Enjoyed a local family of Bald Eagles while cottaging on the French River for two weeks. Two grown juveniles could be seen regularly perching close to their nest, sometimes vocalizing loudly, while one of the parents would perch nearby. Sometimes they would even fly right over my cottage. I was also very excited to spot 3 Sandhill Cranes in a farmer's field beside Hwy#607, just north of the river - lifers for me. Other highlights included:
-an entertaining Caspian Tern who would repeatedly make huge aerial dives head first into the bay
-a beautiful pair of Common Loons. I swear one swam right under my boat while I was quietly watching them!
-a multitude of Ruby-throated humming birds at my feeder. Sometimes they would battle outside my window.
-a nest of 4 cute baby Eastern Phoebes right under my porch. The parents did a great job of controlling the bug population in my front yard.
-two Bonaparte Gulls; the first I've ever seen on the river
-several colourful Purple Finches at my feeder - some that looked like they'd been dipped in rasberry jam
-lots of assorted juvenile sparrows and warblers (the warblers are tough to spot in the dense foliage of the forest)
-Osprey, Broad-winged Hawk, Ravens, TVs, GBHs, Hermit Thrush, BC Chickadees, Flickers and lots and lots of Chipmunks!
-Kris
p.s. French River is located about half way between Parry Sound and Sudbury
