NORTHERN RIVER Images

05/28/2026

May is an exciting month in Algonquin Provincial Park as the Broad-winged Hawk returns to Ontario’s forests after spending the winter in Central and South America. These small, compact Hawks are well known for their spectacular migrations. During spring migration, birdwatchers often spot Broad-winged Hawks soaring high overhead in groups called “kettles,” using warm air currents to glide northward with very little effort. Once they arrive in Algonquin, mating season begins. Broad-winged Hawks form monogamous pairs and usually return to the same nesting territory each year. Courtship displays can be dramatic, with males circling high above the forest canopy while calling loudly and performing steep dives to impress females. Nest building follows soon after, with both birds helping to construct a stick nest high in mature trees, often near wetlands or quiet woodland clearings. Food is especially important during this season because the hawks need energy for nesting and raising young. Broad-winged Hawks are skilled hunters that feed on a variety of small animals. Their diet includes mice, voles, frogs, snakes, insects, and small birds. They often hunt from hidden perches, such as the one shown, silently watching the forest floor before swooping down on prey. The return of the Broad-winged Hawk is one of the many signs that spring has fully arrived in Algonquin. Their graceful flight, haunting calls, and important role in the forest ecosystem make them a fascinating species for bird enthusiasts and nature lovers alike.🙂

05/24/2026

We recently made our annual May trip up north. Spring in Algonquin Provincial Park brings one of the park’s most iconic sights: Moose emerging along roadside marshes and shallow lakes after a long northern winter. May is considered one of the best months to spot these massive animals, as they are often drawn to roadside pools to feed on sodium-rich aquatic plants after months of surviving on woody vegetation. Driving along Highway 60 through the park at sunrise or dusk offers visitors the highest chance of seeing a Moose. Early mornings are especially magical, with mist rising from the wetlands while bull Moose, cows, and even young calves quietly graze in the water. Wildlife photographers and nature lovers from across Canada travel to Algonquin each spring hoping for this unforgettable experience. While moose sightings can feel thrillingly close, park officials remind visitors to keep a safe distance. Moose are wild animals and can become unpredictable if approached too closely, particularly females protecting calves. Viewing from inside a vehicle or from designated roadside pull-offs is the safest and most respectful option. Beyond Moose watching, May in Algonquin offers fresh greenery, returning migratory birds, and peaceful canoe routes before peak summer crowds arrive. Trails begin reopening as snow disappears, and the forest comes alive with the sounds of spring. Cool temperatures and fewer insects also make the month especially appealing for camping and hiking enthusiasts.
Whether you are visiting for photography, wildlife viewing, or simply a quiet escape into nature, springtime in Algonquin delivers a uniquely Canadian wilderness experience. A single moose encounter beside a misty wetland can easily become the highlight of any Ontario road trip. We were lucky to see five Moose in the same day.

05/08/2026

Each May in Ontario, migration brings a steady stream of familiar birds, but occasionally, something unexpected appears. The White-faced Ibis is one such rarity. Native to western North America and parts of South America, this glossy, long-legged wader is far outside its usual range when it shows up in Ontario wetlands. During spring migration, a White-faced Ibis may stop in marshes, flooded fields, or shallow ponds that resemble its natural habitat. Feeding is its top priority. Using its distinctive downcurved bill, it probes soft mud for insects, larvae, small fish, and crustaceans. Even in unfamiliar territory, its feeding behavior remains efficient and focused. An essential trait for a bird that may be covering long, uncertain distances. Territorial behavior, however, is unlikely in this context. In established breeding areas, white-faced ibises nest in colonies and can be protective of their space. But a lone individual in Ontario during May is not there to breed. It is a transient visitor, pausing briefly to refuel before continuing its journey or attempting to reorient itself. It’s tempting to describe such a bird as lost, but that oversimplifies what’s happening. Migration is not a perfectly mapped journey. Weather systems, wind drift, and instinctual exploration can all push birds beyond their typical routes. For the White-faced Ibis, appearing in Ontario is less about being lost and more about the natural variability built into migration. For local birders, the sighting of a White-faced Ibis is both exciting and humbling. It serves as a reminder that migration is dynamic, occasionally unpredictable, and full of surprises. In the quiet marshes of Ontario, even a brief visit from this wandering ibis can feel extraordinary.🙂

05/05/2026

The May blog post has arrived.

