March 2014 - Eastern Screech Owl

Hello All,

Wow, it's been over a year since my last Blog Post.  Every year I make Resolutions to be better and more consistent, and every year I don't.  I am my own worst enemy.
This years is different.  Why?  Can't explain it, but I have a renewed sense of self.  2013 was an eventful year for me.  A lot of life changes, changes that have helped me reach a sense of rest that I was missing.  I feel grounded.
I have some ideas for myself and my photography.  I will be launching a new website for one, but there are some other exciting things on the horizon as well.
This year is about bringing everything I do back to me, making me happy, and taking everything in a direction that makes me smile.
I am laying plans, and will be doing my best to stick with them.
One plan - to post on the blog once a month.  Would I like more - of course, but I want a quantifiable goal that I can reach.
Today is March's official Blog Post  - if I want to add more then I will ;)
(Yes, I lie to myself even though I know I am doing it, knowing one's self is half the battle lol)

After all that - Here is a photo of Echo.
Echo is a female Eastern Screech Owl. She resides at Mountsberg Raptor Centre - Conservation Halton in Campbellville, Ontario.  I currently volunteer at Mountsberg Raptor Centre once a week.  I find it very rewarding and I am forever grateful to all of the staff at Mountsberg for all of the patience and kindness they have shown me.
There are currently 30 birds in residence at Mountsberg, most of them viewable on the walkway, so stop by next time you have the chance.  Maple Syrup Festival is running in the Sugar Bush .....mmmm maple.
Check out  Mountsberg Raptor Centre and  Mountsberg Conservation Area

Echo will typically greet me with an angry/annoyed chatter when approaching for the first time.  After saying hello, I whistle for her.  I can do a pretty fair screech owl imitation.  Some days I am completely ignored but most days I can encourage her to call back and have our own small owl conversation.  It's brings a smile to my face every time she answers me.  :)

Does she not look like she is grinning? lol

A Perfect Day!

A recent photo posting from best friend and fellow photographer Serena Livingston Moorhead of CampCrazy Photography got me to thinking.......................................I cannot WAIT for spring!

I have been slowly getting caught up of being almost a year behind in some of my outings.  Having a deadline for portraits makes me push through, but I have trouble setting deadlines for my nature work.  I realized that I had not had the chance to look through that file of photos.  Her post reminded me, so I went and took a look.

SLM original post here.

It was a perfect day.

Serena and I drove up to the Bruce Peninsula.  We talked and talked, and laughed and laughed, we stopped and said Hello to Willie (Wiarton Willie that is).  We drove up to the Dyers Bay Area.  I had found some really cool backroads while bird banding on the Bruce and I was dying to share them with her.
We ran into birds and critters and creatures at every turn.  We were prepared, and we were both outfitted in bug jackets the entire time, and thank goodness since they were quite thick at times.

On the drive in to spot where I had seen the cranes before we ran into a snapping turtle.  I think she was heading for the gravel to lay eggs.

On that same road there was some great wild irises, there colours all the more vibrant since they weren't seen in someones garden.

As well as some beautiful reticulated irises.

I hear a strange insect sound, and went searching for what was making it, it took me a while to realize that I was looking for the wrong type of animal.  I was looking on the ground and in the grass for an insect and what was making the noise was a Grasshopper Sparrow.  A first for me.  They sound just like a grasshopper, hence the name, although I think they eat grasshoppers as well.  Either way, I love seeing a new species of bird for the first time. (New to me anyway lol)

An Eastern Phoebe, not my first time for this bird, but the first time I was able to get a decent photo of him.

And then we had made it to the cranes.  They were still right where I had seen them last time. It was great to see so many together at once.

We got geared up in sunscreen and bug gear and headed across the fields, just to see what we could see.  After getting back from a good workout hike, we look out in the field and see..................a bear.  Where the heck did he come from?  Was he in the field the whole time, did we think he was a rock?  What a sneak, and a little trickster.  There was no time for him to have come from the woods many yards away.  He must have been sleeping the whole time.  Definitely opened my eyes.  I think I need to add Bear Spray to the camera bag - just in case I trip over him next time.

Adored the colours on this Common Grackle.

We saw many swallow tail butterflies, there were moving in large groups and so beautiful.

 We traveled down a crazy narrow road  - with zero signage and headed out for a hike and finally found Devils Monument, a large vase shaped rock that was formed over 5,500 years ago. Also known as Devil's Pulpit.
Serena capturing the details.  Very wet and very steep.

 The Bobolink - This is one of my favorite song birds.  The beautiful trills from this melodic creature always makes me smile.

An amazing day with an amazing friend came to an end with a gorgeous sunset on Georgian Bay.  Life doesn't get any better.  It was a perfect day.

Birding on the Bruce

I spent a week in the spring volunteering at Bruce Peninsula Bird Observatory.  A very very cool experience.  We stayed at the Cabot Head Research Station past Dyer's Bay. Simply stunning on the Bruce

 Magnolia Warbler

The Gargantua Shipwreck

 Wingfield Cottage

Sharp Shinned Hawk

Point Pelee Birds

So every year I head to Point Pelee for spring migration, some years I am luckier than others on what I see, and what I can capture.  To see more from Pelee, visit the gallery on Flickr

Grey County Hiking & Toronto Hiking

Grey County's Winter Hiking Story has been picked up by Toronto Hiking, featuring a photo of Eugenia Falls by yours truly.

Birds of Prey

These guys are from the Central Ontario School of Falconry.

Starting off with Jimmer the Barn Owl

I didn't catch this guy's name, he is a juvenile Peregrine Falcon.

Maternity Photos Flesherton, ON

We had an amazing time shooting these pictures.  A little walk of the trails, lots of laughs, and some gorgeous photos.
Dana, you rocked me!