The iridescent blue feathers of the Tree Swallow are simply stunning.
Building birdhouses is something I’ve always loved doing. The simple woodworking skills required to make a birdhouse were taught to me by my dad when I was a youngster. Together over the years we’ve made quite a few houses in his basement workshop and had a variety of birds nest in our creations. The feeling of seeing birds raise a brood in a house I’ve made with my own hands is truly amazing. One of the first houses I can remember building with my dad was a Tree Swallow house we attached to a tree on the front lawn at the family cottage. I can’t remember exactly how old I was when we made this house, but it’s safe to say it was almost 40 years ago.
Tree Swallows are cavity nesters which means they will readily use a properly placed birdhouse of appropriate size.
When we first put this birdhouse up, Tree Swallows were abundant and took to the house that first spring. Every year for decades swallows used the house. As is the case with many aerial insectivores, Tree Swallow numbers have declined, not enough to have them listed as species at risk like other swallows in Ontario, but their numbers have dropped. This decline was evident as we noticed fewer Tree Swallows soaring over the lake catching insects with their beaks. What we also noticed was the birdhouse was no longer being used.
Despite the lack of swallows, we left the birdhouse attached to the tree and kept our hopes up. That birdhouse certainly saw its fair share of wear and tear from the weather and over the years we resurrected it by adding a screw or nail here and there or a salvaged piece of wood to one of the sides.
This family of Tree Swallows s one of many over the years that fledged from this birdhouse I made with my dad when I was a child.
In recent years, Tree Swallows reappeared and became interested in the house again. A couple of years ago, while opening the cottage in early May a pair of Tree Swallows were checking out the house and perching on nearby branches. The front had cracked over the winter and the house was in no condition for the birds to use. I removed the house from the tree and carefully took off the front. With the front off I gave the inside of a good clean. I found a narrow piece of wood in the boathouse and scabbed it on the front to hold the cracked piece together. After reattaching the front I mounted the house once again to the tree. As I did this, I was called inside for lunch. Leaving the ladder in front of the house, I went inside, washed up, and sat down at the table to eat my sandwich. As I ate, I noticed the pair of swallows going in and out of the house with the ladder only a few inches from the hole. From then on, Tree Swallows have successfully raised a brood in successive years.
Tree Swallows can eat their body weight in flying insects including mosquitos every day, which equates to about 2,000 insects. Two adults plus four to seven offspring raised in a birdhouse makes evenings at the cottage a lot less buggy.
I decided it was time to replace that birdhouse and thought the end of the season after the swallows had migrated south when it was time to close the cottage would be the best time. Doing so would guarantee the house was ready for the swallows next spring when they return. I wanted to build the house myself but with other commitments, mainly a new puppy, I knew I wouldn’t have time. Therefore, I decided to order a tree swallow house from Urban Nature Store.
I bought this birdhouse from Urban Nature Store to replace the one I built years ago with my dad.
Arriving only a few days after placing the order, I was extremely happy with the house when I opened the box. Made from eastern white pine and fastened together with brass screws the wood is treated with linseed oil to withstand the weather. Another great feature is the front swings open for easy cleaning. The new birdhouse has exactly the same dimensions as the one my dad and I made so many years ago and have had great success with. Not only is the 1.5″ hole the perfect size for tree swallows this box can also be used for Eastern Bluebirds. Houses I’ve built with these same dimensions and a 1.5″ hole have also been used by Carolina Wrens.
If you have Tree Swallows on your property, consider adding a birdhouse to offer them a place to nest.
I went to the cottage in mid-September to close it for the winter and hung this new birdhouse on the tree. I’m excited to return once again in May 2024 and hopefully see Tree Swallows using it. Despite birds not nesting for several months, now is a great time to put up a birdhouse. Two of the key factors in a birdhouse being used are location and having it up when the birds are ready to use it. Often our intentions of adding a birdhouse in the spring are good, but life gets busy or we forget and therefore don’t have one out when the birds start nesting. If you are thinking about adding a birdhouse to your yard, I recommend doing it now. By doing so, the house can weather looking less new, and resident birds will become accustomed to seeing it. In the case of migratory birds like the Tree Swallow, you are guaranteed the house will be ready for the birds when they return next spring.
Hulk is going to provide inspiration for me to get out with my camera and blog more regularly again.
As most of you know, my dog Molly was always my inspiration to get out with my camera. Having a large dog that needed plenty of exercise was the perfect excuse to get out hiking and I always took my camera along. Unfortunately, I had to say goodbye to Molly in April of 2022. My time outdoors without Molly hasn’t been the same. While I have still enjoyed hiking and paddling, I haven’t enjoyed it as much. As a result, I have looked for every unreasonable excuse not to get out and found myself only really motivated to do so under perfect weather conditions. My passion for photography dwindled as you could probably tell by my lack of blog posts.
Hulk’s first trip to the lake.
Something was missing on my adventures. What was missing was seeing that look of happiness on Molly’s face and that constant tail wagging. Molly was my inspiration. I realized the purpose of my outings is to make a dog happy and give it the best possible life imaginable, a life filled with adventures in the outdoors whether it be on land or water, and capturing images along the way to preserve the memories of these amazing times.
Hulk loves watching the birds in the backyard as much as I do and doesn’t chase them even when they are in this ground feeder.
After a year and a half without Molly, I realized I needed a dog in my life and was starting to look for a puppy. I searched a few online ads and saw lots of cute puppies of various breeds that caught my eye, but nothing really spoke to me. I knew I wanted a large dog that would enjoy the water and also be good in cold weather as Molly taught me to embrace winter and I now love it. After looking briefly and with not a lot of seriousness I stopped searching. I always believed a puppy would come into my life when the time was right just like Molly did in 2010.
Getting Hulk comfortable with docks and water. This photo was taken seconds before he stepped off the end of the dock. I’m happy to report he did great on his first swim.
I’m excited to share a new puppy has found its way into my life just like Molly did. A few weeks ago, I saw a woman where I was camping walking a dog that looked similar to Molly with several puppies. I had to know about these puppies and was curious if any were available. Sadly, after asking lots of questions about the parents, puppies, etc., I was informed all the puppies were spoken for.
