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.
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.
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.
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.
A large flock of Cedar Waxwings has been present at my local patch since late November.
Cedar Waxwings are named for their appetite for cedar berries as well as their waxy red wingtips. Finding waxwings can be easy if conditions are right. In the winter months, waxwings feed predominately on the fruit of many trees including the aforementioned cedar. Find fruit trees and you will typically find waxwings. Once the food is gone so too are the waxwings.
Cedar Waxwings in a honeysuckle bush.
I’ve been following a huge flock of Cedar Waxwings at my local patch since late November. If you are wondering what I mean by patch, you can learn more in my blog post: Patch Birding: A Splendid Solution During Difficult Times or watch my episode of Explore The Wild on YouTube Patch Birding.
The waxy red wingtips are not always visible but can be clearly seen on this bird.
At my local patch, there are acres of honeysuckle bushes covered in ripe red berries. Honeysuckle fruit happens to be a favourite fruit of the Cedar Waxwing and consequently, a huge flock of waxwings has descended on my patch. It’s actually quite impressive to see how much fruit these birds consume in a week and even a day. Having watched this flock for a few months now the birds move around the patch as they devour the food from certain areas. Each day the waxwings can be in a different location within the patch depending on food or wind. I hate to sound like a broken record, but those of you who have followed me for a while will know what I’m talking about when I mentioned the wind. The waxwings are always on the leeward side of the patch feeding on Honeysuckle. A can visit the patch on a Monday with a north wind and find the birds feeding on the north side out of the wind. The very next day, I can return on a south wind and guess which side the waxwings are on? You got it, the south side!
Having a large flock of Cedar Waxwings so close to home is something I’ve enjoyed very much this winter.
Using my ears and listening for their high-pitched whistles also helps me locate the waxwings. Often after feeding heavily the birds will roost high up in the surrounding deciduous trees. Hearing their calls I look up and see the birds. Usually, after waiting only a few minutes the birds will begin dropping down to eye level in the honeysuckle and resume feeding. This not only presents great views but also the best perspective for photos.
The ripe red berries of this honeysuckle bush are the food of choice at my local patch.
Cedar Waxwings eat a wide variety of fruit and are not limited to honeysuckle and cedar berries. Mountain Ash, hawthorn, serviceberry, crabapple, and even holly berries are readily consumed by waxwings. Here in London, we have an abundance of invasive buckthorn trees and it’s not uncommon to find waxwings feeding on their berries. If you have invasive buckthorn on your property and are leaving it because it attracts birds, it’s a good idea to remove it and plant a native fruit-producing tree instead. Buckthorn is considered a starvation food for birds as it causes diarrhea and makes them weak. Buckthorn is typically consumed in late winter when other food sources become low.
Finding their food and listening for their call will help you locate Cedar Waxwings.
Next time you are out at your local patch, keep an eye out for fruit-bearing trees and an ear out for high-pitched whistles. If these are present Cedar Waxwings may be too. Remember to follow the food to keep up with the birds and you too will enjoy great views of these masked bandits.
Paying close attention to the weather conditions recently lead me to a wide variety of birds including this Cedar Waxwing.
Anyone who has followed my blog for any length of time or has come out to an event I’ve spoken at knows how I use the weather conditions to my advantage when birding. This approach always results in great days birding and pinpoints where the birds are. Reading the conditions helps me eliminate areas where fewer birds will be concentrated and makes my time in the field more efficient.
A large flock of robins was present feeding on the ripe berries.
For subscribers new to my blog, photography is not my main source of income and I do have a full-time job. I work from home and have since long before the pandemic and most of my birding/photography is done while taking a short break in the morning to stretch, get some fresh air, and walk my dog. As a result, I’m pressed for time so focus my efforts where I know the birds will be based on the weather conditions that day.
A male Northern Cardinal enjoying a reprieve from the cold north wind.