May arrives like a quiet celebration. After months of subdued landscapes and patience, the world begins to exhale in colour, movement, and life. For those who step outside with curious eyes, May offers something extraordinary: a season of renewal not just in plants and landscapes, but in families, i

04/27/2026

I received an email from Project Snowstorm recently, which tracks Snowy Owls as they return north. The last two started their return migration on April 8th and 10th. This is my sign to post my last Snowy Owl images of the year. March always feels like a threshold in Ontario. A season caught between winter’s grip and spring’s promise. This is when the Snowy OIwl, one of the north’s most captivating visitors, begins its quiet departure. After months spent haunting open fields and frozen shorelines, these striking white raptors turn their gaze back toward the Arctic. Their winter presence here is never guaranteed. Some years bring an irruption, a sudden influx driven not by cold alone, but by the abundance or scarcity of prey farther north. This year was such a year. When lemming populations surge, more young owls survive, and many travel farther south than usual. Ontario’s wide agricultural landscapes and windswept lakeshores become temporary hunting grounds, offering a rare chance for people to witness these birds up close. By March, however, the light has changed. Days stretch longer, the snow softens, and something instinctual calls the Owls home. One by one, they begin to leave. There’s no grand migration spectacle, no obvious signal, just an absence that grows noticeable. The fence posts sit empty. The pale shape against the dusk sky disappears. Their return north is as essential as their arrival. In the Arctic tundra, they will breed, nest on the ground, and raise the next generation in a landscape defined by extremes. What we see in Ontario is only a fragment of their story, a seasonal overlap between human lives and a much larger ecological rhythm. For those who watched them this winter, their departure can feel bittersweet. It always is for me. Yet it also carries a quiet reassurance. The same forces that brought them south are guiding them back again, continuing a cycle that has played out for centuries long before we stopped to notice.🙂

04/22/2026

The Northern House Wren is one of spring’s most energetic and vocal arrivals, bringing a burst of life to backyards and woodlands each April. As the days grow longer and temperatures rise, these small but bold birds return from their wintering grounds, immediately establishing their presence through song. Their bubbling, rapid-fire melodies are hard to miss, often echoing from shrubs, fences, and tree branches throughout the day. April marks the beginning of the mating season for n
Northern House Wrens, and their behavior shifts dramatically during this time. Males become intensely territorial, using their loud, complex songs to claim space and warn off rivals. Despite their tiny size, they show remarkable confidence, frequently challenging other birds that venture too close. The song of the Northern House Wren plays a crucial role in attracting a mate. Males will often sing repeatedly near potential nesting sites, such as cavities in trees, birdhouses, or even small openings in human structures. These songs serve a dual purpose: they signal strength to competing males and demonstrate fitness to females. A strong, consistent singer is more likely to secure a partner. Spring also highlights their industrious nature. Once a pair forms, the male may present multiple nesting options, allowing the female to choose. This courtship behavior adds another layer to their already lively presence during April. The Northern House Wren embodies the spirit of spring. Active, vocal, and fiercely territorial. Its song is more than just background noise; it’s a declaration of life, renewal, and the competitive drive that defines the breeding season. 🙂

02/02/2026

The February blog post has arrived.

February is a sacred pause in the wheel of the year. It is not loud or celebratory, yet it holds profound spiritual weight. Resting between the deep sleep of winter and the first stirring of spring, February invites us into a quieter relationship with the Earth, with our families, and with ourselves