A few weeks ago, I suggested to 2 friends who love photography and birds, that we take a little road trip to Caden Alvar. It is a well-known birding location near Kirkfield, Ontario which I had only recently heard about. According to their website, it is among the top 5 in Ontario and the top 200 in the world. In case you would like to find out more about this area, here is the link:
Being very new to birding, an interest I developed because of photography, I have a great deal to learn about both birds and photography! We were somewhat unprepared for the condition of the very narrow roads (more like trails!) and due to the very wet weather, I was wishing that I hadn’t volunteered to take my sporty car. That day we would have been better in an SUV or truck! Oh well, we made it without incident and were successful in our quest to see an Eastern Bluebird. It was at nesting box #10, where Tim had seen it a week earlier. Thanks, Tim…. Then, on the way home, we finally spied a pair of ospreys in their nest near the highway. I managed a shot of the male as he flew out of the nest. It was well worth the 2 hour drive and I’m sure we will go again.
Jane Walker's Cards 
Great pics Jane. I used to spend many hours fishing in the canal just outside Kirkfield just where it connects to Balsam Lake. Wayne.
Glad you liked them, Wayne. It is a lovely area. You must miss it.
Hi, Jane! Thanks for the latest post. Guess what? I figured out the name of the “laughing/snickering” bird! It’s a red-breasted nuthatch! Please click on the sound file on this page, to hear him/her: http://identify.whatbird.com/obj/356/overview/Red-breasted_Nuthatch.aspx Happy Canada Day,Cindy.
Date: Tue, 25 Jun 2013 22:25:35 +0000 To: mester401@hotmail.com
Beautiful pictures, Jane! I love the Eastern Bluebird, it’s so, so pretty. Glad you made it OK in your car 🙂
Yes, it was worth the drive for my first bluebird sighting. I’m sure there must be some closer to home, perhaps near one of the apple orchards. I’ll have to check out Archibald’s in Tyrone.
Love the Columbine and Prairie Smoke photos! I will have to check out this place sometime 🙂
Glad you liked the photos. I’m sure you would enjoy a visit there as well. Thanks.
What a fantastic place for bird photography Jane ! Your photos are superb, as always. When I think of bird photography and when I want to see beautiful photos of them, I come here or go to your Flickr 🙂 This is something I’d like to try, photographing birds, but I don’t have the proper lens at the moment, my longer lens is a 70-210mm. I’d love to buy one but I’m saving my money for a trip to Paris next year 🙂
See below! Jane
A trip to Paris…..the birds will have to wait! I use a 100-400 mm and it’s the speed and the fact that it is stabilized that really helps me out. I’m not very good about using a tripod, especially for birds.
You’ll have to visit Carden Alvar when you come to Ontario on another trip…not as exciting as Paris but lots to see and do.
I take good note about Carden Alvar Jane, When I go to Ontario I visit my brother in Ottawa and never go anywhere else. I’m sure I’d love to visit this place, and my boyfriend also, we love birds and have been observing them for the past 20 years.
Perhaps you will come to visit our farm as well.
I’d love that, really ! 🙂