In terms of weather conditions, the main thing I focus on is wind the second is the sun. Wind will tell you where the birds will be during the colder months as birds will concentrate in areas protected from the wind. For example, if the wind is out of the west, a forest edge on the west side of a meadow or the west bank of a river is going to hold more birds than the east because this is the protected or leeward side. During the warmer months, the wind pushes insects into areas, and in return, birds will be there feeding. I use the morning sun to my advantage as this warms areas first and birds will associate with these warm areas in cold weather and in the warmer weather, this is where insects, a main food source for many birds, will become active first. Paying attention to the wind and sun helps me find birds fast maximizing my time outdoors before heading back to work.
This photogenic American Goldfinch dropped from high in the alders and landed only a few feet in front of me.
Let me give you a specific example of an incredible morning of birding I had last week by paying attention to and using the conditions in my favour. Following a few hours of work, the sun was finally up. I ate breakfast, bundled up, and stepped out the front door with my camera secured in my Cotton Carrier. I planned to bird at a city park only a short walk from home. Checking the weather before I left I noticed the wind was strong out of the north. As I walked to the park, I already had a plan in my head where I was going to focus my efforts based on the wind direction and morning sun.
Male Hairy Woodpecker
The park I birded at consists of a large open meadow surrounded by forest. On the north side of the park, the land slopes upward slightly into the subdivision. This is where I spent the morning birding as this subtle change in elevation provided the perfect windbreak from the cold north wind. At the bottom of this hill is a small gulley where water from the neighbourhood and meadow drains. The forest here is a mix of deciduous trees and shrubs including honeysuckle which were covered in bright red berries. The taller alder trees present growing from the water-filled trench were loaded with catkins. Where the honeysuckle ends goldenrod and teasels begin which have now gone to seed. The morning sun beaming from the south was warming this side of the park and providing great light for photos. It was the perfect mix of food, water, and shelter and birds were present in large numbers.
Teasels at the edge of the meadow provided food for American Goldfinches and other small songbirds.
Hearing the soft calls of robins and high-pitched whistles of Cedar Waxwings I scanned the honeysuckle at eye level. These bushes were loaded with the aforementioned birds gorging themselves on the ripe fruit. Raising my camera I fired off several images with my Canon 7D. From overhead, I could hear American Goldfinches and Pine Siskins that were feeding on the alder seeds.
Male Red-bellied Woodpecker heading up a tree with a walnut.
Dark-eyed Juncos foraged on goldenrod seeds from within the tangled maze of stalks that had bent over under the weight of the snow. American Tree and a Song Sparrow were also observed. Mourning Doves could be seen on the forest floor soaking up the morning sun. Higher up, both White-breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches were heard and seen moving down the tree trunks. Loud drumming could be heard coming from the forest and after scanning the trees I was treated to great views of Red-bellied, Hairy, and downy Woodpeckers. In total, I identified 21 different bird species in this small section of the park.
Birds aren’t the only wildlife whose location can be predicted by weather conditions, these White-tailed Deer were also found in the same forest seeking shelter from the cold north wind.
Now I’m sure I could have wandered through the park willy-nilly and seen some birds, but not in this variety or quantity. By paying attention to the conditions and using them to my advantage I focused my attention on the area that held the highest concentration of birds. Using the warm morning sun and hill that provided protection from the cold north wind as a map guided me right to where the birds were. After enjoying great views of a variety of birds, some fresh air, and exercise I headed back home to complete my workday.
Cedar Waxwing
Paying close attention to the conditions and using them to give me the upper hand is something I’ve done while birding for many years and will continue to do so for many more because it simply works. If you are hoping to see more birds on your next outing keep the conditions in mind and use them to increase the number of species you tally. This simple practice is something anyone young or old, beginner or expert can do to stack the deck in their favour maximizing time in the field.
Good birding,
Paul
*My 2021 calendars have arrived and are selling fast! A great gift idea for the bird lover on your list.*
Snow provides a beautiful backdrop for any bird especially the Northern Cardinal.
