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!

A Snowy Day in Waterloo

14 February 2015

     Not having captured too many decent images of birds recently, or other wildlife for that matter, I am turning to the state of the weather for this post.

     It is a snowy day in Waterloo and I have already shovelled my driveway clean once, and no doubt I will have to repeat the performance before the day is over. Right now it is snowing and the wind is blowing fiercely.

     Here is what my house looks like.

     You can see that the driveway is clear - for now at least. I am sure that by early afternoon it will have two or three more centimetres of snow accumulated on it, and if the wind continues to howl it will cause some drifting.

     The path to the front entrance is passable - for now!

     As you will note, we have had considerable snow recently, and some of the snow piles at the sides of my driveway and at the front of the house attest to the amount of snow clearing I have been doing.

     This is what the sidewalk looks like looking down the street from the bottom of the driveway.

     Each homeowner is responsible for keeping the sidewalk clear and navigable for pedestrians; if you neglect to do it the city sends a bobcat to do it and then your bill follows in the mail!

     These are views looking both ways along the street.

     The most frustrating thing of all is that later in the day, after the main thoroughfares have been cleared, the municipal snow plough will come along the street and its blade will dump a whole wall of snow from the pavement in front of everybody's drive. Then you have to get rid of all of that mess before you can drive out.

     I guess this is the price we pay for living where we do!