48 hours in Parry Sound ~ part 1

I just spent the last 48 hours visiting my brother Bob and his wife Nancy in Parry Sound, Ontario.   The actual drive up and back, along Hwy. 400, was highlighted by the frozen waterfalls in the rock cuts on each side of the road.  Mile after mile, I saw cascades of pale blue and green, yellow and orange, white and gray, and even pink.   Thank goodness there was little traffic on the road, because I was continuously distracted by these beautiful, frozen stalactites.   I know that the bright orange colour comes from iron oxide in the rocks but I have no idea about the origins of the other tantalizing tints.   My visit included a jaunt with Bob to a huge landfill site outside Parry Sound where I was told to expect to see a lot of Ravens, possibly three Bald Eagles and a couple of Golden Eagles.   The landfill provides a huge buffet for these birds throughout the winter.   I got to see two of the Bald Eagles - not as close as I would have liked, but still a treat to see.   The real surprise were the Ravens.   At the spot where the latest garbage had been dumped, there were 250 Ravens!   The Ravens certainly rule the roost here, vastly outnumbering the crows and eagles and starlings.   However, despite their unofficial ownership of this place, all these birds are very wary and hard to approach.



Unfortunately, this was the best shot of the Bald Eagles that I could get.   We could have spent more time here but the weather was very cold and the birds kept moving about.   Below is a shot of about 80 of the Ravens surrounding one of the non-occupied dump vehicles.

Elsewhere on this day of discovery, my brother and I stopped at the Smelter Wharf on Salt Dock Road, adjacent to the Parry Sound harbour.   The picture below gives some idea of what 100,000 metric tons of dry, unprocessed, road salt looks like, as it sits waiting to be used as de-icer on area highways, throughout Central Ontario.   

Part two to follow.   Please comment if you wish.

BtheB

Frigatebird follow-up

When writing about the frigatebird, two blogs ago, I neglected to comment on its most noticeable and outstanding physical feature: its gular pouch.   It is an inflatable, red-coloured throat pouch used as part of the courtship display.

To make amends for the oversight mentioned above, I have written the following verse.

The frigatebird has a grand pouch

When displaying it he's no slouch

If this sac's bright red

It's time he was bred

If not, he turns into a grouch

Please comment if you wish.

BtheB                                                                     Fritgatebird photo ~ Wikipedia

Storm of the century a non-event here

TUESDAY AFTERNOON ~ BEFORE THE STORM

WEDNESDAY MORNING ~ AFTER THE STORM

Here are before and after shots of Hwy. 400, looking north towards the King Sideroad interchange, in King Township.   What was being touted as "Snowmagedon" sort of fizzled.   Last night, while waiting to be snowed-under and having little else to do, I looked up the origin of the word snow in my Chambers Dictionary of Etymology.   The word snow has been around since probably before 1200 and was developed from Old English (before 830) snaw,  which is descended from the same original language or root as Old Frisian, Danish and Middle Low German sne, Old Saxon and Old High German sneo, Middle Dutch snee, Old High German sneo, Old Icelandic snaer and snjor, Norwegian and Swedish sno, and the Gothic snaiws, from the Proto-Germanic snaiwaz.   Gognates from elsewhere or outside of Germanic include the Irish snechtae or snechte, Old Prussian Snaygis, Russian Sneg, etc., etc., etc., just in case you were wondering.

Please comment if you wish.

BtheB

Langtry Reserve ~ thanks Roberta

Walk north on the 7th Concession of King Township, beyond the 16 Sideroad, which is also the route of the Oak Ridges Moraine Trail, and eventually you will come upon this monument to Roberta Langtry, on the west side of the trail.   You will also be in the Happy Valley Forest.   Here's what the plaque on the monument says:

Nature

Conservancy

Canada

Happy Valley Heritage Forest

Langtry Nature Reserve

Stewarded for the benefit of nature

and all Canadians

through a significant bequest by the late

M. Roberta Langtry of Toronto

Philantropist~Teacher~Writer~Naturalist

1 April 1916 - 13 August 2005

I wandered through the Happy Valley Forest today and couldn't help but silently thank Nature Conservancy Canada and its supporters, like Roberta, for what is happening here.   Overall the Happy Valley Forest (oldtimers call it the King Ridge or King Forest) comprises almost 1,600 acres, much of it in private hands.   But in a few short years, 300+ acres has been protected; good news for the 110 bird species here.   The birds most often mentioned as significant in Happy Valley are the Red-shouldered Hawk (vulnerable), Hooded Warbler (threatened), Acadian Flycatcher (endangered) and the Cerulean Warbler - all pictured here.

