NORTHERN RIVER Images

10/06/2026

In a forest trail, along Burlington Bay, we found these songsters by chance in the shades of large trees. There are some birds you notice right away. The Wood Thrush is not one of them. In Ontario’s forests, this robin-sized songbird can spend most of its time out of sight, quietly moving through the trees and leaf litter. But once you hear its song, you are unlikely to forget it. The Wood Thrush has a beautiful, flute-like voice that seems to drift through the forest from somewhere just beyond the next tree. With its warm reddish-brown back, white spotted breast, and bold white eye-ring, the Wood Thrush is a handsome bird when you finally get a glimpse. Look for it in mature forests, especially areas with tall trees, a shady understory, and plenty of fallen leaves. Down on the forest floor, Wood Thrushes spend their days looking for food. They turn over leaves to find insects and other small creatures, and they also enjoy berries and fruit. During the breeding season, they raise their young in woodland nests before eventually making the long journey south for the winter. The Wood Thrush is also a bird worth watching from a conservation perspective. In Ontario, it is considered a species of Special Concern. The loss and fragmentation of forests can make it harder for these birds to find good nesting habitat and enough food. Keeping mature woodland connected gives Wood Thrushes and many other forest animals the space they need to survive. The next time you are walking through an Ontario forest, don't just look for wildlife. Listen for it. If a clear, haunting melody suddenly rises above the trees, stop for a moment. You might have just heard one of Ontario’s most beautiful hidden songsters.🙂

10/01/2026

The October blog post has arrived.

The month of October is one of the most anticipated times of year to observe Algonquin Provincial Park. Summer has faded, the air has become cooler, and the forest begins its annual transformation. Visitors arrive to hike, explore, enjoy the scenery, and photograph the remarkable colours of autumn.

09/20/2026

Digging into some images from a few months ago, I thought I would share one of my favourite Sparrows, the Vesper. It is a medium-sized songbird found across much of Canada and the northern United States. In Ontario, it can be seen in open fields, grasslands, pastures, hayfields, and other areas with short, sparse vegetation. It returns to Ontario in spring to breed after spending winter farther south. One unique feature is its colour pattern. Its body is mostly brown with dark streaks, but it has a thin white ring around its eye, a pale cheek, and white outer tail feathers that are especially noticeable when it flies. A small chestnut-coloured patch on its shoulder is another identifying feature, although it can be difficult to see. The Vesper Sparrow has an unusual name because it often sings during the evening twilight, or “vespers.” Its song is a series of clear whistles followed by musical trills. Males commonly sing from fence posts, shrubs, or other elevated perches. Vesper Sparrows build their nests on the ground, usually in a shallow depression hidden beside or underneath grass, branches, or other vegetation. The female makes a small cup from grasses, sedges, moss, and bark. A nest usually contains 2–6 eggs, which are whitish with brown or purplish markings. Incubation lasts about 11–14 days. The young hatch helpless and covered with only sparse down. Both parents help care for them, and the chicks normally leave the nest after about 7–14 days. Vesper Sparrows may raise one to three broods during a breeding season. A fascinating fact is that Vesper Sparrows are ground foragers. They scratch through soil and grass to uncover seeds, insects, and spiders. They also sometimes take dust baths to clean their feathers.🙂

09/11/2026

I'm going back a few months... in April, Ospreys are returning to Ontario, and a pair on an old nest can look surprisingly busy even before there are eggs. For the female, this is the beginning of the serious nesting routine. She spends time inspecting the nest, rearranging sticks, and adding fresh material. A nest that survived the winter may need considerable repair. She may tug at a branch, settle into the nest cup, and call to her mate as he arrives with another piece of nesting material. The male has a different job, and one of his most important contributions is food. Ospreys are specialist fish-eaters, and during the pre-breeding period the male may spend much of his time hunting. He leaves the nest, searches the water from above, then plunges feet-first toward a fish. When successful, he returns carrying the catch in his talons. What happens next can be fascinating to watch. The male may deliver the fish to the nest, where the female takes it and begins feeding. Sometimes she eats immediately; at other times, the pair's interactions around the food are more complicated. These deliveries help establish the male's ability to provide and strengthen the pair bond before egg-laying. Meanwhile, both birds defend the nest and its surroundings. Ospreys can be surprisingly vocal, especially when another osprey approaches. Courtship displays, aerial chases, nest repairs, and fish deliveries can make an April nest seem constantly active. Watching two ospreys together at this time of year is therefore about more than simply seeing a pair of birds. It is the opening chapter of another breeding season: one bird investing heavily in the nest, the other bringing in fish, and both preparing for the demanding weeks ahead. In Ontario, April offers a wonderful chance to watch this partnership take shape> One stick and one fish at a time.🙂