With snow in the forecast, I had Tuesday circled on my calendar as a day to head out with my camera. The potential for snow had me excited as it has been months since I have photographed birds under these conditions. In my opinion, snow provides one of the most beautiful scenes to capture images in.
Fortunately, the forecast was correct, and squalls overnight Monday and into Tuesday left a thin blanket of snow on the ground and trees presenting a gorgeous backdrop. Having readied my gear the night before, I grabbed my coat and walked out the front door.
The yellow plumage of this American Goldfinch really pops against the snow-covered ground.
I decided to visit a small park walking distance from where I live. The mixed habitat complete with a creek and small pond is home to a variety of birds, and I had seen a good number of species just a few days prior. Arriving shortly after 9:00 a.m. I was instantly treated to plenty of songbird activity. Goldenrod and aster line the path here and Dark-eyed Juncos and American Goldfinches could be seen feeding on the seeds of these native wildflowers.
Female House Finch
Goldfinches weren’t the only finches present as several House Finches were also observed feeding on the bounty of seeds. Carolina Wrens could be seen and heard as they moved through the underbrush but capturing a picture proved impossible on this day.
Male Mallard preening as the snow fell.
As I carried on further down the path the sky became dark as another squall moved in. Reaching the pond the snow was coming down rather quickly now. I watched as several Mallards were busy preening to protect themselves from the elements. Birds have a gland located at the base of their tails called the uropygial gland or preen gland. This gland contains oil that birds pick up with their beaks and rub on their feathers making them waterproof.
This male Red-bellied Woodpecker was one of three woodpecker species observed.
Three woodpecker species were observed including Red-bellied, Downy, and Hairy. White-breasted and Red-breasted Nuthatches were among other tree-clinging birds present. Large numbers of Red-breasted Nuthatches have moved south this year, known as an irruption, due to a poor cone crop to our north resulting in a lack of food.
Golden-crowned Kinglet showing off its golden crown.
Hearing the soft calls of the Golden-crowned Kinglet I scanned the goldenrod and other vegetation beside the path to see several of these tiny songbirds flitting about. If you ask me kinglets are by far the most challenging bird to photograph as they do not hold still for more than a second. A fast shutter speed is crucial for freezing the action of these birds. With the autofocus system no longer working on my primary lens photographing them was even more challenging and I missed a lot of shots as a result.
Male Northern Cardinal
London has long been known as the cardinal capital of Canada and this certainly was evident with roughly a dozen of these beauties seen. Their soft chip, chip, chip calls coming from the dense thickets filled the air. Fortunately, a few of these birds offered reasonably unobstructed views allowing me to capture a few images. The snow-covered branches were exactly the backdrop I was hoping for when I ventured out.
Eastern Grey Squirrel
When photographing birds and wildlife in the snow be extra cognizant of your exposure. It’s easy to end up with underexposed images based on the fact that all camera meters are programmed that an even exposure is mid-grey. What this means is when you look through your viewfinder and press your shutter halfway to meter the shot, when your meter is at 0 this is mid-grey or halfway between white and black.
The problem is snow is white, not mid-grey something not recognized by your camera. Further pressing the shutter all the way and taking the shot in this situation often results in an underexposed image and the snow appearing grey. In most cases when photographing birds in snow you need to overexpose your images to achieve white snow. That being said, on really sunny days you can end up overexposing your images as the sun reflects off the snow. Be sure to use your histogram and turn on your highlight alert or “blinkies” to ensure proper exposure and always expose for the whites.
This male Downy Woodpecker found something tasty in the remains of a wasp’s nest.
With temperatures expected to return to double digits this week the recent snow will be short-lived. Who knows how long it will be before we see another snowfall so I’m glad I took this opportunity when I did. The birding around the Forest City has been fantastic this fall and regardless of the weather conditions or backdrop, I can’t wait to get back out there again soon with my camera.