Hulk was pretty excited to be soaking wet.
Later that night around the campfire, while talking to a friend who also happens to work at the campground, I contemplated giving the woman my contact information in case someone backed out of a puppy. My friend thought this was a good idea; however, for reasons I am not sure of I never gave the woman my info.
Hulk loves fetching a ball something I love in a dog. After only a day, he learned to bring it back and put it in my hand.
A few days later, the woman informed my friend that a puppy had become available. He told her I was interested and she remembered meeting me earlier that week. My friend told her about Molly and all our great adventures and the wonderful life she had. As it turned out, the woman wanted me to take the puppy as she wanted it to go to a loving home where it would have the best life possible. My friend informed me of this so I went to talk to the woman.
Hulk seems to like the water and loves his new ball.
I met both of the puppy’s parents. Both dogs were gentle, affectionate dogs. The dad an Alaskan Malamute/Maremma Sheepdog cross and the mom a Labradoodle. As I contemplated whether or not to bring this puppy into my life I weighed the pros and cons and looked for signs a few of which were quite evident. This dog was coming to me by chance just like Molly did and she gave me the best 12 years of my life. Second, the puppy was named Hulk. Growing up, I was a huge fan of the TV show The Incredible Hulk with Lou Ferrigno and still idolize Lou to this day. I knew if I didn’t bring Hulk into my life I would have regrets.
Hulk shaking off after his first swim.
Long story short, I have a new puppy and inspiration to get out and enjoy the great outdoors. Obviously, I kept the name Hulk. One of Hulk’s favourite things already is lying next to me while I sit and watch the birds at my feeder, his little head turning as the birds flit from feeder to feeder. He and I instantly bonded!
There are going to be lots of games of ball in our future and I couldn’t be happier about it.
I feel happy again and in the short time I’ve had Hulk, I’ve enjoyed walking outdoors with him in all weather conditions. I’m so excited to have a new best friend and new inspiration to get out every chance I can with Hulk and my camera. With more adventures with Hulk, I hope to blog more and share the stories and images of the wildlife we come across. Hulk is already so smart, well-behaved, and a kind, loving soul I’m looking forward to a lifetime of adventures with him.
Baltimore Orioles are one of the more vibrant birds that regularly visit backyards. These colourful birds are easy to attract by offering their favourite foods.
The next big wave of migrants is set to descend on Southwestern Ontario. Included in this group will be the Baltimore Oriole. Orioles overwinter in the southern United States, Central, and South America returning each spring in late April or early May. Reports of these birds in our area are beginning to come in, so it is time to think about attracting them to your yard.
The striking plumage of the male Baltimore Oriole is a welcome sight in any yard.
Feeding on insects, fruit, and nectar the Baltimore Oriole doesn’t visit your typical backyard feeder filled with seed; however, they will visit a feeder designed specifically for orioles. A nectar feeder, similar to those used for hummingbirds, is one of the more popular feeders used by homeowners to attract orioles to their yards. Since orioles have larger bills than hummingbirds, these feeders have larger ports for the birds to access the nectar.
Nectar can be made easily at home by mixing four parts water with one part sugar. In a pot, bring one cup of water to a boil on your stove. Add 1/4 cup of white sugar and stir as the sugar dissolves. Remove the mixture from the stove and allow it to cool before filling your feeder. Be sure to replace the nectar in your feeder regularly, especially in warmer weather.
As is the case with most birds, female Baltimore Orioles are not as colorful as their male counterparts.
Oranges are another great option to offer orioles that visit your backyard. By placing either orange slices or halves around your yard, orioles will quickly move in to consume the fruit. Orange halves and slices can be stuck on tree branches, shepherd’s hooks, or anywhere the birds can access them. It has been my experience that squirrels too will eat oranges, so it is a good idea to place them in a location where these small mammals cannot access them. Commercial feeders designed specifically for offering oranges are also available at your local seed retailer.
Regardless of which food you decide to offer orioles, make sure it is fresh. Nectar, oranges, and jelly all spoil faster than traditional bird foods, especially in warmer temperatures.
Grape jelly is another excellent food for attracting orioles to your yard. Be careful though, as not all jellies are created equal. Many grape jellies available at your local grocery store are sweetened with high fructose corn syrup and contain other artificial sweeteners and colours that offer no nutritional value and could potentially be harmful to the birds. Check the ingredients on the label and ensure that the grape jelly you buy is either unsweetened or sweetened with sugar only. If you are unsure, commercial jelly designed specifically for birds is available at your local seed retailer.
Grape jelly can be placed outside in a shallow dish, or again commercial feeders are available specifically for jelly. Some of these feeders are combination feeders, meaning they will accommodate oranges and jelly, or oranges, jelly, and nectar. Visit your local seed retailer to see the wide variety of commercial oriole feeders available. As is the case with nectar and oranges, replace the jelly regularly, especially in warmer weather. When replacing the food, whether it’s nectar, oranges, or jelly, clean the feeder at the same time. This too will ensure the health of the birds.
Oriole sightings are being reported from around our area. If you haven’t already, add an oriole feeder to your yard and attract this stunning beauty.
Orioles are one of the more vibrant birds that will visit a backyard and are easy to attract. If you haven’t put your oriole feeder out yet, now is the time. If you don’t own an oriole feeder, I highly recommend adding one to your yard. These feeders are inexpensive to purchase and well worth the investment once you see that first flash of black and orange in your backyard.
Carolina Wrens are among the many birds I enjoy watching on my new feeder.
Suet is a high-energy food I’ve offered at my feeders for many years. I’ve enjoyed watching woodpeckers, chickadees, nuthatches, and even Carolina Wrens cling to the various styles of feeders I’ve tried over the years.
It’s important to note not all suet is created equal. In my early years of backyard bird feeding, I thought I was saving a few bucks by purchasing suet from big box stores. As a result, I had minimal action at my feeder. Over the years, I learned inexpensive suet sold at these retailers contains a lot of filler, including milo. Milo is a seed not eaten by birds in eastern North America and is found in cheap seed and suet. As a result, for many years, I watched my suet hang with little activity, and I often ended up throwing it out, having wasted money rather than saving.
The built-in tail prop on this feeder makes it easy for woodpeckers to balance.
