The robin assumed a miliary stance and looked ready to give orders rather than take them 😏. We’ve seen a lot of robins throughout the spring and summer. Their expressions can be very funny and they aren’t timid birds which allows for mamy photo opportunities.
Late summer is reflected in the landscape. As August moves along, greens aren’t as vibrant, seed heads are forming and berries are replacing some flowers. Summer is slipping through our fingers and that familiar feeling of regret returns, as it does every year.
I have a soft spot for these ducks!
I caught a glimpse of the garden through the Porcupine Grass. An interesting plant tthat I’ve never noticed before. Too bad I didn’t see its namesake too😏
Walking along the path, I came across this squirrel starring in my direction. Maybe he was about to hide some food and I interrupted hm.
Globe thistles attract bees and other pollinators. The bee was so intent on its task that it never raised its head once for me 😏
I didn’t crop the photo because I wanted to keep all of the background. No rule of thirds here although the flower isn’t quite centred. I only noticed the aphids on the flower’s stem when I imported the photo. A lot of aphids but no ladybugs 😏
This classic wagon looks like its been repurposed as a garden planter. In 1930, the owner of Radio Steel & Manufacturing named the wagon Radio Flyer to honour the era’s advances in communication and aviation. Over the years, a lot of kids have played with or been pulled along in these little wagons.
A part of town has gardens full of sunflowers. I wanted to get there before the season was over. Many had begun to fade but this flower really stood out. I have never captured the disc of a sunflower at quite this angle before, it appeared almost three dimensional.
The Japanese beetles and bees were competing for the same flowers. This beetle was having none of it and the bee beat a hasty retreat 😏
This trio had been swimming behind their mother and must have decided to get a little rest before rejoining her. The adult stayed close, just out of the frame.
I love buttercups but they can be tricky to photograph with their glossy petals. I imagine a lot of you will remember the “chin game” we played as kids with buttercups!
Earlier in the month I posted photos of some Chipping Sparrows. I was lucky to get several shots, this one shows off its chestnut cap.
I really like Queen Annes’s Lace and feature it here throughout the summer. We’re entering the final leg of summer though when goldenroad begins to appear (the yellow flower in the background).
Another coneflower, I think I might have found my new favourite, the Sombrero Adobe Orange. Until this summer I wasn’t aware of this variety 😊.
I stopped to chat with a neighbour the other day and asked her if she had seen many bees in her garden. Not too many, she said but plenty of rabbits. On our walk today we came across this young cottontail who seemed to be enjoying the flowers. I wished it had turned in my direction but it still gave me some good photo opportunities.
It’s the time for coneflowers now, they really do dazzle.
The front porch was still in deep shade but the sun caught a bit of the plant as it made its way across the sky. (My title was borrowed from the mailbox 😏 .)
In the past you rarely saw ravens in the city but they’re here now, an hospitable environment for these birds. You often hear their deep “gronk” call as you walk along, both summer and winter. Although considered aggressive they are often mobbed by smaller birds protecting their nests.
Last week I featured some female mergansers sunning themselves. The same day I took those photos, I saw a younger duck swimming further out (which is where I usually seem them). Mergansers are diving ducks that feed on small fish and crustaceans, I got several photos of her as she came to the surface.
A little fun with spot metering.
Queen Anne’s Lace is one of my favourite wildflowers. We were walking beside a vacant lot that had hundreds of these flowers in different stages of development. Here are two examples.
This West Highland Terrier was enjoying the cool morning air a few weeks ago. With the hot temperatures we’re experiencing right now, I imagine he’s being walked a lot earlier.
This rock is a popular spot for ducks to sun themselves. On this day two mergansers had staked it out. As I usually spot them swimming out in the middle of the lake it was nice to see them close up.
I featured this chick and an adult chipping sparrow on a post a few days ago. Here are a few more photos.
The fiery orange of the day lilies mirrors the current temperatures.
On the otherhand, cosmos are the lily’s cooler cousin.
Chasing dragonflies can be difficult as they’re in constant motion. If you see one on a lily pad chances are you’ll get a few photos, as they break from leading you on a merry chase.
When the robin landed on the car mirror I expected it to turn around and catch its own reflection. It didn’t, at least not while I was watching. I’m glad it wasn’t my car as birds can make quite a mess perched like this.
I wasn’t the only one to take an interest in these plants. They were growing on the side of the road and not getting munched on in someone’s garden 😏.
We passed a wood duck and her young along the path. When I looked behind me about five young ducks seemed to be following me very closely for quite a distance. I was tempted to turn around and lead them back to their mother but in the end I didn’t have to as they decided to do that themselves. 😏
This is the first of several photos I took of a chipping sparrow. The star of the show is this very young bird who appears to be taking his first walk with Dad; actually he hopped 😊. You never know what you’ll see on a walk in the neighbourhood!
Glancing down towards the water I saw this day-lily growing in the filtered light. Not native to North America, the flower has become naturalized and its their season right now.
I saw this female goldfinch peering around the thistle at me. I’ve seen them feed on this plant later in the season when its gone to seed. I’m not sure if there’s something for them rto eat ight now or if she was just taking a break.
There were a lot of mallards settled under the trees as we walked along the path at our local reserve. We’re experiencing very high temperatures right now and shady spots are at a premium.
It’s a hot day in the nation’s capital. Happy Canada Day!
In the warmth of the sun this field of wild flowers and grasses gave off the nicest scent. When I return next time, I hope to see a few insects.
We decided to walk along the river in search of a breeze as the temperature continues to rise. Not much relief there but we did see some birds including this juvenile Canada Goose. He’s beginning to lose his down and acquire juvenile plumage. His parent wasn’t far behind; they remain with their parents for about a year.
Daisies are such cheerful looking flowers. I caught these swaying in the breeze.
The chipmunk found a quiet spot to have a snack. It was aware of me but didn’t seem to mind and just kept on eating.
I saw this plant growing by the shoreline of the pond; I believe its bur-reed, related to cattails and bulrushes. I liked its interesting appearance and so did the damselflies that were landing nearby.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 