red-tailed-hawk
Louise Beckinsale
Spot One of These Rare Majestic Raptors of Winter

With a relatively mild winter on our hands, at least in comparison to other years, we have been treated to a great deal less snowfall and sub-zero temperatures. In addition to these obvious factors, we have also been treated to seeing some new species in our area as well as noticing more and more migratory […]

 

dark-eyed-junco-in-winter
Louise Beckinsale
Winter Spotlight – Dark-Eyed Junco

Voted as one of bird watchers favourite winter birds by Birds & Blooms magazine, the dark-eyed junco is a common and energetic sparrow that is a delight to behold. These birds can be found throughout the continent of North America, stretching from sea to sea and covering most of the northern portion of the continent. […]

 

gyrfalcon-perched
Louise Beckinsale
Winter Spotlight – The Gyrfalcon

Holding the title for the largest falcon in the world, the Gyrfalcon is a breathtaking sight to behold. This large bird is recognized around the world for its large size and predatory instincts. Long associated with humans, for their stout hunting prowess, this bird is often used in the art of falconry and is recognized […]

 

birdbath
Louise Beckinsale
Birdscaping – Beginning to Plan Your Backyard Birding Oasis

While getting yourself a few good feeders and educating yourself about the very best seed available, there is so much more that really goes into planning your backyard for birding; or birdscaping. Visions differ from birder to birder, as does available free time, so depending on where you fit, a complete overhaul or planning process […]

 

bullocks-oriole
Louise Beckinsale
Autumn Spotlight – The Bullock’s Oriole

There was a great deal of excitement in our neck of the woods, west of Ottawa in eastern Ontario, this week. Local birdwatchers in the small town of Pakenham, Ontario were fortunate enough to spot an unusual visitor while out birding this past week. Ray Holland and Richard Waters were observing a number of house […]

 

western-kingbird
Louise Beckinsale
The Eastern Tendencies of the Western Kingbird

A common sight to roadside and open spaces in the western United States and Canada, the Western Kingbird is a treat to behold. These large flycatchers feature a stunning yellow belly and a large gray head and are often found perched on fences and utility poles tracking potential prey on the ground below. Traditionally, these […]

 

northern-shrike
Louise Beckinsale
Autumn Spotlight – The Northern Shrike

Given the time of year, we turn to a migrating species that will soon become highly visible in most of southern Canada and the northern United States. The Northern Shrike is a highly predatory songbird, often killing more prey, when possible, than it can immediately eat or feed to their young. These birds will, however, […]

 

purple-finch
Louise Beckinsale
What Exactly is a Passerine?

There are many terms, phrases and sayings tossed around the birding world and for those new to the game, these terms can turn out to be slightly confusing. While some of us who have been in the birding world might gaffe at defining some terms, we always have to keep in mind that as experienced […]