I recently acquired a new suet feeder from Urban Nature Store. This feeder is made from recycled plastic, so it will withstand exposure to the elements and be easy to clean. This feeder is incredibly well-made with a strong wire hanger and fits a standard-size suet cake. The top of the feeder slides up the wire, making it a piece of cake (pun intended) to add the suet. This feeder also features a tail prop that helps the woodpeckers balance, like when clinging to a tree.
White-breasted Nuthatch
The suet I am offering in this feeder is insect and nut suet also obtained from Urban Nature Store. I love this suet for several reasons. First, it’s made right here in Ontario by Mill Creek Seed Co. Second, it’s high-quality, made from real insects, chopped peanuts, and beef fat. I’ve been using the Mill Creek brand for years (after realizing my error that where I buy my suet matters) with great success.
Within minutes of hanging this feeder, a Red-breasted Nuthatch was already feeding at it. This happened so quickly that I hadn’t even returned to the house. Now I will admit I have several other feeders in my yard and an established population of birds coming to feed regularly. That said, I have not offered suet this winter as I have limited the number of feeders in preparation for an upcoming move.
Carolina Wren (left) and Downy Woodpecker (right) feeding at this new feeder from Urban Nature Store.
On the first day I had this feeder out seven species had visited including:
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker (my favourite bird)
Black-capped Chickadee
Carolina Wren
This Red-breasted Nuthatch was the first bird to arrive on my new feeder.
This is the first time I’ve used a suet feeder with a tail prop, and it seems to make a huge difference, especially for the larger woodpeckers like the Hairy and Red-bellied. To say I’m impressed with this feeder would be an understatement, and my only regret is why I didn’t have this feeder years ago. I’m looking forward to more enjoyment watching the birds at this feeder and know I’ll have it for many years thanks to the high-quality construction.
If you are in the market for a suet feeder, I highly recommend trying this one; I’m sure glad I did.
This male Redhead presented amazing views from the platform at Greenway Park.
Unexpectedly, I ended up with the Family Day long weekend off work. Having just returned a few days prior from my winter getaway, I intended to work the three days to make up the lost hours. While my wallet will undoubtedly feel the pain, I can’t say I was overly disappointed as having just spent several days in nature I was still feeling the benefits and my desire to immerse myself in nature again was quite strong.
Over the Family Day long weekend, cardinals began singing their signature song.
I wavered quite a bit about where to go and had several locations in mind. I was leaning heavily toward Greenway Park as I have not been there much lately and this is my favourite park in the city for birding. After receiving a heads-up from a Facebook follower of a male Redhead present near the platform overlooking the river my mind was made up.
Cedar Waxwing reaching for a buckthorn berry.
On Saturday morning I made my way to the park shortly after first light. With the sun rising just over the trees I made the short walk from the parking lot to the platform overlooking the Thames River. Sure enough, just like I was told through Facebook, the male Redhead was swimming among all the Mallards only a few feet from shore. The morning sun illuminated the duck’s colourful plumage perfectly as I fired off several images.
Interestingly, a flock of robins was found in the same patch of buckthorn as this time last year.
Here’s where things started to get emotional. I was excited to have such close views of this beautiful duck and very appreciative of the woman who notified me through Facebook of the bird’s location. A sense of sadness came over me as the Redhead is my dad’s favourite duck and I wished he was there with me to experience it. I considered taking my dad with me but as he ages, he really feels the cold and this morning was rather chilly with a strong wind. Knowing Dad doesn’t do cold and windy anymore, sadly I made the decision not to bring him along. Dad and I have done a lot of birding, canoeing, and fishing on the Thames River over the years so lots of incredible memories came up on this day.
Whether on foot or in the canoe, Molly joined me on most of my birding outings. In this picture, she was fixated on a cow moose and its young calf.
Also heavily impacting my emotions was the fact it was Family Day weekend last year after enjoying the day outdoors with Molly I noticed a large lump on her front leg. The lump was diagnosed as osteosarcoma and she was given 6 to 8 weeks to live. Like the trooper she was, Molly stayed with me another 10 weeks before the difficult but necessary decision was made to have her euthanized.
Molly was my best friend and companion so naturally, she got special treatment. When spending time by the campfire this included her own tent, therapeutic dog bed, sherpa blanket, and nightlight.
For those of you not aware, Molly was my dog, best friend, and number one birding companion. In fact, for most of the images I’ve shared, Molly’s leash was attached to my Cotton Carrier and she was right by my side.
This photo was taken on Molly’s final visit to Greenway Park.
I can’t tell you the number of days Molly and I spent at Greenway Park birding over the 12 years she was in my life. Greenway Park is where I got started in nature photography after a trip to the dog park with Molly when she was quite young revealed so many birds present highlighted by a Bald Eagle flyover. From that day on I spent as much of my free time as possible with Molly enjoying the great outdoors while practicing photography.
Before Molly I hated winter. Her love of snow taught me how much fun winter is and now I love winter. After spring migration winter is my favourite season for birding.
Molly was my biggest motivator for getting outside with my camera. On days when I didn’t feel like going out, I couldn’t say no to her beautiful brown eyes so off we would go to Greenway. We had some amazing times there over the years and observed over 100 bird species in this park only a few blocks from downtown. Not too bad in a city with a population of over 400,000. I’ve found it challenging to motivate myself to get out over the last year without Molly and this is the reason I’ve been MIA from blogging over this time.
This male Downy Woodpecker presented a unique view. It’s not often they perch horizontally.
After enjoying the sighting of the Redhead, I followed the path upstream and was treated to more great sightings. My favourite bird, the Red-bellied Woodpecker was seen high up in a willow tree and I managed to capture an image of a Downy Woodpecker as it paused briefly on an eye-level limb. This was one of several Downy Woodpeckers aggressively chasing each other presumably defending their territory
Robins were observed drinking and bathing in the Thames River.
As I came to a patch of buckthorn, I could hear the soft calls of robins and high-pitched whistles of Cedar Waxwings. Scanning the trees, a mixed flock of these birds was feeding on the berries. Looking down at the river, more robins were seen drinking the water that was magnificently reflecting the blue sky. Despite barely passing art class in high school and only taking it as it was a required credit, I did learn orange and blue are complementary colours and love how robins look against a blue sky or water. I guess this answers the age-old question so often asked in school “when am I ever going to use this again”?