Good birding,
Paul
*Since taking pre-orders for my 2021 calendars earlier this week they are now over 50% sold. If you are wanting to get a copy don’t delay supply is extremely limited.*
I was back birding in Southwestern Ontario this week after five months up north. On my first outing close to home Great Blue Herons were readily observed.
Having been back in Southwestern Ontario for a little over a week I finally found time to get out for some birding. With so many options close to home I decided on Pinery Provincial Park. Why the Pinery? Easy, I wanted somewhere I could bird from my pack boat as well as on foot and the Pinery seemed like a logical choice based on the success I had there last year at this time. One of the best ways to be successful birding is to repeat what works. If I had great birding in late October there last year chances are (under similar conditions) the birding would be fantastic again this October. I like to bird with the adage in mind if it ain’t broke don’t fix it.
The leaves have not changed much at Pinery Provincial Park; however, the subtle yellows and browns provided a nice backdrop for this heron.
Loading up my gear I left home just after 8 a.m. As I headed north I could see the clear blue sky in the direction of the park. With sunny skies and classic rock playing on the radio, I could feel my excitement building. Arriving at the park just over an hour later, I put my boat in the water and was heading down the Old Ausable Channel by 9:30 a.m. Several Canada Geese that were hanging around the launch area began to honk as I slipped through the water. Looking into the emergent vegetation along the shoreline I could see a Great Blue Heron standing motionless with its head tucked in and feathers puffed out. This is typical behavior of a bird trying to keep warm as it was a chilly start to the morning.
Downy Woodpecker
Continuing down the river a pair of Wood Ducks took flight. These birds are extremely skittish and I only managed a brief look as they disappeared out of sight while their high-pitched whistles softened. Downy, Hairy, and Red-bellied Woodpeckers were all seen and heard in the large trees lining the banks as I paddled along. It is here where I often see the less common Red-headed Woodpecker but unfortunately, on this day there was none present. At least none that I saw or heard anyway. Given this bird’s current status in the province (special concern) and that they are a short-distance migrant not seeing any wasn’t too surprising.
This Pileated Woodpecker was observed high above the Old Ausable Channel preening.
Glancing up into a large tree, I could see the silhouette of a Pileated Woodpecker. As I admired this crow-sized bird another Pileated flew into a nearby tree. Raising my camera I snapped a few photos of the bird that was busy preening while the second bird flew across the river.
Great Blue Heron flying down the river.
As I paddled my way to the far end of the park I had some incredible views of Great Blue Herons. Three in total were present along the river and fortunately were posed in some pretty amazing positions and scenes. One bird, in particular, repeatedly flew short distances ahead of me as I paddled providing ample opportunities for flight shots.
This Fox Sparrow was observed near the visitor centre.
After my paddle, I made my way to the Cedar Trail behind the visitor centre. The feeders were not out at the visitor centre my guess is due to COVID-19 and the park not wanting people congregating in this area. That didn’t mean there weren’t birds present as I quickly located two Fox Sparrows and could hear the calls of a Tufted Titmouse.
Making my way down the trail bird sound filled the air. The most predominant sound was that of the Golden-crowned Kinglet a bird I saw hundreds of this day. As it tried unsuccessfully to photograph the kinglets (mostly bum shots and obstructed views) a female Eastern Towhee flew over the trail landing on the ground in the thick brush. As this bird scratched up food from the ground with its feet in true towhee fashion I failed to capture a clear image through all the branches. Arriving back at the car I heard the call of Sandhill Cranes but never laid eyes on the birds. I’m not sure if these birds were flying over or perhaps calling from the vegetation in the southern section of the river.
Blue Jay
Now it was time to check out the Heritage Trail. This is one of my favourites in the park. Beautiful habitat and a nice lookout over the river are why this trail is so appealing to me. This trail has been a good one in the past for seeing deer, turkeys, and several woodpecker species. On this day, Blue Jays were moving through the woods in good numbers presumably migrating and likely feeding on acorns as this trail has several mature oak trees.
