Colour Block Fashion Statement

Spring ensures many thrills for the nature lover in our part of Ontario on the north eastern tip of the Niagara Escarpment but spotting this fabulous Red Headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus) is always a Spring highlight. A loud shrill call announces his presence before he is observed and one must be very cautious as he is a timid visitor. Far less common than they used to be, Red Headed Woodpeckers are in the decline in Ontario due to loss of nesting habitat and climate change.

Canadian Red and White

This handsome male Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis) perched in a tall Rose of Sharon shrub devoid of foliage beside our home one very cold winter’s day calling to his mate to come and feed. The softly falling snow provided the perfect truly Canadian red and while colour theme in this photograph.

This fiesty and tenacious Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) tolerated no intruders to his territory the day this photo was taken and was quite ready to take me on if I got too close. They are a clever and comical rodent to observe in action any season of the year. These beautiful creatures are on the mammalian critically endangered list. we treasure ours here on our Niagara Escarpment property.

Beeutiful

A bee enjoys the nectar from a tall and lanky Rudbeckia laciniata L., Green-headed Coneflower a wildflower which we grow in our pollinator garden. Bees are sadly still limited visitors to our country home but we are hopeful with time and concerted environmental efforts we will again be a buzz here in our Grey County location and all of Ontario.

Pileated Perfection

We reside on the edge of a hardwood forest in Grey County, Ontario on the shores of Owen Sound and Georgian Bay. Our forest is home to many bird species one of which never ceases to impress, the Pileated Woodpecker. This beautiful female graces our suet feeder on a regular basis and is accompanied by her male partner and another female on frequent occasions. She is generally quite shy but in this day was happy to pose on an ash tree while keeping a wary eye on me.