Discover Southern Ontario Blog
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We are currently receiving many submissions to our website and have quite a backlog. I have just undergone open heart surgery and it will take some time for me to work my way through all our new 700+ submissions.
It's time to put the feeders out
the males return to the north before the females do, and they immediately establish foraging territories. Their food is nectar from flowers and flowering trees, but their diet can occasionally include small insects and tree sap taken from woodpecker drilling. Hummingbirds show a preference for red, tubular flowers as a nectar source from which they feed using a long extendable tongue.
Collingwood, Ontario - great in summer or winter
In 1858 the town was incorporated as a town and was named after Admiral Lord Cuthbert Collingwood, who was second in command under Horatio Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar. Today, Collingwood is known as a resort town for all seasons, with great skiing, snowmobiling and for its close proximity to Wasaga Beach on Georgian Bay.
Continue reading "Collingwood, Ontario - great in summer or winter"
Great Grey Owl
Dave wrote ... yesterday while walking around my property in Pine Orchard, Whitchurch - Stouffville Ontario, I observed an owl which I believe is a Great Grey Owl.
Ontario Wild Birds
Birdwatching has been a long-time hobby of mine, and this area of Ontario is rich with bird life - from the fleeting glimpses of Hummingbirds in the Summer, to the arrival of the graceful Tundra Swans each Spring, the birds of this area are well worth watching.
Prey bird having lunch
Saw this bird on our back fence in Oakville, Ontario on April 21, 2020. Not sure what it is but it’s eating a Blue Jay.
Peacock in Fisherville Ontario
We were out for a drive and found this beautiful peacock in Fisherville, Ontario near lake Erie. It was just strolling around and even approached our
A Lone Coyote
R. Penrose recently wrote to us to tell us about their recent Coyote sighting ... We live on a country road 20 minutes northwest of Kingston, in Stone Mills Township, on 4 acres of land with neighbouring homes about 70 metres away on either side of us. About 8:30 am on Feb. 2nd, 2020 in full daylight, a coyote strolled between our home and the neighbours heading from the brush at the back of the property to the road out front, stopping now and then to listen.
The White Squirrel of Thornbury
This little squirrel travelled over 200 meters to get to the seeds I dropped by accident when filling up our bird feeder.
What is this in the mulberry bush
This bird has grey feathers with a black cap, we have a pair of them. They are about the size of a small Robin. I have not seen them before.
Great Horned Owl Encounters
Three of our readers wrote to report their Great Horned Owl sightings ...
Large for a bird ...
I spotted this in my back yard in Cambridge/North Dumfries border.
The back is dark slate colour and the breast, neck and head is a very light grey or white with small spots.
Hawk in Oakville
I was sitting in my house I glanced out of the front window and saw people staring into my driveway. When I went to investigate I saw a Coopers Hawk sitting on top of my van.
Cooper's Hawk sighting
Mark Williams took this photo of a Cooper's Hawk on November 14th, 2019 at La Salle Park in Burlington, Ontario.
Backyard Possum in Toronto
On January 24, in Toronto, Ontario, we were sitting having a late night tea with the light on out back and saw a small opossum just sitting there munching on bird seed.
Great Canadians ... Donald Sutherland
Donald Sutherland has appeared in over 150 different shows and films starting in the mid-1960's, when he got some small parts in British movies and television, including roles in horror films such as "Castle of the Living Dead" (1964) and "Dr. Terror's House of Horrors" (1965) with Christopher Lee. He then appeared in two episodes of "The Saint" and then his big break "The Dirty Dozen" (1967) with Lee Marvin and Ernest Borgnine which was the first of three War films.
Genealogical Research
Besides building and maintaining this website, my other passion is genealogical research, so if you have ever wanted to trace your families roots but don't know where to start ... I can do that for you!
The Charming Chickadee
The cheerful Chickadee with it's clear call of "Chicka-dee-dee-dee" is easy to spot, as this little bird is not shy and is easily enticed to the back yard bird feeder. We see them in our garden in both Summer and Winter as these birds are non-migratory and stay in this area all year long.
Possum sighted in Quinte west
Our farm had a new visitor today - a large, shaggy possum! We live in the country near Wooler, northwest of Trenton, and this is the first possum we've seen here in thirteen years.
Unknown Bird
Jeannine observed this beauty near Dunnville, Ontario. The nest is on top of a hydro pole and it stayed very close to it's nest.
Big Cats in Ontario
Ontario is known to have populations of big cats, Lynx and Bobcat, and the occasional Cougar being sighted ...
Another visit from this bird of prey
Tiffany from London, Ontario wrote ... Please let me know exactly what kind of bird this is as I'm sure there are plenty of experts out there, but unfortunately I am not one so I can't be sure. Thank you.
It's Maple Syrup time!