 

   The Nature Conservancy Canada declares that the Happy Valley Forest "...is one of the largest remaining intact upland deciduous forests on Canada's Oak Ridges Moraine".   It contains Sugar Maple, American Beech, Paper Birch, White Ash, Eastern Hemlock, Black Cherry, Red Oak, Red Maple, Largetooth Aspen and Trembling Aspen, among other less frequent species.   The Nature Conservancy Canada is aiming to protect 500 acres of the forest and is well on its way with over 300 acres currently protected via land purchases, land donations and  conservations easements.   Roberta Langtry's gift to NCC, by the way, was $4.3 million!   I believe I read it was the largest private donation ever received by the NCC and   it has gone a long way to supporting nature conservancy right across Canada.
Please comment if you wish.
BtheB
Photos ~ Wikipedia 

Birdfeeder update

House Finches moved up 5 places today on the birdfeeder list.   There are now 4 males and 4 females filling up on seeds.  They are greatly outnumbered  by goldfinches, redpolls, juncos and tree sparrows, and usually defer to these other birds.   As luck would have it, I happened across an online photo today of an albino House Finch, taken about eight months ago in Saskatchewan.   I thought I would include photos of a male and female (for comparison purposes) and the albino bird for its rarity.

American Goldfinches ~ 61

Common Redpolls ~ 44

Dark-eyed Juncos ~ 34

American Tree Sparrows ~ 34

Mourning Doves ~ 19

House Finches ~   8

House Sparrows ~   6

Northern Cardinals ~   5

Blue Jays ~   4

Chickadees ~   4

Red-breasted Nuthatch ~   2

White-breasted Nuthatch ~   2

Starling ~   1

Cooper's Hawk ~   1

Downy Woodpecker ~   1

Total Species ~     15

Albino House Finch (top left) by Crista Coulter / Male House Finch (middle) by Richard Dubie/OFO
Female House Finch (bottom) by Daniel Cadieux/OFO

Please comment if you wish.

BtheB

Feed mills

This is the Nobleton Feed Mill, where I buy all my birdseed.   Normally feed mills are utilitarian in appearance; meant to do a job rather than look pretty.   I do find the Nobleton Feed Mill rather attractive with its large curving rooflines.   And the striking colour of the Schomberg Feed Mill (below) will appeal to those who not only appreciate the unique shape of most feed mills but also a splash of colour.   I'm drawn to these places, mostly for the connection to the past that they represent.   There was a time when they were the equivalent of our community centres.   Nobleton and Schomberg's mills seem to be going-concerns in this day and age, unlike the Nashville Feed Mill, seen at the bottom.   Its importance and stature in the community are a thing of the past, in fact of a different century now.

Please comment if you wish.                                             BarrytheBirder photos

BtheB

Oldest horse and buggy shed in King?

St. Mary's Roman Catholic Mission Church has been on the 10th Concession of King Township for almost 156 years, after having been formally opened on September 23, 1855.   155 years and 9 days later, it was replaced by a beautiful new church in the nearby village of Nobleton.   For me, I never tire of stopping at the old St. Mary's to take in its rural setting and rustic horse and carriage shed.   The carriage shed is almost 98 years old and was a replacement for one that burned down during mass, on a very unlucky day indeed: September 13, 1913.   So much for the luck of the Irish, who built the shed, as well as the church.   The new shed was constructed of cement and steel, and rein rings for tethering horses were inserted into the walls, both inside and outside (see photo below right).   If it was raining and there was a full church, and you were late, you would be among those not under the roof.   I've stood in this empty carriage shed many times over the the years and imagined the sounds of  stomping hooves, rattling harness, horses   murmuring and rubbing noses, and overhead, barn swallows swirling and twittering.   I think of this building as one of the township's best reminders of our agricultural heritage.   I have not heard what the future holds for the old St. Mary's but I sincerely wish it will be with us for a long time to come.   Please comment if you wish.

BtheB

BarrytheBirder photos 



Green Lane is white

I walked the Green Lane (a.k.a. 16th Sideroad or the Oak Ridges Trail) between the 6th and 7th Concessions of King today.   It's very popular with hikers, skiers, and birders (me).   I saw a Hairy Woodpecker, but not much else, birdwise.   I took some pictures however and include some here, with a bit of verse.

