MAY 2025

May 30th & 31st 2025

LOCATION: North Dumfries & Puslinch

WEATHER: D1-sunny/mild D2-Cloudy/chilly

Sightings have been down a little over the last week, so one has to work a bit harder to find anything interesting, but I was reasonably happy with the sightings I did get over these last two days. One thing I have noticed is that the number of butterflies around seems to be way below the normal for this late in May .. hopefully things will get better as we head into June.

May 29th 2025

LOCATION: North Dumfries & Puslinch area

WEATHER: Cloudy and drizzly, but mild

Quite a productive day, with a strange(ish) find where I spotted 2 Chickens (Rode Island Reds) hanging around along a gravel road miles from any farm ?? after patrolling several gravel roads., using Merlin when I stopped at any likely looking habitat, and then searching for any findings Merlin popped up. Ended up at Safari Road to see if I could get a better shot of the rarity that has been hanging out there .. the Prothonotary Warbler. I did get another couple of shots but they were no improvement from my last visit. On the plus side, with a little help from a another birder/photographer, managed a shot of a Marsh Wren.

Tip of the Day:    A good tip for finding songbirds in the wood lots we roam around is to be aware of not only the sounds the birds make, but also for any slight movements of leaves and branches. Obviously more effective on a non windy & still day. Another thing to look for is a falling leaf, which can mean that above you a bird is foraging for food and dislodged that leaf - I've found birds on many occasions just by determining which direction that leaf has fallen from. 

​As always ... click on any image to show full size. Also by hovering your cursor over any image will provide a title

May 27th & 28th 2025

LOCATION: Bruce, Grey & Huron Counties

WEATHER: Mainly sunny with some cloud

Just back from a very productive 2 day jaunt up north to the Grey & Bruce areas looking for a few songbirds. High on the list was the Golden-winged Warbler, with maybe a Brewster's or a  Lawrence in the mix, but only found a single Golden. However it was one that gave me a decent sighting or two, so pretty happy.

Day1 I spent up near Tobermory and Day2 I headed down to Kincardine general area, with both days quite birdy.

Highlights were the Golden-winged and the Mourning Warbler. However Merlin was picking up Prothonotary, Canada, Tennessee and a few other goodies ... but no pics !!

May 26th 2025

LOCATION: Puslinch to Flamborough

WEATHER: Sunny and getting warm

.... Running behind on the commentaries :)

May 25th 2025

LOCATION: Puslinch area

WEATHER: Sunny 

... later 

May 24th 2025

LOCATION: Puslinch Lake Area

WEATHER: Mainly cloudy

Checked out a gravel road area that I hadn't been to a few years, and was pleasantly surprised with some songbird activity, so will definitely put on my list of places to go and explore

May 23rd 2025

LOCATION: North Dumfries

WEATHER: Mainly cloudy

Birding wise it was pretty slow, so I flipped to Macro, with a bit more success

May 20th & 21st 2025

LOCATION: North Dumfries

WEATHER: D1-Sunny D2-cloudy then wet

Raccoon

The last couple of days, with yard work being a main focus, I didn't venture too far or for too long, but nevertheless the minimal time out I still managed a few decent sightings.

​Tip of the Day: Find a good spot - You might go for a drive through a wildlife area, walk on a trail, or sit in one spot and wait for the birds to come to you. One key is to find a place where two habitats meet, such as the edge of a forest and a meadow, or where muddy shorelines meet the water. Finding a spot where birds can find food and water can increase your chances of finding interesting species.
​Good luck !

​As always ... click on any image to show full size. Also by hovering your cursor over any image will provide a title

May 19th 2025

LOCATION: Skunks Misery

WEATHER: A tad unseasonably cool morning 

A good birding day with some good sightings, with the most surprising being the Cerulean Warbler, that came out of nowhere to give Tim and I some awesome images !!

May 18th 2025

LOCATION: Beverley Swamp and local area

​​WEATHER: Sun and cloud but very cool

Did a little bird foraging my good friend Helen, and came up with a few sightings ...

May 17th 2025

LOCATION: Back roads around Kitchener

​WEATHER: Sunny

Managed only a couple of hours first thing, so didn't go too far, but it was reasonably productive in that short time. As well as the images below I was seeing a few other Warbler species.

May 16th 2025

LOCATION: Point Pelee

​WEATHER: Sunny and warm  .. again

The coming week has me quite busy with some projects around the garden etc, so as a last minute decision I decided to head to Pelee. Up and out the door just after 3:00am for the 3 hour drive to the Point. I drove through a might thunderstorm that was freaky, but I made it for close to 6:30 am.
Merlin was picking up lots of songbirds, but they were way up high in the canopy and didnt come anywhere close to sitting in front of my lens. One strange thing was that everywhere I stopped in the park I could hear a Tennessee Warbler, but other than one VERY brief glimpse of one up high, I never saw one !!! I even tried playing a few calls to see if I could coax one lower, but nada !!
I left the park just after noon as it was pointless staying, but I dropped in at a spot I hadn't been to in a few years .. Skunks Misery.  I was only there for an hour but I saw and photographed, the Vireo as well as Scarlet Tanager, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Great-crested Flycatcher, and a couple of others .. ended up being better than Pelee.