I’ve always been fortunate to have Carolina Wrens in my backyard. These birds are very fond of peanut halves and peanut suet offered at my feeders.
Torn between staying at my favorite park and heading back home, I opted for the latter. The appeal of heading home was greatly influenced by some new feeders and seed I received from Urban Nature Store. I recently became a brand ambassador for Urban Nature Store and am excited to share my experiences with and promote their high-quality birding-related products and seed, some of which is made right here in Ontario!
White-breasted Nuthatch.
Still bundled up from my park outing, I carried my camera to the backyard. Under beautiful sunshine, the feeders and surrounding trees were filled with birds. I enjoyed the show put on by my feathered friends and captured several images. The warm sunshine felt great and I ended up spending the remainder of the day in the yard which no doubt helped me deal with my mixed emotions. John Denver nailed it when he sang sunshine on my shoulders makes me happy.
This picture of Molly and me was taken on our final walk. The lifejacket was so I could take the weight off her front leg if necessary. Whenever I crouched down to her level for a picture, she always saw it as an opportunity for a public display of affection.
Despite Family Day weekend bringing a whirlwind of emotions, one thing is certain, surrounding myself in nature made everything better. Enjoying the birds while reflecting on both amazing and sad memories set everything at ease. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, nature is the best medicine.
Photographing a Pine Marten for the first time was one of the many highlights of a recent winter getaway.
It’s been a busy fall and winter that hasn’t left me much time for birding or photography. Almost all of my free time over the past few months has been committed to helping family, so when the opportunity came up to take a few days off work and go birding I jumped at the chance. I was incredibly excited for this trip as not only was surrounding myself in nature going to clear my head of all that has been going on lately, but I also acquired a new lens only days before leaving. What lens would I be wielding on this adventure? The Sigma 150-600mm f/5.0-6.3.
Many of the Canada Jays in Algonquin Park have colourful bands on their legs. These bands not only help researchers determine the bird’s age and range but can also identify a mating pair.
For this getaway, I made my way up to Algonquin Provincial Park in hopes of seeing some of the many winter finches that call the park home from late fall to early spring. My first stop upon entering the park was at the West Gate to purchase an annual day-use permit. I highly recommend this to anyone who uses any of Ontario’s provincial parks regularly as this is by far the most economical option. For $111.87 (including HST), this pass allows the holder unlimited day-use access to any provincial park in Ontario. For comparison, a daily vehicle permit allowing only one day of admission costs $21.00 (including HST) so if you are planning 6 or more trips to a provincial park over the year, get the annual pass. Again, this pass is valid at any provincial park and I get my money’s worth not only at Algonquin but also at Komoka Provincial Park, Rondeau, and the Pinery.
Black-capped Chickadees were abundant in many areas of the park.
After obtaining my pass, I continued west along highway 60 to the Spruce Bog Trail. This easy, 1.5 km loop is one of my favourites in the park as not only is the scenery breathtaking, there is always an abundance of birds and wildlife no matter the time of year. Stepping out of the car, I donned my Cotton Carrier and attached my Canon 7D and Sigma 150-600mm lens while slinging my binoculars over my shoulder.
An older couple in the parking lot was looking high up in the spruce trees and seemed quite excited about what they had just seen. I walked over and asked what they saw and the woman told me a Boreal Chickadee. Having never seen this bird, I too began scanning the treetops with my binoculars, and mixed in with the dozens of Black-capped Chickadees I saw the distinct brown cap and cinnamon flanks of the Boreal Chickadee. I watched as the bird flitted from tree to tree and had some great views of this lifer but the bird never did drop low enough or present an opportunity for a photo. Excited and satisfied by this observation, I made my way to the trailhead.
Red-breasted Nuthatch photographed along the Spruce Bog Trail.
It was evident the Spruce Bog Trail had been well traveled in recent days as the snow was hard packed which made for easy walking. The sound of Black-capped Chickadees and Red-breasted Nuthatches filled the tree tops. As I made my way out of the forest and onto the snow-covered boardwalk two larger birds passed by overhead. I could tell by their shape they were jays but was unsure if they were Blue or Canada Jays. Scanning the tops of the spruce trees I was able to positively identify these birds as Canada Jays.
The Canada Jay was recently named by Canadian Geographic as our national bird and was formerly known as the Gray Jay. Many also refer to them as the Whisky Jack which comes from Wiskedjak, Wisagatcak, and Wisekejack, taken from Indigenous languages which means a mischievous, transforming spirit who likes to play tricks on people. Regardless of what you call them these birds are absolutely beautiful and a treat to observe.
By this time, I had already fired off dozens of photos and was impressed with this new lens. Autofocus was fast and accurate and from what I could see on the LCD screen on the back of my camera the lens was also very sharp. Equally impressive was how well this lens performed shooting wide open at f/6.3 in low-light conditions in the dense forest. Expect a full review of this lens to come in a future blog post.
After finishing up at Spruce Bog which ended up taking several hours as there was lots of pausing for photos, I made my way over to the Visitor Centre. Here, several feeders are set up, and this is where sightings of Evening and Pine Grosbeaks had been reported. Arriving in the early afternoon, activity around the feeders consisted of chickadees, nuthatches, and Downy Woodpeckers. Unfortunately, there were no grosbeaks or finches around, and talking to other birders, late morning was apparently the best time to observe these species at this location. Armed with this information I decided to make my way to Opeongo Road and return the following day to the Visitor Centre in hopes of seeing the grosbeaks.
Even with slower shutter speeds and a wide open aperture, I was very impressed with the sharpness of the Sigma 150-600mm. Canada Jay 1/160 f/6.3 ISO 1250.
Driving along Opeongo Road I could see an otter out on Costello Lake. I watched as it would run two steps then slide along the ice on its belly. This was quite comical and entertaining to see and I watched for several minutes as the otter zig-zagged its way across the ice. Too far for a photo, I was happy to enjoy the experience through my binoculars.
