Another iNaturalist training field trip workshop 2026 July 11 morning

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I would like to offer another iNaturalist free training workshop on Saturday July 11th, from 10 A.M. to 12 noon at a location to-be-announced in Orangeville. I will send the specific location as well as a reading list to those who RSVP to me.

  • Bring a camera, any special lenses you have, a tripod if one is required to do careful focusing by your camera and lenses, a notebook, a laptop or tablet or smartphone, and questions. I have several tripods you can borrow. Or just come, although the more you attempt the more I believe you’ll learn.
  • If you do not have an iNaturalist account, I’ll suggest that you set one up ahead of time. They are free, and it takes only a couple of minutes to get your account basically established. Go to https://www.inaturalist.ca/
  • I will send those who RSVP to me a short reading list that might take you half an hour ahead of time.
  • We will go outside to do some observing, and take some photos. I’m a a generalist, and so is iNaturalist. So I’m suggesting that you record even a few observations. During that time, I’ll demonstrate some of the specific observations I try to answer for several specimens. (You could also bring some of your recent observations.)
  • Then we’ll come inside, and look at ways that we can, within our own limits, improve our observations. This will inevitably involve editing some of our photographic observations, using simple tools such as cropping and lightly touching up exposure, options available in even the simplest photo editing software.
  • We’ll then go through the steps in uploading our observations into your personal iNaturalist account if you have one, or into mine.

RSVP to Mark Whitcombe, markwhitcombe34@gmail.com  
      Mark Whitcombe’s iNaturalist account

Josh Pickering as created two projects for ‘Orangeville’ out of interest and promotion of natural heritage features and species within the town!  He pulled a map file (KML file) from Dufferin County mapping and uploaded the new ‘location’ on iNaturalist  for the Orangeville boundary.  If you are interested in creating additional projects, you can do so more easily because of the new existence of the Town of Orangeville boundary.  For the projects I created, one is the ‘Biodiversity of the Town of Orangeville”, here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/biodiversity-of-the-town-of-orangeville  and the other project is the ‘Birds of the Town of Orangeville’, here: https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/birds-of-the-town-of-orangeville

 

Review of our Birding Field Trip at Island Lake, 2026 June 13

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Bald Eagle at Island Lake 2026 June13 (CJ)

Headwaters Nature members were welcomed by our field trip co-ordinator, Josh Pickering, to a beautiful and sunny morning on Saturday June 13th, 2026, for a bird outing at Island Lake Conservation Area.  The group (17 people in total) was happy to note several bird species from the parking lot before we even began our trip and a few fledglings (young birds) along the trail at Rotary Park, including Common Grackle (5) and American Robin (4).  Highlights from Rotary Park were a pair of Cedar Waxwing (2), a Green Heron (1), and a Bald Eagle (1), among the 18 other species within the baseball diamonds, wetland edges, and stormwater management pond at the park. Overall, we saw 49 species of birds!  Josh and others have wonderful birding hearing, as well as keen eyes for spotting birds who are hiding. 

Birders looking out across the lake (CW)

As we crossed Highway 10 at 4th Avenue and travelled into Island Lake CA, some of the group members at the front of the pack were thrilled to watch a whole family (8 total) of Short-tailed Weasels (also sometimes referred to as Ermine, or Stoat) cross our path as we began our travels along the Vicki Barron Lakeside Trail.  The young weasels were an early indicator on our outing that the focus of ‘breeding birds’ was a worthy theme, as well as a great reminder of the life that is cultivated in the spring season amongst many species in addition to birds!

Two of the eight members of a family of Short-tailed Weasels (also sometimes referred to as Ermine, or Stoat) (CJ)

We continued our travels north along the lakeside trail and across sections of boardwalk where we observed many young birds, including four (4) cygnets (baby swans) that were feeding alongside their Trumpeter Swan parents.  The pair even sounded their trumpets on occasion as we watched from the boardwalk.  In addition to the family of swans, several waterfowl were noted, including Canada Goose (6), Mallard (7), Wood Duck (4), and a single male Redhead (1).  We were as watchful over a couple Wood Ducks and a Mallard as we were for the swans because of a few young fuzzy ducklings that caught our attention.  After viewing the ducks through binoculars and scope, we recorded seventeen (17) ducklings with 2 different Wood Duck mothers, and five (5) ducklings with a lone female Mallard amongst the wetland’s edges.