May 15th 2025

LOCATION: Guelph Line

WEATHER: Sunny and warm

Along with a couple of good friends (Tim & Cerian), wee checked out a few spots along a back road off Guelph Line. Over the years we have had some success in these spots, but today it was a little slow, when it came to warblers, which was our main focus. However we did see a Hooded, albeit a little way off and  up quite high.

May 12th & 13th 2025

LOCATION: D1- Burford D2 - North Dumfries

WEATHER: Sunny and quite warm

As you can see from the posts, macro season has also kicked in. | am not seeing too many butterflies yet - mainly just the Northern Azures and the Cabbage Whites so far, but I'm certainly keeping my eyes open and carrying a Macro Lens in my kit.
Birding wise I dropped into a small side road just outside Kitchener ... a spot I used to go to a few years back, but I had kinda forgotten about, but will be popping by occasionally from now on.

May 9th 2025

LOCATION: Guelph Line area, late aft Kitchener

WEATHER: Sunny, but cooler start

Checked out a couple of my favorite spots along a back road just of Guelph Line. I am hearing a few birds, thanks to Merlin, but they are a tad stubborn as to getting them to show them selves. Same true on my late afternoon drive along a local gravel road.

May 8th 2025

LOCATION: Burford area

WEATHER: Cool start & cloudy but warmed up 

I took a drive down to a spot that has been reasonably successful on previous visits out near Burford, then worked my way back along some of the back roads between there and Kitchener. My favorite method of looking for and photographing birds. Good luck combined with the amazing app on my mobile ... Merlin gives me some great opportunities ... when my luck is on the positive side !!
​

May 7th 2025

LOCATION: Guelph Line/North Dumfries

WEATHER: Sunny and quite hot

Birding was a little slower than I would expected for this time in the migration schedule, but a couple of nice sightings anyways.

May 5th & 6th 2025

LOCATION:D1-N.Dfs&LakesideD2-Woodstock

WEATHER: Day 1 & 2 - Sun/cloud/mild

Day 1: I did the North Dumfries / Brant County standard route (for me)  which has been reasonably successful over quite a period of time but today was a little basic. In the afternoon I headed over to Lakeside Park in Kitchener, which has been really birdy over the last few days and for me it was too !!
Day 2: After reading some birding reports for an area between Woodstock and Brantford that was impressive, I decided to check it out. It turned out be quite interesting so I managed a few decent images.

May 4th 2025

LOCATION: In and around Kitchener

WEATHER: Sunny start, but clouded over in pm

Just a short walk around a couple of local trails .,.. Migrant numbers are pick up .... awesome !!

May 3rd 2025

LOCATION: N.Dumfries, Brant & some Oxford

WEATHER: Drizzly start then cloudy 

Today was a little damp to start with, but at this time of year you don't waste too many days sitting at home. The hope was for a few new songbirds (Warblers & Vireos hopefully) but fate had other plans. The only Warblers I did manage to snap were a "Butter Butt" and a "Bandit" officially known as a Yellow-rumped Warbler & a Common Yellowthroat.
I did, however manage a couple of new birds (seasonally) ...a few Bobolinks and a Gray Catbird
I did see a couple of other species but no pics !!

Tip of the Day: Here's one that I find quite important .. If driving and looking for a shot: make sure your stops are with your images in mind ie . check out to see if a) the habitat is right, and that there are a few cool perches from your parked position, and b) if it is a sunny day, that the light is reasonably behind you.

May 2nd 2025

LOCATION: Guelph Lakes Area

WEATHER: Sunny and reasonably warm

Tim and I did a few spots in and around Guelph Lake this morning with some Warbler success (at last they are showing up). We also briefly saw a Common Yellowthroat and heard a Yellow Warbler but they wouldn't come into the open for a pic or two ... but on the whole the birds were allowing us to get some images.

​As always ... click on any image to show full size. Also by hovering your cursor over any image will provide a title

May 1st 2025

LOCATION: North Dumfries & Brant County

WEATHER: Cooler and a bit drizzly

Today, although a bit cool and threatening rain, turned out to be reasonably good with a few first of season captures, including the Common Yellowthroat, Yellow Warbler, Baltimore Oriole & the Least Sandpiper. At a local pond I spotted quite a bit of activity with several shorebirds - I show the Yellowlegs and the Least Sandpiper below, but there was also a Spotted Sandpiper and a Killdeer that evaded an image, at the same location, so you can be sure I will be dropping by again in the coming days.
It started off dull, but dry, but by mid morning it was raining pretty good so that put and end to my birding day