is another reason tray feeders work so well. If however, a tray feeder is not what you are after then other great options exist.
A hopper feeder that can be hung or pole-mounted will entice cardinals to feed. These feeders typically have a ledge or perch where cardinals can sit and feed or a large tray incorporated on the bottom, which makes them a great choice for cardinals.
This tube feeder with a large perch ring filled with black oil sunflower seed is a favourite combination of the cardinals that visit my yard.
Tube feeders are also great for attracting Northern Cardinals. Remember, cardinals like to face forward to feed so make sure the tube feeder you choose has large perches to accommodate this. Two excellent choices are Brome’s Squirrel Buster Plus and Squirrel Buster Classic. Both of these feeders are squirrel proof with the seed ports closing off under the weight of a squirrel.
Choose the feeder style that is best suited for your yard and fill it with either sunflower, safflower or a mix of both. Remember to keep your feeder clean and the seed ports free of snow and ice during the winter months.
Attracting cardinals to any yard is simple by following the above-mentioned four easy steps.
At dawn, cardinals are often the first bird to arrive at a backyard feeder and the last to leave at dusk. Sometimes they can only be identified by their silhouettes and soft calls during these low-light conditions. Attracting cardinals to your yard is quite easy if you follow these four steps. If you lack cardinals in your yard, recognize which of these elements is missing and make a point of implementing them. By providing these necessities, I’m sure you will see an increase in the number of Northern Cardinals frequenting your yard.
Recently in central Ontario, Purple Finches could be seen everywhere!
Finch numbers in central Ontario have been pretty impressive this winter. I recently had the opportunity to experience this finch bonanza around Algonquin Park. When a house-sitting opportunity for friends who live in the area presented itself, I jumped at it.
Not only would I be spending several days 15 minutes from the park, my friend’s property of 20-plus acres is home to an abundance of birds and wildlife not limited to the dog, chickens, and rabbits I’d be tending to.
This Going Green platform feeder by Woodlink filled with black oil sunflower seeds was a real hit with the finches.
My friends feed the birds in winter but I wasn’t sure what type of feeders they’d have out. I decided to pack a few of my favourites I knew would attract the wide variety of birds certain to be around their property. I took a hanging tray feeder, a No/No mesh seed ball, and a large tube feeder. As far as seed goes, black oil sunflower and peanut halves would be on the menu.
Hanging these feeders was easy thanks to the abundance of Maple Trees. I used bungee cords looped over low branches to hang all three. The feeders were placed strategically in front of the large living room window so I could keep an eye on them while enjoying my morning coffee.
The sounds of chickadees, White-breasted Nuthatches, and goldfinches echoed from the treetops. I anticipated it wouldn’t be long until something found one of my feeders. What happened over the ensuing days was incredible.
The No/No seed ball is so simple yet so effective.
The next morning, I poured a cup of coffee and sat looking out the large window. It was just getting daylight as the birds started to arrive. First, it was the goldfinches. Soon after Purple Finches followed and then Pine Siskins. The number of finches present at the feeders and surrounding trees was truly incredible.
I have never seen so many Purple Finches in my life. I can’t hazard a guess at how many of each species there were, but the total of the 3 varieties of finches was in the 100s! This continued for the duration of my stay and by the time I left was almost out of sunflower seed.
Evening Grosbeaks at the visitor’s centre feeder in Algonquin Provincial Park.
With so much finch activity happening right at my doorstep, I was a bit hesitant to venture into Algonquin Park. After all, I was afraid of missing out on the action. On this trip, I was hoping to see Evening Grosbeaks and crossbills. Since I hadn’t seen or heard any around the property where I was staying I figured the park was my best bet.
The feeders around the visitor’s centre are a great place to see beautiful Evening Grosbeaks and decided to make this my first stop. Before visiting the park feeders, I always look at the Algonquin Park Wild Bird Cam. Not only is this entertaining, by scrolling through the footage I can see when activity at the feeders is greatest. By doing this, I determined grosbeak activity at the feeders is best late morning and mid to late afternoon so timed my arrival accordingly. Sure enough after only a few minutes of waiting the colourful Evening Grosbeaks arrived.
Female Red Crossbill. Note how the upper and lower portion of the bill crosses, hence the name crossbill.
