A Changeable Winter in Southern Ontario

28 December, 2022

Snow in the countryside

     In the days leading up to Christmas and the few days afterwards, a good deal of snow fell in southern Ontario as part of a blizzard that swept over much of the province. Initially many roads were impassable, and some provincial highways were closed, but conditions improved somewhat and we took a drive to gaze at our winter wonderland.

     It was really quite magical, with scene after scene worthy of a picture postcard.

     Snow was heavy on the boughs and the branches of conifers sagged beneath the weight.

     Shrubs and leafless deciduous trees had an icing sugar look about them.

     Snow was king!

     We cast about and searched for Snowy Owls (Bubo scandiacus) while we were out, but had no success. There have been a few reports of birds sighted, but quite sparse, not even approaching the numbers usually recorded by this time of year. 

     It is a cause for great concern that Snowy Owl populations are diminishing rapidly throughout their northern breeding range, where melting permafrost destroys nesting habitat and interferes with the life cycle of Brown Lemmings (Lemmus sibiricus), their principal food, vital to breeding success. 

29 December, 2022

Bechtel Park, Waterloo, ON

     The woods at Bechtel Park are a lovely place to walk, marred ufortunately by the unceasing sound of nearby expressway traffic. 

     If one can shut that out, it is a glorious walk in winter, where a frozen creek adds beauty to the sylvan glade.

     Although it was not evening, it was not a stretch to evoke the timeless words of Robert Frost, "The woods are lovely, dark and deep."

     We find our beauty in woodlands, where nature in its changing seasons provides a far finer decoration than any Christmas tinsel could ever do. 

      What would you rather see, a synthetic bauble on a Christmas tree, or a Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens) on the bark of a living tree?

     Why cut down those pine boughs to wither and die, to be tossed aside when festivities end? Left alone in the forest they will provide joy for all, and habitat for myriad creatures.

     I wonder what an Eastern Screech Owl (Megascops asio) thinks of all the bipedal creatures that pass below his home?

     If he knows us well, he does not hold us in high esteem, of that I am sure.

     In Canada alone, a country with a modest population we throw away each year in excess of 500,000 tonnes of wrapping paper, tinsel, bows etc, much of it not recyclable (and what is recyclable is mostly not recycled anyway), and it winds up in the landfill. We do it year after year. Surely there is a better way.

02 January, 2022

At home, Waterloo, ON

     Snow has given way to rain, temperatures have gone from bone-chilling cold to body-penetrating damp, and the ground has lost its insulating coat of snow.

     Mourning Doves (Zenaida macroura) no doubt enjoy the warmer conditions, but overall it is not good for birds or humans alike.

03 January 2023

At home, Waterloo, ON

     There is something uniquely appealing about nuthatches; perhaps it's their habitat of moving down a tree head first, or simply their visual appeal. We are very fortunate that our two resident species visit our feeders daily.

White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)

Red-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta canadensis)

03 January, 2023

Wellington County, ON

     The following shot, taken on a dull, rainy day gives you a good impression of the extent to which the deep snow of a mere few days earlier has disappeared.

     We were in prime Snowy Owl territory and scanned for them without success. Any birds present would have stood out against a green or brown substrate.

     It was a good day for Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) sightings, but all were quite far off and we were shooting through light rain and mist, so we will not be entering these pictures into the local show!

     In one location, there were four Bald Eagles in one tree, and two more off to the side in another tree. I use this picture only to show you the concentration of birds.

     The weather continues to be unseasonable and miserable, with gloom, rain and poor light. I hope that soon we will return to a normal winter with cold temperatures and bright sunshine. Then we'll get some good shots! I promise!