Zaina's swain carved her name

In a tree for all to see.

The promise of warmth...awaiting a hearth

Typical trees of the Oak Ridges Moraine

Left to right are Beech, Silver Maple and Paper Birch trees found along the Green Lane/Oak Ridges Moraine Trail in King Township.   Smooth gray Beech bark always makes me think of dolphin skin.   The scaley older bark of the Silver Maple tends to flake off leaving brown spots, and it's not hard to see how the Paper Birch bark is a favourite tinder for campfires.   Even when wet, the papery sheets of older bark are highly flammable and perfect fire-starters.

Please comment if you wish.                           Photos and verse by BarrytheBirder

BtheB   

Thoughts of breeding at -20C?

American Goldfinch ~ Carduelis tristis

BarrytheBirder photo

January 22, -20C, and already the male goldfinches are starting to turn from drab olive to yellow.   Someone mentioned to me, a day or so ago, that the goldfinches at their feeders were starting to show signs of breeding plumage.   I took the picture above this morning and the spots of yellow are indeed showing.   Personally, at -20C, I start to turn blue, not yellow.   That's a female redpoll on the opposite side of the feeder, from the goldfinch.   I betcha breeding is the last thing on her mind today.   Please comment if you wish.

BtheB  

This Cold Creek never freezes

                                                                                  CLICK ON PHOTOS TO ENLARGE

 

Cold Creek Conservation Area lived up to its name today: COLD!   And yet, down in the bog, in its own micro-ecosystem, the creek burbles along and defies the freezing air temperature.   The water never freezes here, as it is groundwater, newly discharged.   The water here is always cooler in the summer and warmer in the winter, than the ponds and streams in the surrounding higher ground.   It also takes some interesting forms, as seen in the top photo, where oxidized iron has turned the water, in a connecting pool, a ruddy-brown colour.   In the second photo, thawing snow-melt forms icy columns above the open creek which runs ice-free.   The bottom photo shows the tracks of small animals that have come to drink.   Birds will drink here also, a welcome alternative to getting water by swallowing snow, too much of which can compromise their body temperature in harsh, frigid conditions.   The Township of King opens the main gates to visitors on weekends at this time of year, which means a lot more area can be covered by driving to the centre of Cold Creek and heading out onto trails from there.   Cross-country skiing and snowshoeing is encouraged also.   Today there was a welcoming smell of woodsmoke from the visitors centre.   'Google' Cold Creek Conservation Area or go to http://www.coldcreek.ca/ to check dates and special events in February.   Please comment in you wish.

BtheB                                                                                 

 Photos by BarrytheBirder

At the feeders...

American Tree Sparrow photos by BarrytheBirder

There were 34 American Tree Sparrows at the feeders, at one time, today.   That ties them with the Juncos for 3rd place, so far this winter (go to Jan. 18th blog entry below to see the list).   I took the tree sparrow pictures (above) to show it from different angles, for anyone interested in learning how to identify it.   Of course, the dark 'stick-pin' spot in the middle of its breast is its single most identifiable feature.   Spot that and you've got the ID made.   None of our other sparrows have that.   They're one of the first of our winter birds  to head north in early spring.   The spring breeding grounds for tree sparrows, after wintering in this part of Ontario, are James Bay and Hudson Bay.   Despite the name tree sparrow, they prefer to stay close to the ground.   Bird researchers, Erica Dunn and Diane Tessaglia-Hymes, in their 1999 book Birds at Your Feeder, describe American Tree Sparrows as "bad-weather birds" that usually ignore feeders unless the weather turns severely cold or stormy.   I, for one, have had a  bunch since before Christmas that shows up every day to do battle with the goldfinches, juncos, chickadees, et al, for the buckets of seed I put out.   I'd miss them terribly if they headed out for the fields around the village of King City. 

I once had a sparrow alight upon my shoulder

for a moment while I was hoeing in a village garden,

and I felt that I was more distinguished by that circumstance

than I should have been by any epaulette I could have worn.

Henry David Thoreau ~ Walden (1854) 'Winter Animals'

Please comment if you wish.

BtheB      

Excuse me, how do I get to.....?