Next, I was off to Opeongo Road in search of crossbills. I had never photographed a crossbill before. In fact, I had only seen them at a distance through my binoculars so never appreciated their beauty and uniqueness. These birds are interesting in that their bill’s top and bottom portion cross, hence the name crossbill. This allows crossbills to open spruce, pine, and other cones to access the seeds, whereas other birds must wait for the cone to open naturally making the seed accessible.
As I drove along Opeongo Road I could hear crossbills calling from the spruce trees on the far side of Costello Creek. To my delight, a pair of Red Crossbills were on the ground pecking at the road. Birds consume sand and grit from roadways to aid with digestion. Safely pulling over, I got out of my car and managed several images of these amazing birds. Despite not having finch in their names, Evening Grosbeaks and crossbills are large members of the finch family.
Male Red Crossbill
Opeongo Road is also a great location to observe a non-finch species, the Canada Jay. At the closed gate where the logging road starts there is a parking lot. Exiting my car here, I prepared to walk down Opeongo Road. I planned to go as far as the bridge over Costello Creek at Turtle Rock. After exiting the car, I noticed a Pine Marten in a tree.
Martens are in the same family as weasels and mink and are similar in appearance. However, Pine Martens tend to spend a considerable amount of time in trees making them more elusive. Parkgoers often feed the birds here and I’ve seen martens in the area before as they are accustomed to handouts. Happy with the images I captured of the marten, I carried on down the road.
Pine Marten
As I walked along, Purple Fiches, Pine Siskins, and Red Crossbills could be heard high in the trees. Purple Finches were by far the most abundant on this trip and were everywhere! Arriving at the bridge, I was greeted by several Canada Jays. These birds at this time of year are quite curious and often find you. I watched as these birds flitted among the trees and managed a few images when they paused briefly.
It was getting late in the day, and with an hour’s drive ahead of me it was time to get going. I needed to get back before sunset to close the chicken coop as keeping the livestock alive was most important.
Portrait of a Canada Jay taken on Opeongo Road.
If you are heading to Algonquin Park for the Family Day long weekend, Algonquin Park’s Winter in the Wild Festival is happening on Saturday, February 17 with indoor and outdoor events taking place throughout the park.
Opeongo Road is a great place to observe the Canada Jay.
This trip to Algonquin Park and the surrounding area was the best finch activity I have ever experienced. Despite this winter’s weather not feeling overly wintry, winter finches in this part of the province have been abundant.
If you are thinking of visiting this area to take in all the finch action don’t leave it too long. Finch numbers will slowly decrease as the breeding season approaches and the birds spread out. Many will migrate back north to the boreal forest to breed. That said, there’s never a bad time to visit Algonquin.
Adding a roost box to your yard will provide small songbirds like the Tufted Titmouse shelter during harsh winter weather.
Roost boxes are an excellent addition to any bird lover’s yard. They are similar in appearance to a birdhouse but serve a different purpose altogether. Instead of building a nest inside and raising their young, birds use these boxes to provide shelter and warmth during winter and will often gather to share body heat. I’ve watched chickadees enter mine during freezing rain and heavy snowfalls. Birds also roost in them at night when temperatures plummet.
When you look at a roost box you will notice the entrance hole is at the bottom, this is to prevent the warm air that rises inside from escaping. The inside of the box has staggered perches to accommodate more birds. Depending on the species and the size of the box multiple birds will use it to share body heat. Some species of birds that will seek shelter in these boxes are chickadees, titmice, nuthatches, and wrens.
Birds like this Carolina Wren already seek shelter in my cedar hedge, so mounting a roost box among the branches proved to be a perfect location.
Roost boxes should be mounted in a protected area out of prevailing winds. Some afternoon sunshine will help warm up the box, so it retains more heat. Facing the box to the south will also help the box gather heat. I have my boxes mounted among my cedar hedge for optimal cover.
The hinged front allows for easy cleaning. Boxes should be checked and cleaned regularly. Droppings can accumulate quickly if several birds use it.
The Urban Nature StoreWooden Winter Roost is currently the product of the month. As a special offer get a free 4lb bag of Sunflower Hearts with the purchase of this roost box.
If you know a bird lover with a winter birthday, this roost box makes a terrific gift!
Chickadees are among the birds that will huddle for warmth in a properly placed box.
Cold weather is on the way, so if you want to do your part to help birds stay warm and survive the cold winter months, consider adding a roost box to your yard.
Northern Cardinal feeding on black-oil sunflower seed.