Be sure to take peanuts halves or black oil sunflower seed to the Pinery if you go as many of the birds including chickadees will feed from your hand.
Finally, it was off to the beach 9 picnic area. This area always has lots of birds present and today was no different. Park visitors regularly feed the birds by hand here and it’s not uncommon to have chickadees land on you looking for a handout even if you aren’t toting seed. Other birds can be fed by hand in the beach 9 picnic area including the Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, and even Downy Woodpecker. This is also a great location to achieve views of some of the park’s cute rodents including chipmunks and Red Squirrels.
Pinery Provincial Park is my favourite place to get close views of the Tufted Titmouse.
All in all, it was a great day getting back to birding in Southwestern Ontario after so many months away. I know throughout the remainder of fall and winter I will make several trips back to Pinery Provincial Park as it is a fantastic place to bird, hike, paddle, and picnic.
Good birding,
Paul
*Earlier this year I launched my vlog from Pinery Provincial Park. You can watch that inaugural video here.*
An undeveloped shoreline on Lake Couchiching remains one of my favorite places to explore nature.
As a kid summer at the cottage was always so much fun. My family would partake in the usual activities enjoyed by most cottagers with swimming, waterskiing, and fishing being commonplace. It was here too that my interest in nature got an early start. Back in those days, my dad would take my mom, sisters, and me out in a 16-foot aluminum boat for what he called a “nature cruise”. These cruises took place in areas on the lake that were undeveloped. As we idled along we would keep our eyes open for all forms of nature and we would often find a variety of birds, mammals, and reptiles. Ducks, herons, muskrats, and turtles were all typically observed. My dad would share what knowledge he had of these creatures and my sisters and I learned a lot about nature and the importance of respecting it. We would ask plenty of questions along the way and Dad always had the answer. I can’t imagine the degree of patience this must have taken on my dad’s part, and this is just one of the many qualities I love about him.
Belted Kingfishers are abundant around Lake Couchiching and one of the few places I’ve had success photographing them.
Now more than three decades later, this area of the lake remains undeveloped and I find myself returning each summer for a nature cruise of my own. As I take in the abundance of species inhabiting this area I reminisce about those days with my dad and appreciate him taking the time to introduce me to nature.
In mid-August, I spent a week at the cottage with my dad but didn’t manage to get to this area for a nature cruise. Most of our time was spent birding on the front lawn and watching the boats go by. Once returning to my trailer after having an incredible week with my dad I couldn’t help but wish I made time to visit this area. With the cottage only an hour south of where I am currently located I decided to make the short drive down with my pack boat to paddle this section of the lake and see what species were present.
Scanning the many fallen logs along the shoreline always reveals basking Painted Turtles.
Arriving at Lake Couchiching I launched my boat on the east shore and made the short paddle into the quiet bay. Immediately I was greeted by a Great Blue Heron high up in a tree. I watched for a few minutes as the bird preened before I moved quietly along the shoreline. Coming up on a fallen log, several Painted Turtles were observed basking in the sun while the call of a kingfisher could be heard. This day was an emotional one for me as not only was I remembering so many fond memories of my childhood from this location, but it also would have been my mom’s 71st birthday. I could have easily become overwhelmed with my myriad of feelings, but being surrounded by nature in a place that I love kept everything in check. For me, immersing myself in nature has always been the best way to deal with my emotions.
Male Wood Duck in eclipse plumage.
Several duck species were observed on this outing with Mallards, Wood Ducks, Hooded Mergansers, and American Widgeon all seen. By late summer, male ducks are displaying their eclipse plumage. This is when they have molted from their colorful breeding plumage and appear much more drab. Identifying these birds can be a challenge and male ducks are often confused as juveniles. Something to remember to aid in identification is juvenile ducks more resemble females while eclipse males will still show some field marks of their breeding plumage. In the case of the Wood Duck, eclipse males retain their colorful eye and bill.