Further down Opeongo Road closer views of otters were achieved as they poked their heads up through holes in the ice on Costello Creek. Seeing this reminded me of the game whack-a-mole. Observing otters is always fun as their behaviour is truly unique and so playful, unlike any other species I’ve observed. One otter made repeated dives through a hole in the ice and emerged with what I think was a clam. After finishing its meal the otter proceeded to rub its face along the ice presumably to clean its fur. Just more of the comical and unique behaviour of this amazing species.
Properly exposing the whites is always important especially in the snow to avoid images that appear gray. I overexposed this image by one full stop to preserve the white snow.
Carrying on down Opeongo Road I parked just off to the side of the seasonal gate and took a look around. More Black-capped Chickadees were present and so too were more Canada Jays. Not long after arriving, movement on the forest floor caught my attention. As I looked through the maze of branches I saw a Pine Marten. This was very exciting for me as I had never seen this species and was one I was hoping to encounter on this trip. This particular marten was incredibly photogenic and provided me the opportunity to capture several images.
This curious raven was obviously accustomed to handouts by park visitors as it landed next to my car seconds after pulling into a parking lot.
For this trip, I didn’t camp in my hot tent as I wanted to focus my time on the high percentage areas along highway 60 and not setting up and breaking camp or hiking in and out of the backcountry each day. Rather I decided to book an area motel and was very pleased with this decision. On day two after eating breakfast and having my morning coffee in a warm room, I made my way to the Visitor Centre in search of grosbeaks.
Driving down highway 60 the hoar frost in the trees was absolutely stunning. In retrospect, I wished I stopped to take some landscape images but I was too excited to get to the feeders in hopes of seeing the grosbeaks as I much prefer wildlife photography over landscapes.
Pine Marten in a pine tree.
Arriving at the Visitor Centre at 10:00 a.m. I could hear Evening Grosbeaks calling from down in the valley along Sunday Creek but none were visible. I ended up waiting over an hour for the grosbeaks to appear. Sitting still is not easy for me and is something I struggle to do. I often get questions from people asking me how long I had to wait to get a certain photo. The truth is I rarely wait more than a few minutes for a photo. If it isn’t happening I’m on the move to find something that is. Fortunately, two Pine Martens were present which gave me ample photo opportunities and took the pain out of the long wait.
Male Evening Grosbeak photographed at the Visitor Centre.
Sure enough, as others the previous day had suggested, by late morning Evening Grosbeaks emerged from the valley and appeared in the trees adjacent to the feeders. The morning sun was hitting them beautifully showing off their radiant yellow plumage and white wing patches. The feeders were filled with black-oil sunflower seeds and enjoyed by a variety of birds.
Canada Jay photographed with my new Sigma 150-600 mm lens. I’m looking forward to taking many more images with this lens.
Surrounding myself in nature on this getaway was the perfect way to reset after what has been an arduous few months of dealing with, well life. I can’t emphasize enough the mental and physical benefits of time in nature. I feel completely refreshed and can focus better on work and other tasks that need completing. This trip also inspired me to pick up my camera more and get back to what I love. If you find yourself needing to reset or recharge, I highly recommend spending time in nature. Whether it’s a few days in Algonquin Park or a few minutes or hours in your backyard or local park, the rewards of immersing yourself in nature are immeasurable.
Good birding,
Paul
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Fall colours in Algonquin Provincial Park are simply an amazing sight.
When it comes to photographing landscapes, fall colours are my favourite. For the past two years, I’ve been fortunate to be in Algonquin Provincial Park for the entire colour change process including the peak. I’m not well-traveled by any means but think one would be hard-pressed to find more magnificent fall colours anywhere else.
This incredible view can be found on Highway 60 just east of Source Lake.
The Highway 60 corridor is a great place to see these incredible fall colours. Looking across Tea Lake and Lake of Two Rivers at the rolling hills of deciduous trees reveals a kaleidoscope of colour. Finding a safe spot to pull off this busy highway can be a challenge but there are several spots where doing so can be done. Just east of Source Lake there is a large pull-off overlooking a creek and beaver dam which is one of my favourite places to stop. Booth’s Rock and the Lookout Trail offer some amazing views if you are looking to incorporate a hike into your colour-seeking adventure.
Each of the last two years I’ve enjoyed the fall colours on the secluded lakes of Algonquin’s backcountry.
Getting off the beaten path and enjoying these amazing vistas in more secluded locations is what I prefer. Therefore, paddling and portaging into many of the smaller lakes is where I focus my attention. Words can’t describe my feelings when experiencing these incredible sights in solitude while hearing only the sounds of nature. The calming effects of this practice have a lasting impact and combined with paddling and portaging the benefits to my physical and mental health are immeasurable.
A 10 stop neutral density filter is a great addition to your bag if you are looking to photograph waterfalls. These filters reduce the amount of light reaching your camera’s sensor which allows you to shoot at a much slower shutter speed resulting in milky white water. Using a tripod is a must in these situations to achieve a sharp image.
When it comes to equipment for photographing fall colours, I like to keep it simple. I use my backup camera which is an old Canon Rebel T3i. The reason for this is so I can keep my main camera body, a Canon 7D at the ready with my Tamron 100-400mm lens attached in case I come across a loon, moose, or any other wildlife. I used to only carry one camera and switch between my landscape and wildlife lenses but missed too many shots while fumbling to swap lenses, hence the two cameras.
Photographing fall colours from the solitude of my pack boat is something I thoroughly enjoy.
As far as lenses go, this too is simple and inexpensive. Most of my images are taken with an 18-55mm kit lens, but I also carry a 55-250mm for more distant scenes and a 10-18mm to cover a wider spectrum. To carry this gear I use a Lowepro Flipside 200 backpack. This keeps my lenses at the ready and the flipside feature makes changing lenses effortless without having to take the pack off. This compact backpack has plenty of room for accessories like spare memory cards, batteries, lens cleaning equipment, maps, a water bottle, and even a tripod.
A foreground element adds depth to the image.
Camera settings for photographing fall colours are pretty straightforward. Since I am not dealing with a moving subject I can get away with a much slower shutter speed than when I am photographing wildlife. I follow the reciprocal rule for choosing shutter speed. What this means is I want my shutter speed to be 1/focal length. Following this rule virtually eliminates shake when handholding a camera. So for my kit lens shooting at say 50mm, I want my shutter speed to be at least 1/50. Keep in mind that on windy days you may encounter a moving subject as the leaves and branches dance in the wind. If this is the case a faster shutter speed will be required to eliminate motion blur.
