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.
Long-eared Ows spend Winter by York University
The Owl was accompanied by its partner (presumably a male and female) and became residents of the small patchy forested areas adjacent to York University. On successive Night-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 Ows spend Winter by York University"
Animals
My wife, granddaughter and I had a sick fox living at the bottom our property in Napanee, the poor thing was suffering from mange.
The Peregrine Falcon
The Peregrine's range extends from the Arctic to the Tropics, and that includes Southern Ontario, where they are found in towns and cities where they take advantage of tall buildings such as apartment blocks to build their nests. From their high vantage point they can often catch an unaware pigeon of duck and around the world these birds are used in Falconry and are trained to hunt small game.
The Raccoon of Ontario
Raccoons are common in this part of Southern Ontario and we often see them during the early evening and at night when driving along both rural roads and city streets. They are thriving both in the country and in urban areas, where they have made the adaptations to city life.
Winter Wolves
During the past few weeks we have received a dozen sightings of Wolves or Coywolves from around Southern Ontario. Here they are - they make interesting reading!
Bald Eagle family in Waterloo
I have been a volunteer wildlife photographer with the liaison group for the ESL since 2009. This is a first time to have a pair of nesting Bald Eagles in 2020 here.
What kind of Owl is this?
My husband found this young guy in the field trying to fly and not sure his type of owl.
Wolves Everywhere!
Over the past few months we have received reports of Wolf sightings from our readers ...
The Canada Goose
Many of the Canada Geese here in Ontario, fly south for the winter, but there are some who stay around open water for the whole winter ...
Bald Eagle in Nanticoke
I was driving my taxi near the refinery in Nanticoke, when I spotted this eagle flying overhead. I asked my fare if he had ever seen a North American Eagle? No he replied! Look up I said just as the bird swooped across my windshield! I hit the brakes ...
Owl sighted in north Richmond Hill
This owl had hit the window over my front door and was perched on the roof overhang. I was concerned that it was injured and prepared to call on the OWL Foundation to perform a rescue. Fortunately, after opening a nearby window it flew off.
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.
Downtown Beaver in Toronto
One of our readers wrote ... I live in the middle of a big, busy city (Toronto) and I crave wilderness. I found a magical spot in the middle of the city (a reclaimed 100 year old quarry) called "Evergreen Brickworks". I have submitted a story and a few pics of this special place in the heart of Toronto in an earlier submission if you care to look it up.
Native Art of Canada
Artists in any country, whether in the Old World, or the New World, have for millennia used the elements available to them in Nature, as inspiration and as the medium for their art, and our First Nations Artists are no exception.
Peacock in Mulmur
We went for a country drive to get out of the house during this Covid19 isolation time with our Turkey-hunting family. What a surprise when this beautiful bird came out of the bush, crossed to road, and disappeared into the cedar bush again!
Coyotes around Ontario
Several of our readers have written to us to report their sightings of Coyotes - from Chatham to Newmarket, Caledon to Oshawa!
The Northern Lights
These ethereal lights have always fascinated me and on the occasions that I have observed them, the sight has filled me with awe. When I first saw the "Lights" I was living in Timmins in Northern Ontario but I have seen them in the London area ...
Winter in Ontario
In Ontario we enjoy long, hot summers, pretty springs, breath-taking falls, but my favourite season is winter!
The Snowy Owl
The Snowy Owl lacks the feathery tufts which characterize many species of Owls, and only has slight evidence of them. The beak is black and is perfectly designed to capture and eat the small mammals which are this birds main food - each bird consumes around 8 - 10 small rodents daily!
The Osprey
Although these raptors have left this area for the winter, the Osprey will be back here to nest in Spring. 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.
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.
An Owl crashed their BBQ
This little owl dropped by our Saturday evening BBQ in Cabbagetown. It sat on a low branch initially then moved up into the tree but continued to observe us.
Owl sighting, not sure what kind they are
I've rented a cottage just outside Goderich near Port Albert, had heard them a couple nights in a row but had no idea what I was hearing until we were
Continue reading "Owl sighting, not sure what kind they are"
One spotted in North Oshawa
Looking out into our back yard this morning, December 13, we saw an opossum walking through our yard and looked up this site.