One of the most famous Canadian tastes, is Maple Syrup! Harvested from Maple trees across Southern Ontario and Quebec this delicious treat is truly a taste of Canada - la bon sirop d'érable! Not only is the leaf of the Maple tree the emblem of our country, this beautiful tree is widespread throughout this area of Ontario.
Tundra Swan Migration
Tundra Swans are the most widespread and numerous species of swan in North America and there are two distinct populations of these birds. One is the the Eastern population and the other, the Western population.
Bald Eagles across Ontario
Readers from Collingwood, Bolton, Caistor Centre, Dundas, Port Perry, Mississauga, Chandos Lake, Georgetown, Tiny, Centre Wellington, Cape Hurd, Kingston, Seguin Township, Milton, Omemee, and Clinton wrote to tell us about their Bald Eagle sightings ...
Wolves sighted in Ottawa
Several of our readers wrote to tell us about their Wolf sightings in Ottawa. One of our readers said - I just returned from walking my dog in my neighborhood, located off of Thomas Dolan Parkway and heard a very large pack of either Wolves or Coyotes! They were excited about something. Very cool experience! I have seen a lone Wolf on several occasions in my neighborhood, either very early in the morning or at dusk. Most recent sighting was about 3 weeks ago.
Long-Eared Owl couple spend Winter at York University
N. Mosley wrote ... on successive Nigh-birding outings throughout the winter the pair could readily be found hunting around the same territory, usually perched stoically on branches and street signs watching for movement.
Continue reading "Long-Eared Owl couple spend Winter at York University"
Broad Winged Hawk?
Saw this raptor perched high up in a tree in the Maple Hills neighbourhood of Waterloo. Sighting was around 9 am. I believe it's a broad-winged hawk, but please correct me if I'm wrong!
Great Canadians ... Sir Frederick Banting
Frederick Banting was the co-discoverer of insulin for the treatment of Diabetes along with Charles H Best, his assistant, who was a medical student at that time and together they started the work which resulted in the discovery of insulin.
Continue reading "Great Canadians ... Sir Frederick Banting"
The Red Fox in Ontario
In Children's story books, foxes are often seen as cunning and sly, but in reality we know that they are shy, quite nervous and appear to be highly intelligent, but secretive.
Deer in London, Ontario
Photos by Aaron Blanshard ... thank you so much for letting us publish your pictures on this website Aaron, you have such a gift!
Bald Eagles on St Clair River
Wow, thank you Kai, for sending up your wonderful pictures and your report of your Bald Eagle sighting!
Two Coyotes
Jorge D wrote ... Anyone going for walks to the York regional forest, please be mindful of this and keep your pets on a leash preferably and be prepared in case you encounter the Coyotes.
The Blue Jay
This is an unmistakable bird, both for its beautiful, bright plumage and for its noisy raucous call. These birds stay in Ontario all winter and don't migrate south. The male and female birds are of similar size, although the female is slightly smaller and both birds have a crest.
Possums are everywhere in Southern Ontario!
Sightings of Possums from Windsor, Hillsburgh, Ottawa, Waterloo, Reidsville, Bridgenorth, and Trenton from our readers.
Continue reading "Possums are everywhere in Southern Ontario!"
Wild Peacocks near Kitchener
Mary wrote to tell us about her sighting of wild Peacocks near Kitchener, Ontario ...
Wolf - Coyote mix? Rouge Park
Saw this today. Is it a coyote-wolf mix? Thank you for sending these pictures. I don't know whether this is a Coyote or a Wolf-Coyote hybrid, but perhaps
Backyard birds and friend.
Junco, male and female Cardinal and squirrel. All stoking up for a cold Minus 22 C. night With no sparrows around, to chase it away from the feeder, I
JUNCO IN WINTER
Frequent wintertime backyard visitor. Thanks for the picture Marinus, what a cute little chap he is! We also frequently see these little birds in the
Coyote spotted
Coming back from work, approximately around 4:30 am, a coyote crossed the road in front of my car forcing me to brake. The coyote didn't seem scared and
Old Cougar sighting report
My name is Josh, I'm 23 years of age, often hiker. Two years ago I witnessed a quick sighting of what appeared to be a younger adult Cougar here in Grey
Snowy Owl seen in Woolwich township
One of our readers sent us this report ... I live in Woolwich Township. I'm an amateur photographer and after 3 years of trying to find an owl in the wild to photograph I came across this beauty! He seemed to pose for for the pictures and smile in some of them! Even though it was freezing out I spent about an hour just enjoying my good fortune in being able to be in the presence of one of nature's most majestic creatures!
What are these birds?
I am trying to find out the name of the birds that flock together on the side of the road in the winter time. Lots of people call them snow birds but I do not think that is what they are.
The Canada Goose
It is said that these birds mate for life, but I have heard that when one of the pair dies or is killed, the other bird will choose another mate the following year. The geese often return to the same nesting spot, year after year, sometimes even to where they themselves were hatched!
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