Mid-moring on calm days is when I find it best to capture the fall colours reflecting on the water.
I keep my ISO as low as possible and find most days I shoot at ISO 100. On windy days or in low light I will increase this to 200 or 400 but rarely higher.
Shooting at a narrower aperture (a larger number) adds more depth to an image and keeps more of the frame in focus; therefore, I usually shoot at f/8 or narrower and often find I am most happy with the results I get at f/11.
More reflections from Algonquin photographed with my Canon Rebel T3i and 55-250mm lens.
To keep things simple, I use aperture priority mode as the camera calculates part of the exposure. With me selecting ISO 100 and f/11 the camera then determines the corresponding shutter speed and on most days this falls within the parameters of the previously mentioned reciprocal rule. I can then use exposure compensation to fine-tune my exposure by watching my histogram and exposing for the whites or highlights which in most cases are the clouds. By doing this I capture all the detail within the clouds in-camera.
Following the rule of thirds, I strategically placed my pack boat in this image.
After exposure composition is the second most important element to an image. This is where the rule of thirds comes in. Imagine your scene has a set of horizontal and vertical lines running across it like a Tic-Tac-Toe board. These lines divide the landscape into thirds both horizontally and vertically. When framing your image you want to line up your subject on one of these imaginary lines preferably where they intersect. This could be a tree, rock, the sun, or any other object in the picture. Adding a foreground element at these intersecting lines will add depth to the image. If you shoot in live view looking at your scene on your camera’s LCD you can turn on the grid which will give you the lines as a reference. Keep in mind shooting in live view uses more battery power, so carrying a spare is a good idea.
In my opinion, mid-morning is the best time to photograph fall colours. I find the colours to be true and on calm days the reflections on the water are best at this time.
Personally, my preferred conditions for photographing fall colours are sunny days with a mix of fluffy white clouds. The colours really pop against the blue sky while the clouds add detail to the sky. I like mid-morning the best as I find the colours are true not like during the golden hour or sunrise and sunset. Cloudy, rainy days can be good too as the colours against dark gray clouds convey a completely different mood.
Heavier, darker clouds convey a different mood.
Knowing when the leaves are changing in a given area is key to getting the best images. For this, I use the website Fall Colours at Ontario Parks. By looking at the information from the provincial park nearest my area, I can get a pretty good idea of how the colour change is progressing and plan my outings accordingly. Now that I am back in London I look at the information for Pinery Provincial Park and Port Burwell Provincial Park and see that we are only at 20% to 40% leaf change down here. This tells me it will be another week or two before the fall colours peak in Southwestern Ontario. In the meantime, I’ll keep an eye out for potential landscapes that might look good when the leaves change while I’m out and about photographing other subjects and return once the leaves are more colourful.
Leading lines like this fallen log and reflections navigate your eyes through a photo.
The fall colours may have already peaked to our north, but for us in Southwestern Ontario, the best is yet to come. Fall is such a great time to be outdoors and hopefully, this post helps you in your quest to capture the incredibly colourful leaves Mother Nature gives us.
Good birding,
Paul
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Having a plan and in this case, a plan B helped me achieve my dream of seeing a moose in the water.
Whenever I head out for a day of photography I always have some sort of plan for how I am going to approach the day. This plan is never too elaborate and doesn’t take much time to put together. Usually, it’s nothing more than where I am going to go and my direction of travel once I get there based on light and wind. If possible I want the light at my back as this makes for easier views and better images and those of you who have followed me for a while know I almost always search in areas protected from the wind.
The moose on the left I believe is a young bull born last year.
My plan on this day was to revisit a lake in Algonquin Park I had paddled the previous week where I saw a cow moose and her two young calves. On my initial outing, I enjoyed nice views of this trio but failed to capture any images as I was too far away. The wind was forecast to be strong out of the northwest but thought if I hugged the shoreline I would be protected and end up at the far end of the lake right where I had seen these moose previously.
The soft mud at the edge of the river caused the moose’s legs to sink in making it a challenge for them to exit the water.
Arriving at the lake the wind was due north and the waves were crashing in on the beach at the launch area. Paddling for several kilometers into this headwind was going to be no fun so I knew I needed to come up with a plan B.
Here the moose on the left sunk all the way to its hips.
One thing about Algonquin is there is no shortage of lakes, so I decided to go to a lake on the other side of the road. The wind there would be offshore and I could safely and easily make my way into a narrow, slow-flowing river that joined another small lake.
After freeing his back legs his front legs then sunk in the mud.
After unloading my canoe and filling it with my gear and Molly, I began paddling for the river. The wind at my back helped push me along and this close to shore there were no waves. Entering the river there were few American Black Ducks on my left resting on a fallen tree. These ducks may not be the most colourful waterfowl but for reasons I’m still not sure they’re one of my favorites. After a few pictures, I continued down the river.
Finally, the moose found a bottom that would support their weight.
As I made my way downriver, I could hear loud splashing in the water behind me. I looked over my should and saw two moose entering the water. Seeing a moose in the water from my canoe has always been a dream of mine so this experience was incredible. I quickly raised my camera and began taking photos as the moose proceeded to drink. I believe this was a cow moose with a young bull born last year as he was bigger than other calves I’ve seen but not as big as the cow. The two watched me as I watched them and they didn’t seem overly concerned about my presence but did keep a close eye on Molly.
I captured a video of the two moose swimming across the river which you can watch on YouTube below.
What happened next was truly amazing. The two moose swam across the river to the other side. Almost effortlessly they crossed but once on the far side began sinking in the mud. The mud was too soft to support their weight and they quickly sank to their knees. It was a little difficult to watch these amazing creatures struggling to get out of the water but it didn’t take them long to get their footing.
Molly was surprisingly composed throughout the whole experience, much more than I was.
