Latest on the Chickadees

So it's been a number of weeks now since I became certain that a pair of Black Capped Chickadees moved into my ornamental bird house which looks like an outhouse. Of all places! It seems they prefer this kind of nesting box. I am always learning something about the birds around me since I take extra interest in them over one I don't normally see.The male has been quite busy lately, forever bringing food to the nest. I am guessing it is the male,...

Read More

Rattray Marsh, Mississauga Ontario

Recently Angie and I made a visit to Rattray Marsh in Mississauga, Ontario. A new nature spot for us to explore and enjoy.I have to say this is one I will want to visit again and again. A few weeks earlier would have been great, just before the leaves exploded in the trees. That is one thing we have learned about going out and looking for birds, as soon as the leaves pop out, your chances decrease incredibly. Down there, you just know you are...

Read More

Meet Jigger the Squirrel

Everybody, say "Hello" to Jigger the Squirrel.Jigger is one of many who frequent the backyard daily but also one of the few who have been given a special name due to his stand out behavior, lack of fear to us or knows we aren't going to hurt him and his realization that we are the ones with a never-ending peanut supply.He is quite the little character, always on the move and forever around our feet, on the table between us, circling me in the garden...

Read More

A Portion of What I Have Learned Backyard Birding

So, a nasty bug of some sort, and not this "swine flu", floating around, has kept me at home for the whole week. I know I wrote yesterday and said I am going to lay off on blogging much the next few months. While that is true, my actual stories and information bits will slow down; but I do plan to keep up with photos and stories of the backyard and wherever else my journeys go.It is a wonderful time to be outdoors right now. Here in Toronto we...

Read More

Ciao For Now

It's late May now, the weather is finally getting nicer and staying nice too. I plan to spend a lot more time out in the yard over the next few months, as I normally do every year, minus the high humid or stormy days (who doesn't?).I don't plan on blogging/writing a whole lot but will probably share photos every week or so from somewhere in my travels. Unless, of course, something big happens and I will make the time. You may have noticed that...

Read More

High Park in early May

This weekend we went to High Park on our annual May search for the Orioles return to the city; but with it came some other great surprises.The Orioles were found within minutes from exiting the car where we parked at High Park. I haven't heard that song since last August but I didn't forget it. Funny how it sticks with me even if I only see these birds for maybe a span of 4 weeks per year.We know a "hot spot" in the park where we are pretty much...

Read More

Trying to make the best of a rainy day...

The weather people couldn't make up their mind for today. I heard rain, chance of rain, cloudy, occasional showers, partly sunny. It almost all sounds the same, eh?So, with a number of hours to myself, not sure what to do because of the weather... I finally packed up some seeds, peanuts and the camera; got in the car and just started driving. I visited a couple cemeteries, local parks and finally got out for a walk when I heard quite a few songs...

Read More