Homing pigeon photo from Care2.com

Paula Alvarado, of Care2, reminds us that homing pigeons can return from extremely long distances (up to 2000 kms.) without any guidance.   Well, not exactly.   According to research by the University of Frankfurt, these pigeons have iron-containing structures in their beaks, which help them sense Earth's magnetic field, independent of their motion and posture, and thus identify their geographical position.   Undoudtedly, there are reams of of scientific data to back this up but I, for one, will just accept it as one more of nature's miracles.   At 69, I am still young enough to require my daily allotment of worldly wonders.

Please comment if you wish.

BtheB

Birdfeeder update

Redpolls jumped into 2nd place this week on the list of  birds most-seen (of a single species) at one time.   I counted 44 redpolls at the backyard feeders on January 18, an increase of 26 over the previous one-day total of 19. 

American Goldfinches ~ 61

Common Redpolls ~ 44

Dark-eyed Juncos ~ 34

American Tree Sparrows ~ 22

Mourning Doves ~ 19

House Sparrows ~   6
Northern Cardinals ~   5

Blue Jays ~   4

Chickadees ~   4

House Finches ~   4

Red-breasted Nuthatches ~   2

 White-breasted Nuthatches ~  2 

Starling ~   1

Cooper's Hawk ~   1

Downy Woodpecker ~   1
TOTAL SPECIES   ~     15

Photo at left shows a female Common Redpoll (top) and a male Common Redpoll (bottom).   Photo at bottom shows a female Common Redpoll (left) and what could be an Arctic Redpoll (right); although those stripes along the side of the breast as fairly bold.   Until I can be sure, that what I think might be an Artic Redpoll is not a Common Redpoll, I will continue to list them all as 'Common'.   Your opinion or comments would be appreciated.                                             (photos by BarrytheBirder)

BtheB   



New winery ~ a work in progress

  Photo by BarrytheBirder

I've tasted them.   Now I recommend you do so also.   I found both the Holland Marsh Wineries blended reds and whites to be light and clean-tasting, but with faint bouquet and flavour.   They are quite tame and harmless, belying the 12 percent alcohol/vol. and cry out for some flavour, backbone and character.   The bottling is attractive, the wine shop and tasting room are welcoming, and the service very friendly.   This is a work in progress.   I would describe them as being ready now for the faint of heart.   For the rest of us, this wine-making effort will have to grow by leaps and bounds.   Best wishes to proprietor, Roland Nersisyan.   King wine-lovers will be keenly interested to see this home-town effort evolve.   Go to http://www.hmwineries.ca/ for further info or visit the winery at 18270 Keele in the Holland Marsh.   Call for hours at 905-775-4924.   Please comment if you wish.

BtheB  

Snow Buntings

Photos by BarrytheBirder

I finally found some Snow Buntings to photograph today, although they are not quite as in-focus as I would like.   They kept swirling about in a huge flock of over 200 birds and I was constantly re-focussing.   This flock was in West Gwillimbury, just north of my usual King Township stomping grounds.   The search for seeds (in the top photo) led to the usual squabbling among winter foragers.   The temperature was a nippy -14C and a wind chill of -25C.   When not viewing Snow Buntings swooping about in the air, I am accustomed to seeing them on the ground.   This flock, at a couple points, flew up to the high overhead hydro wires and lined themselves up like a gang of starlings or swallows (see bottom right photo).

Please comment if you wish.

BtheB  

Grape vines in Holland Marsh?

                                                                                          Photo by BarrytheBirder

For months now, while out birding, I've noticed the establishment pictured above, the first of its kind in King Township, under development on Keele Street in the Holland Marsh, just north of Woodchopper's Lane.   It is named Holland Marsh Wineries and there are several acres of grapevines under cultivation.   Today, passing it once again, I noticed an 'OPEN' sign and checked it out.   I was greeted by a pleasant young lady who I believe to be the manager and immediately asked her if they were really growing grapes in Holland Marsh muck soil!   She quickly replied that they have sandy soil on their property and the vines are doing quite well.   The winery and vineyard are near to the foot of the north slopes of the Oak Ridges Moraine.   Apparently the location has sandy soil, excellent drainage, and is at the highest point of the marsh (I always thought that all 20,000 acres of the  marsh were as flat as a board).   The owner of Holland Marsh Wineries is Roland Nersisyan and he has created a very attractive wine store and tasting room.   The current wine offerings are three reds and three whites, all blends, using six varieties of grapes.   I purchased one dry red wine and one dry white wine, 2010 vintages, @ $13.95 each.   That's competitively priced with many Ontario wines.   Ahhh, but what about the taste?   Give me a day or two to sample them and I shall report back.

