This handsome guys has been hanging out the last few weeks. Mild temperatures have meant that this Northern Flicker is still able to forage for ants 🐜 on the ground. I’ve seen him hoping around on our lawn in several places. A few years ago we had a male stick around for the entire winter (most migrate further south). I wonder if this is the same bird?! 🤔 Either way a nice bird for our #ProjectFeederWatch count 🫶🐦⬛
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#ontarionatureshots #ontarionaturelover #ontarionature #naturefinds #birdsofontario #winterbirding #birding #birdinglife #birdingadventures #birdsmakemehappy #northernflicker #backyardbirds #birdfeeding #birdbath
The Great Gray is Ontario’s largest owl species in overall size, but its bulk is deceivingly made up mostly of feathers. These gorgeous owls are silvery grey in colour, with black, white, and brown varied markings throughout the body. They have a large head with a facial disc lining the face, with bright yellow eyes and a yellow beak; white markings along the bottom edge of the facial disc, and a brown ‘X’ between the eyes. Males and females are alike in appearance, with females typically being a bit larger in size than males. 🦉🩶
#greatgrayowl #owl #ethicalowlphoto #naturephoto #naturelover #exploreontario #getoutside #naturelovers #explore #wildlifephotographer #birdlover #birdsofinstagram #winter #wildlife_seekers #nature #birdwatching #naturegram #natureinspired #birdinglife #birdingadventures #conservation #birdphotography
Are Northern Cardinals really brighter in the winter, or is it just the contrast against the snow that gives them the illusion of being brighter? ❄️ It’s no illusion.. cardinals actually are brighter in the winter! In late summer and early fall, Northern Cardinals molt their feathers and grow new ones. These new feathers aren’t at their brightest right away, many (especially on the neck and back) are tipped with grey. Over the course of the winter these tips slowly wear off, unveiling more and more of that vibrant red. 😍
#exploreontario #naturephoto #winter #getoutside #naturelover #wildlifephotographer #nature #wildlife_seekers #wildbirdfeeding #naturegram #explore #naturelovers #birdsofinstagram #birdinglife #birdlover #birdwatching #northerncardinal #cardinal
As a way to keep warm, some redpolls will actually tunnel down into the snow! ❄️ The tunnel can be up to one foot in length, and 4 inches deep. The snow acts as an insulator helping the birds maintain body heat during chilly weather. ☃️
#commonredpoll #redpoll #winterfinch #birdsofinstagram #naturelover #explore #wildbirdfeeding #birdsmakemehappy #birdingadventures #birdinglife #winter #exploreontario #natureinspired #naturephoto #nature #wildlifephotographer #naturegram #wildlife_seekers #getoutside #naturelovers #conservation #birdlife #birdlover #backyardbirding
Who says you can’t be festive with your backyard bird feeding? 🐦 The birds love this seed wreath from @wbubarrie @wbu.newmarket and it looks so nice out in the yard this time of year. It’s also a great way to keep the birds fed without having to worry about filling the feeders over the busy holidays. 🎄
#birdsmakemehappy #birdingadventures #birdinglife #birding #birdfacts #conservationeducation #barrieontario #ontarionatureshots #ontarionatureguide #ontarionaturelover #naturefinds #ontarionature #backyardbirds #birdsofontario #explore #naturelover #redbreastednuthatch #nuthatch #birdsofinstagram #wildbirdfeeding #whitebreastednuthatch
Here are some photos from my #Fieldfare adventure in Sturgeon Falls. This bird was originally spotted by Julie Belliveau who noticed the bird feeding in a Mountain Ash beside her window. The last time this Eurasian vagrant was observed in Ontario was (before my time) in 1981- so needless to say many people have been excited by this bird and travelling to see it. I had the pleasure and company of watching the bird for an hour with two birders who had driven 12 hours straight from Wisconsin 😳
While we watched the bird we were treated to flocks of hundreds of Bohemian Waxwings. At least 400 birds (conservative number) flew over and landed in the distance on some fruiting trees. Pretty incredible to watch!
With the Fieldfare being so close to our cottage (which is not open during the winter), I had to stop in and take in the view before we return with the warmer weather. The water is always crazy high at this time of the year, but the view is always spectacular. ❄️
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#ontarionatureshots #ontarionaturelover #ontarionature #naturefinds #birdsofontario #twitching #rarebirds #birding #birdinglife #birdingadventures #birdsmakemehappy #lifers #lifebird #RBA #rarebirdalert #megabird #rarebird
Snakes don’t spend much time underground during the warmer months of the year, but they do seek refuge for the entirety of the winter season in what’s called a hibernaculum. ❄️🐍 A snake hibernaculum is an underground chamber where snakes can safely spend the winter protected from the frigid temperatures. Preferred sites for hibernating include rock piles and crevices, hollow trees, and abandoned rodent burrows. Some snakes may also choose to overwinter in basements, barns, or even junkyards – if the right shelter is there, they will seize the opportunity. Once settled in their winter living quarters, snakes will lower their metabolic rate, heart rate, and breathing rate, and go in to a deep sleep state for the season. ❄️
#easternmilksnake #milksnake #snake #conservation #winter #naturelovers #getoutside #natureinspired #nature #explore #exploreontario #naturephoto #naturegram #naturelover #wildlifephotographer #wildlifeplanet #snakes #herpsofinstagram #snake #wildlife_seekers #conservationeducation #barrieontario
Depending on the species, a birds’ caloric intake need can be as high as 10,000 calories in a single day – that’s equivalent to a human consuming 155,000 calories! 😲 Some of the best foods to offer birds to help them meet their caloric demands are unsalted nuts and seeds. High calorie, high protein, and highly desired. Why unsalted? Too much salt can lead to dehydration and kidney issues, so it is best to avoid it altogether when it comes to feeding wild birds. 🥜
#redbreastednuthatch #nuthatch #birdfacts #canoncanada #conservationeducation #barrieontario #ontarionatureshots #ontarionatureguide #ontarionaturelover #naturefinds #ontarionature #backyardbirds #birdsofontario #birdlife #winter #naturelovers #nature #getoutside #conservation #natureinspired #exploreontario #backyardbirding
Studies suggest that more robins over-winter in Ontario than we may realize, and rather than migrating, they simply change their behaviour. ❄️ In the winter months robins are non-territorial and will gather in nomadic flocks to feast on berries, while in the spring the flocks will disband to seek out and claim suitable nesting territory. Once nesting territories are established, American Robins will aggressively defend their areas until the last chicks of the season have flown the coop, flocking together once again when fall blows in. So while many do migrate south, because of their nomadic tendencies through the winter & solitary nature in the spring and summer, there may be more robins who over-winter here than we see. 🐦
#americanrobin #robin #winter #backyardbirding #birds #birdsofinstagram #getoutside #wildbirdfeeding #naturelovers #birdlife #conservation #birdphotography #natureinspired #birding #explore #nature #birdwatching #exploreontario #birdlover #birdfacts #conservationeducation #barrieontario