09/06/2026

The Eastern Phoebe is a small, charming songbird that is a familiar sight across Ontario, especially around farms, gardens, woodlands, and open areas. With its simple brown-and-white colouring and constantly bobbing tail, this bird may not look flashy, but its behaviour and distinctive call make it easy to recognize. Eastern Phoebes are territorial birds. A breeding pair will defend an area around their nesting site from other Phoebes and potential competitors. They often choose nesting locations on ledges, buildings, cliffs, and, quite famously, under bridges. Bridges provide sheltered surfaces that protect their nests from rain and predators while remaining close to open feeding areas. The Eastern Phoebe's diet consists mainly of insects. It frequently waits from a perch, then flies out to catch insects in mid-air before returning to the same or another nearby perch. It also eats spiders and other small invertebrates. During colder months or when insects are scarce, Phoebes may supplement their diet with small fruits and berries. The bird's name comes from its distinctive call. Its repeated, raspy “fee-bee” or “fee-bee” song is one of the easiest ways to identify it, even when the bird is hidden among trees or vegetation. The call also explains the common name “Phoebe,” which has been used for this group of flycatchers for centuries.🙂

09/01/2026

The September blog post has arrived.

There are mornings when I step outside with my camera and instantly know the seasons are changing. It isn't because the calendar tells me so, but because the air feels different. There's a freshness that wasn't there just a few weeks ago. Summer hasn't quite left us, but it's beginning to whisper it

08/21/2026

The Indigo Bunting is one of Ontario’s most striking summer songbirds. In August, these small birds can still be found across much of the province, especially in open fields, woodland edges, roadsides, and areas of regenerating forest. Their presence adds a flash of brilliant blue to the late-summer landscape. Male Indigo Buntings are especially impressive during the breeding season. Their plumage appears a rich, vivid blue in bright sunlight, although the colour can look darker or more violet in shade. Females and young birds are generally brownish, with subtle streaking that helps them blend into vegetation. By August, Indigo Buntings are often still defending or using breeding territories, although their behaviour begins to change as the nesting season winds down. Males may continue singing from prominent perches, but their songs can become less frequent. Territories typically include a mixture of shrubs, grasses, and scattered trees, providing suitable places for feeding, nesting, and singing. Indigo Buntings feed mainly on seeds and insects. During August, they take advantage of the abundance of seeds, berries, and insects available in Ontario’s fields and woodland margins. Their varied diet helps them prepare for the demanding migration ahead. As summer progresses, watch for Indigo Buntings along sunny trails and field edges. Their brilliant breeding plumage and distinctive song make them a rewarding species to observe. August offers a particularly interesting opportunity to see these beautiful birds as they transition from the breeding season toward their fall migration.🙂

08/06/2026

The August blog post has arrived.

August in Algonquin Park is one of the most rewarding times of the year to experience Ontario's wilderness. Summer has reached its peak, the forests are rich with vibrant shades of green, and the park's countless lakes reflect warm sunlight from dawn until dusk.

07/06/2026

The July blog post has arrived.

Long daylight hours, warm water, lush forests, and active wildlife make July an appealing time to explore lakes and rivers. Whether you're paddling down a quiet river corridor, or venturing into a remote wilderness area, July offers some of the best opportunities for wildlife viewing and outdoor pho

06/16/2026

Some images from a lifer for me with the female being capturedi in my home town and the male in a city 20 minutes away on two different days. The Summer Tanager is one of North America's most striking songbirds, bringing vibrant colour and cheerful songs to woodlands and forest edges each spring. Known for its brilliant plumage, this species is often called the only completely red bird found in much of its breeding range. Male Summer Tanagers are especially eye-catching. Their feathers display a rich, rosy-red colour from head to tail, making them easy to recognize during the breeding season. Females, however, wear a more subtle appearance. Their plumage ranges from olive-yellow to mustard-yellow, providing excellent camouflage while nesting and caring for young. Each spring, Summer Tanagers undertake a remarkable migration. They spend the winter in Mexico, Central America, and parts of northern South America before travelling north to breeding grounds across the southern and eastern United States. As temperatures warm and insects become plentiful, these birds arrive ready to establish territories and raise families. Nesting typically occurs in open woodlands, pine forests, and areas with scattered trees. Females build shallow cup-shaped nests from grasses, twigs, and other plant materials, usually placing them on horizontal branches high above the ground. A typical clutch contains three to five eggs, which the female incubates while the male helps defend the territory. Summer Tanagers are skilled insect hunters and are particularly famous for catching bees and wasps in mid-air. Before eating these insects, they carefully remove the stinger by rubbing the prey against a branch. Their diet also includes beetles, caterpillars, and various fruits later in the season. With their brilliant colours, fascinating migration journeys, and dedicated nesting habits, Summer Tanagers are a welcome sign of spring and summer. Birdwatchers eagerly await their return each year, knowing that these colourful visitors add beauty and life to the landscapes they inhabit. 😊