I think the soft mud must have been too much of a challenge for these moose as not long after crossing the river they entered the water again and swam back across to where they came from. Watching this from about 40 yards in my canoe was an awesome experience and one I’ll never forget. I was impressed with how calm Molly was as she really didn’t care about the moose which is surprising as she is normally fascinated with creatures larger than her. She glanced over as the moose splashed but that was about it. She gets much more excited from the back seat of the car when we stop to see moose at the side of the road. When hiking if we come across deer she often gets so excited she lets out a loud bellow that sounds like a cross between Chewbacca from Star Wars and a bull Elk bugling. On this occasion, merely a brief head turn.
Continuing further down river another moose came into view grazing in the tall vegetation. This moose was much more skittish and quickly hightailed it back into the forest.
With a fast shutter speed, I captured this image of a loon resetting its wings after preening.
Exiting the river, I made my way into a protected bay on the next lake. Here, I had great views of a loon as it splashed around and preened. I find the loons in Algonquin very curious and they often swim over to my boat shortly after coming into view. I have had some incredible views over the past two seasons as many of these birds have come to within a boat length while I watch and photograph quietly.
Many of the loons I’ve encountered approach me in my boat resulting in up-close views.
All the images in this post were taken with my new Tamron 100-400mm lens. I love this lens as it is incredibly lightweight (2.5 lbs) and I’m happy with the focus speed and image quality. The zoom range is perfect especially for larger subjects like moose and close subjects like the loons. I have found myself using this lens at 250mm or less on many occasions since coming north.
As is the case whenever I am photographing birds and wildlife I like my shutter speed at least 1/1000 if possible. With slower moving subjects like moose and loons, I could get away with a slower shutter speed but given the fact I’m moving drifting in my canoe, a fast shutter speed is still warranted. On this day I had plenty of light so set my ISO at 400 and aperture to f/8 to give me a little more depth and detail which resulted in a shutter speed of 1/1600. On bright sunny days like this, it’s easy to blow out the highlights so after checking my histogram I adjusted my exposure compensation to -2/3 of a stop to retain detail particularly in the white feathers of the loon.
By carefully choosing my camera settings and exposing for the whites I was able to capture all the detail including the water droplets on this loon’s stomach.
Having a plan helps me get the most out of my time outdoors. As mentioned, my plan is nothing elaborate that takes weeks or days of planning. Often it’s thrown together the night before or the morning of an outing based on weather and wind direction and if the weather report happens to be off as was this case on this day it’s a good idea to have a plan B. With three moose and a loon seen on this adventure, there’s no doubt I’ll plan a trip back soon.
Last season, the Red Fox was a species I failed to photograph. This year, I’ve already managed several images of this sly animal.
I can’t believe I’ve been at my trailer for a month already. I guess time really does fly when you’re having fun. I’ve settled in nicely and developed a balance between work and play that is working out well as I have had time to do lots of both.
Bald Eagle photographed from my canoe while paddling the Madawaska River.
Choosing to start work at 4 a.m. allows me to take time later in the day for hiking or paddling and having the flexibility to make my own schedule is what I love most about my day job. People often question how I can spend so much time enjoying the outdoors and simply put I make time. Whether it’s starting early, working evenings, or even on weekends I do what is required so I can spend time in nature. This is what I love and keeps me healthy both physically and mentally, so making time for it is a priority.
This Hairy Woodpecker and his mate excavated a tree cavity about forty yards from my trailer and are now nesting. I’m looking forward to watching them raise their brood this season.
During the recent warm spell, I’ve spent more time paddling than hiking. The breeze off the lakes keeps me cooler and photographing nature along the water’s edge is easier than shooting through a dense forest. My paddles have been rather strategic thus far as with Algonquin Park closed to campers the area is a ghost town. I’m using this to my advantage to find wildlife and am visiting areas where plenty of park-goers will be once the province opens up to campers.
With fourteen moose observed already, I’ve surpassed my total from last season.
My moose count this year sits at fourteen, which far surpasses my total from all of last season. In fact, it was later in the year before I saw my first moose last season. My best moose sighting was a cow and two calves at the edge of a lake. They were pretty far away, too far for photos, but I enjoyed the view with my binoculars and captured a short video which I posted to Facebook with my Panasonic Lumix camera with a 60x zoom.
I’m no biologist and my hypothesis would still need to be proven, but I’m willing to wager road mortality in wildlife would decrease if said wildlife would not stop for a dump in the middle of a busy highway.
Also seen in good numbers, have been Red Fox. Some mornings I’ve seen one not too far from camp and on several trips into Algonquin I’ve observed them beside the highway. One morning while on my way into the park I saw a fox running at the side of the road. I pulled over and captured a few images as it retreated into the vegetation adjacent to the gravel shoulder. After passing by it then darted back out on the highway and proceeded to cross. To my surprise, the fox stopped in the middle of the highway and pooped on the freshly laid asphalt before continuing across.
Common Loon covered in black flies.
Loons are one of my favourite birds to photograph and like last year I’ve come across them on most of the lakes I’ve paddled. One pair I found had a nest at the edge of the lake with a single egg that I could see with binoculars. People are curious to know how the black flies are up here and personally I don’t find them bad. That being said, I typically don’t get bit by black flies or mosquitos so I might not be the best person to ask. I’ve heard several theories as to why this is, but all I know is I am grateful for this. On one of my paddles, I came to within a boat length of a loon that was covered in black flies and I never had a single bite or even any swarming around me.
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail Butterflies feeding on a pile of dung.
Last week, Canadian Tiger Swallowtail butterflies appeared in huge numbers. These yellow and black beauties are everywhere. On a day trip up the Oxtongue River, a large group of these butterflies was feeding on a pile of dung. Why do butterflies eat dung you ask? From what I’ve read, dung is rich in sodium and nitrogen two elements required for reproductions that flower nectar lacks.
Paddling up a narrow creek to a tiny set of rapids is something I really enjoy. The sound of the flowing water is so serene.
Since I last published a blog, I’ve continued to do more fishing than I did last season. With bass season still closed and having caught my fair share of pike, I’ve switched my attention to trout. Even back when I fished all the time I was never much of a trout fisherman. So far this year, my success trout fishing has been quite good. Armed with a few small Mepps and some Len Thompson lures I’ve managed to catch several Brook Trout in various rivers and Lake Trout on the larger lakes. I do enjoy eating the occasional fish, but find it hard to kill these amazing creatures so everything has been catch and release thus far.
