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Reptiles

Here is my first attempt at making a wreath. I collect a few things from around the garden and am pr…

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kristenmartyn

Well… this was a surprise 😅 An Eastern Cottontail

Well… this was a surprise 😅

An Eastern Cottontail decided my garden was prime real estate.

Friendly reminder this time of year: check before you dig, mow, or tidy up—these nests are almost invisible.

They’re incredibly well hidden and easy to disturb by accident. If you find one, the best thing you can do is leave it alone.

Mom only visits a couple of times a day (usually dawn & dusk), so even if it looks “abandoned”… it’s not.

A quick peek is okay—but keep pets, kids, and tools away until the babies are gone (usually just a few weeks). 🐇🌿

#EasternCottontail
#WildlifeGarden
#BackyardWildlife
#HabitatGarden

There have been several reports of Black-backed Wo

There have been several reports of Black-backed Woodpeckers showing up south of their usual range in Ontario this winter, but they can be incredibly tricky to relocate once spotted.

After a few searches, I finally located this bird—and it was surprisingly cooperative. It worked the trees low and close, probing the bark and slurping up wood-boring beetle larvae like a pro 🪲 Watching it forage was fascinating.

Their plumage is such a deep, gorgeous glossy black that it’s easy to see how they can almost disappear against the bark of burned trees.

Moments like this are why persistence birding pays off. 🖤💛

#BlackBackedWoodpecker #OntarioBirding #BirdWatching #NaturePhotography #WildlifePhotography #NatureLovers
#WildlifePerfection

Spring migration pause 🦢 A field full of Tundra Sw

Spring migration pause 🦢 A field full of Tundra Swans and a nice variety of ducks 🦆 taking a break on their way north.

#tundraswan #springmigration #birdmigration #ontariobirds

Unexpected backyard guest 💛🖤❤️ A young Yellow-bel

Unexpected backyard guest 💛🖤❤️

A young Yellow-bellied Sapsucker has been visiting the yard regularly over the past few weeks. Since their diet contains mainly of sap they aren't a common sight at feeders. However, this bird has been enjoying our suet.

It’s also a bit unusual to see one lingering this time of year, as most Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers migrate out of Ontario for the winter. Whether it sticks around a little longer or eventually heads south, we’ve been enjoying every visit.
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#YellowBelliedSapsucker #Sapsucker #BackyardBirding #BirdsOfOntario #OntarioBirds #BirdWatching #BackyardWildlife #BirdEducation #NatureInTheYard #JuvenileBird #UnexpectedVisitor #NativeWildlife #Woodpecker #BirdsOfInstagram #WildBirdsUnlimited

Slowly becoming addicted to needle felting 🪡 My se

Slowly becoming addicted to needle felting 🪡 My second felted bird turned out so cute. He has a new home on our Christmas Tree 🎄 There’s something fun about turning a wool blob into something recognizable. Already thinking up my third project… 🤔 Highly recommend needle felting a try! Would make a lovely handmade gift 🎁 for someone!
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#NeedleFelting #WoolArt #CraftReel #FibreArts #CardinalArt #HandmadeOrnaments #WildBirdsUnlimited #CreativeWorkshops #CanadianMakers #birdart #naturecrafts

The junco complex definitely keeps things interest

The junco complex definitely keeps things interesting!🤔 I usually spot a Cassiar’s Junco every couple of years, but this one has me taking a closer look — the subtle colouring, hood contrast, and overall tone look a bit more (female) Oregon-leaning. Either way, this beauty has been hanging around with a group of normie juncos (Slate-coloured) in our yard for the last couple of weeks 🐦✨ 🩶

What subspecies of junco do you get in your yard??
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#DarkEyedJunco #JuncoComplex #CassiarJunco #OregonJunco #BackyardBirding #OntarioBirds #FeederWatch #BirdNerd #BirdingCanada #WinterBirds #BirdIdentification #BirdWatchingDaily #WildBirdsUnlimited

It doesn’t get any better, than this! A gorgeous m

It doesn’t get any better, than this! A gorgeous male Evening Grosbeak stopped in today on our live Feeder Cam (link in bio). We got to watch him for quite a while! Hope he stays and invites all his buddies! No redpolls yet but we also have Siskins. What winter finches are you seeing?? ❄️ 💛
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#EveningGrosbeak #WinterFinches #FeederCam #OntarioBirds #BackyardBirding #BirdWatchingCanada #WildBirdsUnlimited #WinterBirding #PineSiskin #BirdLovers

Had a wonderful time this week in beautiful Magnet

Had a wonderful time this week in beautiful Magnetawan, ON speaking to the Entente Retired Educators about the discovering the hidden lives of our backyard birds! 🐦🌿

It was such a lovely day filled with sunshine, great conversations, delicious food, and a truly welcoming group of people.

Thank you to everyone who came out! 💛

#BirdingOntario #WildBirdsUnlimited #BirdEducation #BirdLovers #NatureTalk #CommunityConnections #CanadianBirds #BirdConservation #GetOutside

Watching the salmon run has become our Thanksgivin

Watching the salmon run has become our Thanksgiving tradition — a reminder of nature’s incredible cycles 🐟🍂
Happy Thanksgiving! 🧡

#ThanksgivingTradition #SalmonRun #CanadianNature #FallInOntario #gratefulfornature #Thanksgiving #SalmonRun #OntarioOutdoors #Gratitude #NatureLovers

✨ Fall is blooming beautifully in my native plant

✨ Fall is blooming beautifully in my native plant garden 🌿🍂 Here are some late-season stars:

🌸 Tennessee Coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis) — first blooms after starting them from seed last year. A proud native plant gardener moment! 🤓
🌼 Blanketflower (Gaillardia aristata) — bold colour that keeps shining late into the season.
🤍 Wild Quinine (Parthenium integrifolium) — new for 2025 and already my new favourite, with its cloud-like clusters of blooms.
🌿 Spotted Beebalm (Monarda punctata) — loved by pollinators and such a unique form.
💜 Missouri Ironweed (Vernonia missurica) — deep purple drama for fall.
🌾 Purple Love Grass (Eragrostis spectabilis) — a soft, airy haze that ties it all together. Attempting to use it as green mulch. #L

Every season brings new joy, but fall flowers have a way of stealing the spotlight. Fall is the new Spring🍁

#fallisthenewspring #NativePlantGarden #FallBlooms #PollinatorGarden #WildflowersOfOntario #GardenInspiration #GrowNative #BackyardHabitat #Biodiversity #GardeningCanada #EchinaceaTennesseensis #GaillardiaAristata #PartheniumIntegrifolium #MonardaPunctata #VernoniaMissurica #EragrostisSpectabilis

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