From the Earth to the Sky

Tufted Titmouse, Black Capped Chickadee, White Breasted Nuthatch, Red Breasted Nuthatch One of the wonderful adaptations of birds is that some species can withstand brutal winter conditions.  Depending on their diet, they can glean food from the land, the sea, the sky (as Taylor Swift mentions!).  Many of the waterfowl that we have throughout the winter feed on fish, carrion and water plants, as well as any vegetation that they can get from the land.  That is why a bit of open water will enable some birds such as Great Blue Heron, Double Crested Cormorant and Belted Kingfish er as well as American Robins  to surprisingly overwinter, specifically at the Talfourd Creek outflow where the water is heated from the plants as well as Pinery PP.  Most of those species will migrate , but they do save a great deal of resources if they can manage to stay. Mute Swans, Canada Geese. Mallards and Trumpeter Swan Most of the waterfowl species that we see in the winter breed far...

Winter is one of my favourite times of year to get off the couch and get some fresh air.  The birds are not as plentiful as in other seasons, but we, here in sw Ontario are treated to many Arctic species.  Waterfowl and raptors that migrate here to escape the brutal winter of their Arctic breeding grounds treat us to good views if we are patient and lucky!   Some people, including myself, call this 'Weird Duck Season'!   Bluewater Bridge (Canada Side)  This winter especially has been extremely cold and snowy, with long durations of below seasonal temps and wind chills.  Today I am sitting at -16 with a windchill of -30 with about 2 ' of snow on the ground that just  came overnight with blowing snow and squalls. The 402 is closed in both directions and Hwy 21 from Grand Bend to Forest is closed, so unless I drive a sled, I'm staying in and staying local today!  Lake Huron is currently at 65% ice cover, while Lake Erie is about 94%, Lake O...

 Today is one of the coldest days of the season so far.  It feels like -29 but it looks gorgeous, the sun makes a big difference!  I am just getting over a bad stomach bug and so I'm staying close to home and looking at my feeders. Mourning Dove, Goldfinch, Tree Sparrow taken on this cold cold day! European Starling, Mourning Dove, House Finch and House Sparrow Black Capped Chickadee and Downy Woodpeckers make at appearance My feeders give me a great deal of joy, especially when the weather and health prevent me from going far.  I only feed in the winter and on a day like this the birds really seem to appreciate it!  I feed Black Oil sunflower seed at all times, with shelled peanuts, Nyger and Safflower also on the menu.  Lately I have picked up bags of a cracked corn mix for the Snow Buntings , but the Doves and others really seem to love it.  I get the regulars here, Northern Cardinals, Blue Jays, Dark Eyed Juncos, Mourning Doves, American Goldfinch,...

 Well, Ebird has sent out its annual year in review on this cold Polar Vortex day in January!  I have been successful in my 'checklist a day' challenge, with 783 checklists, 237 species and 37 life birds!  I counted 116584 birds, with the most numbered species Canada Goose and most frequent species the Northern Cardinal ( they are everywhere!)  I have spent 508.4 hours birding with my biggest day being in October!  I've submitted 764 photos of 168 species and 20 sound recordings of 7 species, with 187 checklist media uploaded (habitat and other animals). My most visited location is  about 2 kilometres from my home, I traveled 1418.3 km and birded in 196 locations total.  I shared 43 checklists and my birding bestie was Sean Bates, a fellow from Hamilton that I went on a couple of OFO trips with.  It is interesting when you put it in perspective a practice that you do daily as part of your routine.  It is a fun and interesting hobby and I love...