BtheB     

A little TLC...

                                                                                                 BarrytheBirder photo

I was out again today looking for Great Gray and Snowy Owls, as well as Snow Buntings, but they were not to be found.   I did however come across this very pleasant young lady and her horse and dog, at Kelly's Lake, near New Scotland.   She was walking her horse which is recuperating from surgery for colic and apparently is doing just fine.   According to Wikipedia, equine colic is painful and there are a number of different causes, some of which can prove fatal without surgical intervention.   Colic is the leading cause of premature death among domesticated horses and the incidence of it in the general horse population has been estimated between 10 and 11 percent on an annual basis.   This case appears to have a happy ending.   Best wishes to all.

BtheB

stone and wood barns fall

replaced by plastic and tin

I cannot go in

Please comment if you wish.                                                                           BarrytheBirder photo and haiku

This flag does not flap ~ it sails

                                                                                            BarrytheBirder photo

I've been out trying to get a picture of Snow Buntings for several days and have had no luck so far.   Today was no exception.   I did get a picture of something flying proudly however, just west of Kettleby.   It's apparently the largest Canadian flag in King Township.   It sails proudly above the site of Priestly Demolition Inc. headquarters.   Vic Priestly told me a while back the flag is 200 sq. ft. and stands 70 ft. tall.   Vic founded PDI but his son, Ryan, runs the show now, I believe.   Vic and I go back 45 years ago to Aurora, Ontario, when he was selling snowmobiles and I was selling newspaper advertising.  I salute Vic's accomplishments and his flag.   Now, where are those buntings...
Please comment if you wish.
BtheB 

Birdfeeder Update

                                                                                                                  BarrytheBirder Photo

We have just one Downy Woodpecker visiting our feeders so far this winter and this is him.   If he has a mate and she does show up here, the red patch on the back of the male's head is what will distinguish him from her.   Females don't have a red patch.   The numbers below show the most birds (of a given species) seen at the feeders, at any one time, so far this winter.  

American Goldfinches ~ 61

Dark-eyed Juncos ~ 34

American Tree Sparrows ~ 22

Mourning Doves ~ 19

Common Redpolls ~ 18

House Sparrows ~   6

Northern Cardinals ~   5

     Blue Jays ~   4

Chickadees ~   4
House Finches ~   4

Red-breasted Nuthatches ~   2

White-breasted Nuthatches ~   2

Starling ~   1

Cooper's Hawk ~   1

Downy Woodpecker ~   1

TOTAL SPECIES ~ 15

Rusty Snowman

BarrytheBirder photo

I went looking for Snow Buntings this morning and found some, but was not quick enough to get a photo.   I did however get a photo of the fellow above, just west of Schomberg.   I see him often on my bird-watching jaunts.   It seems these days, that every country lane and byway has its assortment of folk art.   This chap has grown on me.   There's a haunting and knowing look in his face, and he seems ready to pass on some significant thought or stratagem, despite the onset of a snow squall, while posing for me.                                                      

Please comment if you wish.

BtheB

The Butcher Bird

I went looking for Snowy and Great Gray Owls again today but once more had no luck.   There's still lots of winter left and if I don't spot one, someone else will.   The word will then spread quickly and there will be a horde of us standing on some frozen sideroad, spotting scopes and cameras at the ready.   I did however spot a Northern Shrike up in Holland Landing, at the Morning Sideroad and Yonge Street.   It's a smart-looking bird and in the winter, hereabout, it's diet is primarily mice and small birds.   While the shrike is a predator bird, it does not have talons like a raptor.   It does have a sharp curved beak and uses that to give its prey a quick fatal blow to the back of the neck.   It will then often impale its victim on a thorn or piece of barbed wire that makes it much easier for the shrike to butcher it's kill.   Hence, it's nick-name: the Butcher Bird.

Please comment if you wish. 

BtheB

                                                                  



Northern Shrike ~ Lanius excubitor

Wikipedia Photo

Snow Crow

The way a crow

Shook down on me

The dust of snow

From a hemlock tree

Has given me heart

A change of mood

And saved some part

Of a day I had rued

Dust of Snow (1923) ~ Robert Frost 1874/1963