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.
Please Help ID this Bird
One of our readers in Toronto spotted this bird of prey in his back yard ...
Baltimore Orioles at Hummingbird Feeder
Two pairs of Baltimore Orioles have returned to Susan Court, Oshawa this Spring! They are very skittish ...
The Mallard Duck
The Mallard is a dabbling duck which breeds throughout the temperate areas of Canada, and is also widespread throughout North America, Europe, Asia, New Zealand and Australia.
Simcoe Ontario
Located a few miles north of Lake Erie, and 38 km south of the city of Brantford, this town is the county seat of Norfolk County, and it has the largest population of any community in Norfolk County. At this point it is unknown whether the Fair will run this year, stay tuned.
Owl in the barn
A reader wrote ... We entered our barn to milk the cows for the evening and found this owl sitting on top of the door.
The Mennonites in Ontario
Mennonites & Amish both come from a Protestant tradition known as Anabaptism, and they both believe that they should live out their beliefs in daily life.
Great Horned Owl nest
Bill wrote to report ... It was amazing to spot this beautiful bird and two young peeking out of their nest. This was in early March, London, Ontario.
The town of St Marys, Ontario
Hubby and I just took a drive to the pretty town of St Marys to have lunch and get an ice-cream with one of our grand-daughters ... Hearn's on the main street has a wonderful selection of ice cold treats!
Small Grey Owl at Birdbath
One of our readers wrote ... My wife spotted this little grey coloured Owl sitting in the grass just off our deck stairs into the back yard where there are lots of trees, gardens and cover.
Could this be a Barred Owl?
Terry Nieuwstraten from Whitby, Ontario, sent us this great picture of an owl ...
Wolves in eastern Ontario
One of our readers from Eastern Ontario, sends us this report - Once while driving on Hwy 17 between Hawkesbury and the 417, I saw a Wolf waiting to cross the highway, it was standing beside the road shortly after dusk ...
Fireflies
Where we live, if we sit quietly outside, and watch carefully, the evening show starts with just one or two flashes in the trees and long grass, as darkness spreads over the garden and then, slowly, more and more, and soon there are tens of thousands of green flashes of light, each one only lasting for a moment, until the air is full of these amazing creatures.
The Groundhog
The rodent known as the Groundhog is known in other parts of North America as the Woodchuck, and is a rodent of the family Sciuridae, and belongs to the group of ground dwelling Squirrels known as Marmots.
The Garter Snake
These reptiles range across North America and are successful because they eat almost any food which is available, and are able to adapt to various climactic areas and many habitats, from grasslands to marshes, in dry or wet regions.
The Canadian Beaver - Happy Canada Day!
One of the reasons that North America was first colonized by Europeans was the abundance of natural resources, such as whales and fish off the Atlantic coast, huge pine trees for use as the masts of ships and rich, warm furs.
Ontario Strawberries
Each June in Southern Ontario, we are blessed with an abundance of fresh strawberries, you can buy them at the grocery store, at the road-side Farmer's fruit stands or you can pick them yourself.
Baby Robins
One of our readers wrote ... One day I heard the parent singing/chirping very loudly and when I went to look, the bird was out of the nest and sitting on a wire attached to the house just chirping away ...
The beautiful Cedar Waxwing
Cedar Waxwings, and their close relative, the Bohemian Waxwing, are members of the Bobycillidea family of birds and are medium sized birds which are mostly brown and are named for the wax-like wing tips.
The Grey Catbird
The Catbird is a medium-sized Northern American perching bird and is named for its cat-like call. Catbirds give the impression of being entirely slate gray, but on closer observation you will see see that these birds have a small black cap, blackish tail, and a brown patch under the tail.
Big Cat sighted in Fonthill
Today at 7 am in Fonthill crossing highway 20 just before the 406, a large tan coloured cat ran across the road and headed into the bush. At first I thought I was seeing things but there was no mistaking it, this was a Cougar.
Hawk stealing other bird's nest
One of our readers reported seeing a hawk steal another bird's nest ...
Baltimore Orioles and friends
What a colour show, along with the usual assortment of brightly coloured finches. It was a delight each day to see these visitors that we hoped would stay. We had to prepare our patio door to prevent the beauties from hitting.
The cute and adorable Chipmunk
These are great animals to watch - they are so charming that many campers and hikers see them in the woods and are enchanted by their small size, their boldness and their apparent busyness.
Kingsville, Ontario
The pretty town of Kingsville is located right on the north shore of Lake Erie and is well known for its mild weather, world-famous Jack Miner's Bird Sanctuary , and for Colasanti's Tropical Gardens. To other people, this small town is known as the most southerly town in mainland Canada.
The Badger
Today, these animals are so rare in Ontario, that experts think there may only be 200 of them remaining in the wild, and therefore they need our protection. It isn't easy to mistake these animals for anything else - they are a little larger than a Raccoon with a black & white facial pattern, they are short in stature and have coarse grey fur.
The Osprey
Sometimes known as the Fish Hawk, fish make up 99% of their diet and it is unique among raptors as it is the only North American bird whose diet is exclusively fish and its ability to dive into water to catch them.
Little Brown Bats
I'm not sure why, but many people are afraid of bats, including the Little Brown Bat, but I have always had an affection for them. All bats are mammals and are therefore are warm-blooded and give birth to live young which they suckle. They are the only mammals which have the ability to fly, which they do using the flaps of skin which are between their "fingers".
The Monarch Butterfly
When I first came to live in Canada, I remember seeing huge clouds of flying Monarchs, as they gathered together for their fall migration south - it was a breathtaking sight indeed!
Rhubarb
Rhubarb is a perennial plant which means that once you have planted it, it will survive the winter, and come up and produce every year. Each Spring the plant buds from rhizomes underground, and produces stalks bearing large leaves.
Backyard Birds of Ontario
Attracting wild birds to your garden or back yard bird feeder can also be interesting when you choose which plants and shrubs attract various birds.
What is it?
A female and offspring have appeared in my yard, they are the size of doves, grey brown in colour, with long bill. They have a red patch on the back of the head, and a black patch on the breast, with a white patch near the tail. What are they?
Wolf or Coywolf sightings
Readers from Guelph, Barrie, Mt Albert, The Kawarthas, Pickering and Winona have written to tell us about their sightings ...
The Village of Sparta
Sparta Ontario - this pretty, historic village was founded by a group of Pennsylvania Quakers who settled here in 1822, led by Josiah Doan. The descendants of those early settlers still live in the area today. My hubby and I first discovered the village of Sparta Ontario one afternoon in the 1980's, when we were out for a ride on our motor-cycle - we were young and reckless!
An Unusual Visitor
This little water feeder has also frequented our duck pond in Ottawa, and we have no idea what it is.
The Eastern Bluebird
The Eastern Bluebird is a medium sized member of the Thrush family which can be found in the woods, orchards and farm lands of Southern Ontario. Their numbers have increased in the past few decades, after this pretty bird was in serious decline in the mid 20th century.
Indigo Buntings
If you observe this vibrant blue bird, then you are seeing a male, because the females are a much drabber brown, as are the males when it is not the breeding season - his distinctive blue plumage is to attract a mate.
Common Goldeneye
The Common Goldeneye is a medium sized diving duck - the male has a black and white head with the noticeable yellow eye and circular white patch, and the female has a brown head.
Is this a Red Tailed Hawk?
Terry from Brampton sent us these pictures and his report of his Hawk sighting ...
The Hummingbirds are back
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.
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