I caught this small Brook Trout while fishing on the Oxtongue River. To see my latest YouTube video featuring this catch, see the link in the paragraph below.
Speaking of Brook Trout, I uploaded a new video to my YouTube channel called Exploring The Oxtongue River where I paddle this beautiful waterbody and find a variety of birds, run a small set of rapids with my dog Molly, and catch a small Brook trout.
Loon shaking off the black flies.
I’m looking forward to many more weeks this season at the trailer enjoying nature and exploring new areas of Algonquin Park while returning to some old favourites. Based on my time so far, it’s shaping up to be another amazing season for sure. I look forward to sharing more stories from my adventures and the images I capture and appreciate all of you following along with me.
In my first week, I’ve already had an amazing encounter with a moose.
Late last week, I migrated north to spend another season living from my small travel trailer in the vicinity of Algonquin Provincial Park. This is the same move I did last year and loved every minute so was excited to get back up here again. With so many miles of hiking, paddling, and nature to explore I’m completely in my element here and would describe this as my happy place. Fortunately, my day job allows me to work from anywhere I can connect to the internet and my 20′ trailer provides me all the luxuries of home including a queen bed, kitchen with dinette, and a full bathroom. Amazingly, this small trailer has more storage than my first house.
White-throated Sparrow singing its Oh Sweet Canada, Canada, Canada song.
Arriving early Friday morning I was happy to see everything survived the winter. Setup was quick and easy and merely a matter of connecting the water and sewer hose, and plugging into the hydro. Following this, I put together my 12′ x12′ screen room which increases my space and gives me a place to sit outside to escape the bugs. Once again this year the black flies are almost nonexistent.
Many of the shallow bays I chose to fish were full of big pike. Unfortunately, I only managed to catch the small ones. Fun to catch nonetheless!
I didn’t have a real plan for the first week other than to get into a work routine and try to find a balance between work and seeking adventure. With pike season having opened a week earlier I did want to get out and do some fishing. Catching these large fish when they are still in shallow bays after spawning has always been something I have loved. Before getting so into birding and photography I was an avid fisherman in fact even more fanatical about fishing than I am birding. When I wasn’t working I was fishing or thinking about fishing, reading a fishing magazine, or watching a fishing show on TV. However, several years ago I lost the fishing bug, partly due to burnout, I spent a minimum of 55 hours in a five day work week driving a truck for a living so when the weekend rolled around the last thing I wanted to do was spend more time driving to the lake, and partly due to a back injury. This season I want to do more fishing and have already been out several times this week.
Northern Parula
While making my way down a small river to the bay I chose to fish, I could hear the sound of several warblers singing from tree-lined banks. I always take my camera with me in my pack boat so was ready for any opportunities that presented themselves. For anyone who has tried photographing warblers, you know how challenging it is. Trying to photograph them while drifting down a river with the current is even more challenging. With my camera set to a fast shutter speed, I managed a few images. Along this stretch of river, I observed Yellow-rumped Warbler, American Redstart, Magnolia Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Chestnut-sided Warbler, and Northern Parula. Not bad for a morning of fishing!
This Wild Turkey has been a regular behind my trailer and has provided me with great views.
Around my trailer, the woods are filled with the sounds of birds. If you like to sleep in and don’t like the “noise” birds make in the mornings you’d hate it here. The loud shriek-like call of the raven can be heard most mornings along with the constant drumming and calls of Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, and Northern Flickers. The teacher, teacher, teacher call of the Ovenbird has echoed from the forest from sunup to sundown all week. Magnolia Warblers have been quite vocal too. Another bird that is quite abundant here is the White-throated Sparrow. Starting my day hearing their Oh Sweet Canada, Canada, Canada song makes me feel incredibly patriotic and fortunate to live in such an amazing country filled with beautiful wildlife. A Wild Turkey is a regular behind my trailer and I’ve had great views of this bird both while having my morning coffee and while eating dinner.
Red Squirrel
Mammal activity around the trailer includes Red Squirrels, chipmunks and on two mornings a fox has passed by. One morning while out for a short walk, I came across a fresh pile of wolf scat. Algonquin wolves are present in the woods where I am and I was fortunate to see them on several occasions last year, but I would love to photograph this species. Knowing there is one so close to my trailer makes me think my chances might be good this year.
Having this moose come to within twenty feet of me is an experience I’ll never forget.
Having success birding and fishing this first week it was hard to decide where to focus my attention when I wasn’t working. Keeping in mind the spot that had so many warblers present along the small river I decided to check out a few other similar areas on foot. These areas weren’t as productive but I had my best sighting of the week on the drive back to camp. Passing a boggy area my eyes were equally focused on the road and the bog. As I was about to exit the bog a large brown object caught my attention out of the corner of my eye. I quickly turned my head and to my delight, it was a moose. After looking in all my mirrors and checking over my shoulder I safely made a U-turn and parked on the side of the road. I exited my vehicle with my camera in hand and began taking images of this bull moose.
Unsure if this was his friendly face, I decided to step behind my car for safety.
After watching for several minutes, the moose began making its way out of the bog and towards me. I have to admit I was more than a little nervous as this animal was huge. I stepped slowly back in the direction of my car to use it as a buffer between me and the moose. The moose turned paralleling the road walking back towards the cedars. I thought this creature was going to retreat into the dense foliage but then it turned and came even closer. The moose seemed to want to cross the road but every time it was almost on the road I could hear traffic coming. Not wanting to see a moose/car collision I made noise and the moose would stop. I did this on three occasions. When there was no sound of traffic I kept quiet and the moose crossed the road about half a car length away as I stood behind my driver’s door ready to dive in and slam it shut if necessary. This encounter was awesome and one I’ll never forget. To be this close to such a massive wild animal was truly amazing.
American Redstart
As you can see it was an amazing first week back at my trailer. I sure hope this is a sign of things to come this season. I’m here until Thanksgiving and am looking forward to many more adventures and sharing my images and stories with you along the way. I hope to blog more from here than I did last year and am trying to leave time each week to do so. If you don’t already, follow me on Facebook or Instagram for daily posts from my adventures.