Ask anyone who feeds the birds in their yard and most agree squirrels are their nemesis. For me, I realize everything must eat but I like the hard-earned money I spend on bird seed going to the birds, not the squirrels. I have several different styles of feeders up in my yard as I like to have a feeder for everyone and attract as many birds as I can. I have several feeders from the squirrel buster line which work great and others outfitted with baffles and other squirrel deterrents.
Peanuts mixed with Treat Your Own Seed Saver offered in a ground feeder were enjoyed by blue jays and not touched by squirrels.
These feeders and products all work amazingly but do come with a few stipulations. A hopper feeder mounted on a pole with a baffle requires it be located far enough from a tree or fence that squirrels can’t jump to it. Likewise, it is recommended a squirrel buster feeder be hung 18″ away from any foothold the squirrel can reach from forcing it to place all of its weight on the feeder which closes the seed ports as it is designed to do.
White-breasted Nuthatch at my peanut feeder.
Maybe you don’t want an elaborate feeder setup or have a heavily treed or narrow yard with a fence where the requirements of these feeders can’t be met. Then what? Well, I have found the solution!
Juncos have returned to Southwestern Ontario and are enjoying white millet in my ground feeder treated with Squirrel Proof Treat Your Own Seed Saver.
Earlier this year, I started addingSquirrel Proof Treat Your Own Seed Saver to my bird seed. When mixed with any birdseed this liquid adds a hot and spicy sensation birds love and squirrels hate. I must admit I was skeptical trying this product but at only $11.95 a bottle figured it was worth a try. To my delight, I found Squirrel Proof Treat Your Own Seed Saver worked. How this stuff works is it teaches or conditions squirrels to the association between the taste they don’t like and the smell of the food. This process can take a few weeks but I found the results to be almost instant in an area where Grey Squirrels and Red Squirrels are present.
In the video below, I demonstrate how easy this product is to mix with peanuts before filling my feeder.
This product is incredibly easy to use. On initial use add 3 to 4 tablespoons of seed saver to 1 pound of your favourite seed. Once squirrels are avoiding your feeder you can cut back to 1 to 2 tablespoons per pound. Each bottle of seed saver treats 35 lbs of bird seed. I use an old plastic coffee can with a snap-on lid to mix my seed as I can easily shake the container ensuring all the seed gets coated.
Northern Flicker feeding on peanuts halves at my 16″ metal feeder.
One of my favorite feeders is the 16″ metal peanut feeder. I have had great success over the years attracting woodpeckers, nuthatches, and Carolina Wrens to this feeder but have always hung it from a tree branch with an old wire coat hanger. Squirrels would always walk out on the tree branch and descend the wire easily accessing the peanut halves inside. Once I added the seed saver to the peanuts, the squirrels left the peanuts alone almost immediately. Not only was I happy this vitamin-enriched bird seed mix worked, but I also noticed an increase in birds using the feeder. Whether or not this was because the birds like the seed saver treated peanuts more than plain peanuts or the fact the squirrels previously occupying the feeder kept the birds away, only the birds know.
This Red-bellied Woodpecker enjoyed hulled sunflower seed from my hopper feeder.
Satisfied with the results, I started mixing the seed saver with hulled sunflower seed offered in a hopper feeder. Again, the results were the same lots of birds and no squirrels. Another feeder I love is my ground feeder. As the name suggests, this feeder is popular with ground-feeding birds including cardinals, doves, and the more desired native sparrows including white-throated, white-crowned, and Dark-eyed Juncos. This feeder also attracts squirrels due to its easy ground access. Since adding seed saver to white millet and hulled sunflower in the ground feeder, no squirrels. I even tried adding treated peanuts halves to the ground feeder figuring this was a squirrel’s favourite food and easiest access and again no squirrels. I could finally watch all the amazing ground-feeding birds use this awesome feeder stress-free without worrying about squirrels emptying it in minutes.
Many birds like this White-crowned Sparrow prefer a ground feeder. Mixing Treat Your Own Seed Saver with my seed ensures I’m feeding the birds and not the squirrels.
As a bonus, but something I haven’t tried yet, once squirrels are conditioned to the smell of the seed saver it can be added to the base of potted plants or to mulch in your garden to keep squirrels from digging as the seed saver will not harm the plants.
If you are looking to foil those squirrels once and for all, I highly recommend this incredible product!