A number of other species that we observed and were of interest to the group, included a single Red-necked Grebe (1), a Caspian Tern (1), Chimney Swifts (2), a Pileated Woodpecker (1), and Baltimore Orioles (2), amongst the other more secretive birds that were mostly recorded by their calls.  We also heard American Redstart (3), Northern Yellow Warbler (4), Swamp Sparrow (2), a Gray Catbird (1), and both Red-eyed Vireo (2), and Eastern Warbling Vireo (3).  Lots to see and hear indeed!  In total, we travelled nearly 3km over the course of 2hrs and we observed nearly 200 individual birds (194) of 49 different bird species!  If interested, you can view our entire ‘checklist’ on eBird, available here:  https://ebird.org/tripreport/538341

Eastern Kingbird, returning to its surveying post. (MW)

We also wanted to note that the group bumped into a few people that were also birdwatching or enjoying the wildlife at both Rotary Park, and Island Lake CA, and were excited to share observations and other points of interest with us. Thank you to Vivian, Boris, and Christina for taking the time to stop and chat, we hope that you may be reading this, and that you’ve joined us at Headwaters Nature, and if so, welcome!

We once again wish to thank everyone who attended for their engagement, kindness and stories shared, and hope that those that couldn’t attend will join us for upcoming outings as we look to get together again. Please also note that Headwaters Nature would be happy to hear from you about any ideas or opportunities for outings that you suggest.  All inquiries can be addressed to Josh or Robin at our email, info@onheadwatersnature.ca

(Photographs by Carrie Jonker, Cathy Whitcombe, and Mark Whitcombe)

Headwaters Nature volunteers in action at Willoughby Nature Reserve field trip

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Pulling Garlic Mustard and planting native species instead (CW)

There have been three work parties at Willoughby Nature Reserve on Kennedy Road north of the Grange Sideroad this May and June. Our Chair of Headwaters Nature, Robin Harmer, organized each one.

On a rainy morning in June, we spent  about 90 minutes cleaning up small patches of tall Garlic Mustard, and bigger patches of Dog-Strangling Vine —some close to blooming and some just small ones.  We left much of the DSV behind, but I suspect that, had we carried this all out it would have been 2 full bags.  We spent the last bit of time on the right of way trail on the south border. Last spring, Robin’s and Cathy’s hiking group spent quite a lot of time pulling Garlic Mustard there, and it has made a real difference.  There was still some, but much reduced. On the section of the “pink” trail where we did the removal of DSV and Barberry over the last couple of years with Dawn, the Dog Strangling Vine was still there but less, and I couldn’t see any evidence of Barberry.  There is still Barberry elsewhere I am sure, but we were focused on the trailsides.

Sue Howard and Robin returned to finish up some GM pulling along the trail that that had been noticed.  There was really no sign of Garlic Mustard in the patch that we have been working over the last few years.  There is a healthy crop of jewel-weed and other native plants taking over, and the plants that we planted in all that horrible rain are doing well, with at least 2 of the Canada Anemone in bloom, and buds on some of the other plants.  So encouraging.

Red flags were placed by Josh Pickering to indicate suggested spots for planting the specific native species.

Thanks to everyone who has helped this spring.  We really are making a difference.  If you are planning a hike—short or long—over there in the next few weeks, feel free to yank any Dog Strangling Vine that you see.

Dog-Strangling Vine flower (MW)

There was a quick repair done on another (fine!) morning later in June by Robin and by Russ McGillivray, our Treasurer to fix a small section of boardwalk over one of the wetter sections of the path through the middle of the property.

A short section of wonky boardwalk over a small stream that was then repaired by Robin and Russ.

Thanks to everyone who has helped this spring.  We really are making a difference.  If you are planning a hike—short or long—over there in the next few weeks, feel free to yank any Dog Strangling Vine that you see.

 

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