Great Egret
Over the past several years, the number of Great Egrets present in this area during late August and early September has increased. Seeing these birds here at this time of year is almost common now. On this day I was treated to some amazing views of a Great Egret circling directly overhead. Lowering my paddle and raising my camera, I was able to capture several images of this bird before it landed in a clearing in the cattails.
An old railway piling provided the perfect perch for this Osprey.
Continuing along the shoreline I reached an area known as The Narrows. This is where Lake Couchiching and Lake Simcoe come together. Filled with cattails, lily pads, and other aquatic vegetation nature is abundant here. The many wooden pilings from old railway crossings provide perfect perches for birds and it’s not uncommon to see dozens of terns here. On this occasion, I had amazing views of an Osprey sitting on one post as it stared down into the water. Osprey typically search for fish while soaring high above the water but this particular bird seemed to be looking for its next meal from only a few feet above the surface.
Trumpeter Swan with its cygnets.
Another species that has appeared in this area in recent years is the Trumpeter Swan. Once extirpated in Ontario due to overhunting and habitat loss the Canadian population of Trumpeter Swans was only 77 birds in 1933. Thanks to several successful reintroduction programs including here provincially, this species has seen its numbers rebound. As part of these programs, many Trumpeter Swans display a numbered yellow tag on their wing. In this particular area of Lake Couchiching, pairs of Trumpeter Swans can be observed each summer swimming with their cygnets.
Least Bittern blending in with the cattails.
While getting myself into a position to photograph the swans, movement from within the cattails caught my eye. To my delight, a Least Bittern was seen gripping the stalks of this emergent vegetation. At only about a foot tall, these small herons are incredibly hard to see and therefore are quite elusive. Thanks to a stealth-like approach in my pack boat, I’ve been able to sneak up on these birds the past few years and capture several images.
The vegetation along the shoreline of Lake Couchiching is ideal camouflage for the Green Heron.
Speaking of small herons, Lake Couchiching is one of my favourite places for getting up close to Green Herons. Slipping through the water silently I’m able to get within a few feet of this species, one that is quite plentiful here though likely goes unnoticed due to its short stature and amazing camouflage.
Trumpeter Swans
Having spent several hours paddling this area it was now time to head home. As I made my way back to the car I reflected on what an amazing day I had. My mind was also full of all the incredible memories from my childhood in this area with my mom, dad, and sisters. The day was bittersweet for me as I was incredibly grateful for the species I observed and the memories and knowledge I gathered here as a child, but also found myself remembering and missing my mom. The amazing wildlife found around Lake Couchiching as well as all the fond memories over the years make this one of my favourite places and one that will always have a special place in my heart.
This Bald Eagle was both photographed and videoed and is featured in my vlog.
Back in February of this year, I revealed I would be launching a vlog. Being new to video and trying to learn the software required to stitch everything together, I wasn’t happy with the quality of the videos I was putting out. As a result, I haven’t uploaded as many videos to my YouTube channel as I had envisioned when I decided to start the vlog.
I am super excited to announce the incredibly talented and creativeNick J. Scott is now producing my vlog. You may recognize Nick’s name from his work on the movie Liminality, as well as his Fuse 90 series, among many other notable projects.
Nick’s production skills have improved the vlog so much and I couldn’t be happier. I hope you enjoy the new graphic and musical elements as much as I do.
My YouTube channel has been renamed Explore The Wild with Paul Roedding, as I hope to create videos that appeal beyond birding and photography to also include more wild elements both from my northern location and the London area – such as paddling, hiking, camping, and of course more adventures with Molly!
I can’t thank Nick enough for contributing his amazing talents to the vlog. Episode 1, Patch Birding, a revamped (and much better) version of my earlier Birding At My Local Patch vlog, can be viewed below. If you enjoy it be sure to like and subscribe to my YouTube channel and hit the bell for notification when new episodes are released. Spoiler alert: I happen to have a lot of footage from the Algonquin Park area that may be featured in the next installment of Explore The Wild (wink wink).
