Even the most seasoned birder gets stumped every now and again when it comes to identifying their favourite birds. Whether trying to decipher between finches, warblers or owls, each species can present challenges when trying to id them in the field. As is often the case, our encounters with unfamiliar species are often brief in […]

Each year that goes by we seem to experience more change in all areas of life and the birding world is no different .  With some of my recent speaking engagements I refer to it as the runway effect; where everything runs along fairly consistently, gaining momentum, then all of a sudden, lift off and […]

As (most) of our migrants have left us for the year, the shift has been steadily moving towards winter birding for us here in the Ottawa area. As temperatures continue to swing up and down and more snow starts to accumulate, we are fixated on the possibility of spotting some of our favourite birds of […]

Just the same as the leaves way up high in our trees are transitioning into their fall foliage, the same is true for the majority of our feathered friends.  As the fall season begins to set in, those bright coloured birds we became so accustomed to during the spring and summer months now look, well, […]

Small yet vocally proficient, the northern waterthrush is a unique and interesting bird to observe.  Favouring dense cover, these birds can at times be a challenge to locate but once found, can provide spectators with an interesting glimpse into their daily activities. Bob was lucky enough to spot one around his home earlier this week […]

Image: Kaaren Perry Two years ago, the local birding community was in awe when a local birder spotted a severely misplaced bird not far from our flagship store in picturesque Pakenham, Ontario.  About a 15-minute drive from our Almonte location, local birder Ray Holland first spotted the bird in late November of 2015.  His original thought […]

Developing at the end of the bird’s first winter season, the red iris is what gives this small songbird its name.  Although sometimes difficult to decipher unless you are intimately close to the bird, it is their song that has the ability of not only entrancing birders from all walks of life but also makes […]

  Well, warbler season is here, folks as most of our busy little birds have arrived in the greater Ottawa area for the spring and summer season.  As the nesting season continues for some, it is ending for many others whose nests might still be full of chicks or just recently rid of them. None […]