Snowmobiling in Ontario
Before leaving our starting point we have a checklist that we follow to ensure our safety. Weather conditions in Winter can change quickly, so you need to be prepared before you leave home. You should always make sure that you let someone know where you are going and approximately what time you will be returning.
The beautiful but noisy, Bluejay
This is an unmistakable bird, both for its beautiful, bright plumage and for its noisy raucous call. These birds enjoy a wide variety of food and are opportunistic in their approach to their diet - fruits, insects, grains, and acorns. Sunflower seeds and Peanuts are especially popular at our bird-feeders.
The Cardinal
In Canada, one the most distinctly plumed red birds is the Cardinal. Of all the birds in Ontario, this brilliantly coloured bird is so spectacular that it is almost unmistakable. This is one of our non-migratory species so it is around the bird-feeders all year long, and shows up so well against the snow, in the winter time.
A Canadian Christmas!
Winter arrives in Southern Ontario, in early to mid-December, which is often when we receive a fore-taste of what winter has in store for us, in the form of a blizzard or ice-storm!
Ontario Animals
When I first arrived here in Ontario from England in the 1970's, a neighbour of mine told me that she had Groundhogs in her vegetable garden. I had never seen one and envisioned a huge, pig-like animal roaming through the neighbourhood gardens, snorting and eating everything in sight! Imagine my delight when I saw my first Groundhog! I love seeing the White Tailed Deer, the Squirrels and the Chipmunks that are common where I live ...
Nuthatches, the acrobats of the bird-feeder
Nuthatches, Whitebreasted and Red-breasted birds of the northern forest, found across Southern Ontario ...
Continue reading "Nuthatches, the acrobats of the bird-feeder"
Dalewood Conservation Area, St Thomas - Camping, Hiking, canoeing
Dalewood, located just just to the north of St Thomas, Dalewood Conservation Area is a great place to get away from it all!
Continue reading "Dalewood Conservation Area, St Thomas - Camping, Hiking, canoeing"
Coyotes in Ontario
Some people consider them to be a nuisance and have tried to trap and relocate them, however they are extremely intelligent and almost impossible to live trap. Ontario Provincial legislation prohibits the relocation of wildlife from their home territories; therefore, trapped animals must be released in the same area ...
Ontario Birds of Prey
Bird Watching is a fascinating hobby, and many birds of prey migrate through this area in the Autumn on their way to their southern wintering grounds. Others are year-round residents in Southern Ontario.
Ontario Big Cats
Ontario is known to have populations of big cats, Lynx and Bobcat, and the occasional Cougar being sighted, but none of these animals should be seen in the wild in Southern Ontario. Having said that, we have had numerous reports from across the province, of sightings of big cats.
Venison
I'm not exactly sure when the Deer and Moose hunting season ends, but if you have some venison, here are a couple of recipes for you ...
Owls of Southern Ontario - the silent hunters of the night
Owls in Southern Ontario - Great Horned, Short Eared, Screech Owl, Great Grey, Hiboux
Continue reading "Owls of Southern Ontario - the silent hunters of the night "
Owl sighting
While hiking on a hot day in the cool forest at North Walker Woods, just south of Uxbridge, Ontario, I noticed what looked like a large paper wasp nest
Bald Eagle In Port Colbourne Harbour with prey - Video
Sitting on ice with prey then flying off! Magnificent view!! Thank you for sending us your picture!
Continue reading "Bald Eagle In Port Colbourne Harbour with prey - Video"
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.
3 Peahens and A Baby!
Seen crossing the road in Mildmay, Grey-Bruce county Ontario (with pictures!) Thank you for sending us your great picture of these peafowl.
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!
Wolf or Coywolf sightings
Readers from Guelph, Barrie, Mt Albert, The Kawarthas, Pickering and Winona have written to tell us about their sightings ...
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 ...
Could this be a Barred Owl?
Terry Nieuwstraten from Whitby, Ontario, sent us this great picture of an owl ...
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.
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