I like photographing geese and reflections. I got quite lucky here.
WATER LILY
If you’re lucky a dragonfly will land nearby. Just the water lily that day, still not too shabby 😏
GOOSE GATHERING
I watched as the two geese joined the rest of the group, they really look like small aircraft on the descent 😊
A SLIGHT SHIFT – 4
The reflections in the river are taking on an autumn feel too.
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE
Some years I see chickadees everywhere. I haven’t seen many this summer but as they remain year round I hope for more opportunities.
EGRET ANTICS
As we followed the path down to the beach we saw an egret standing in the long grass. After a while it turned towards the river and we left it to its wandering.
CABBAGE WHITE
I followed this cabbage white as it moved from flower to flower. This one looked a little bleary eyed from all that nectar 😏
MALLARD ON A MISSION
At least it looked like that to me 😊
ANOTHER BUSY BEE
I think I’m seeing more bees now than I was earlier in the summer as the season nears its end.
A SLIGHT SHIFT – 3
Late summer – cooler nights, and daytime temperatures still nice and warm, the landscape now a mix of flowers and grasses.
AT THE LAKE
I’ve seen very few dragonflies this summer, I was happy to see this one.
The Best Dining
Under the bird feeder was the place to be for this red squirrel.
SITTING PRETTY
Bees and flowers, summertime favourites.
MONARCH BUTTERFLY
We’ve seen several monarchs this summer but until now they’ve been very flighty. I finally got a few minutes to photograph this one.
PASSING GLANCE
On a quick walk in the neighbourhood, I saw a house sparrow land on a stoop for a few minutes. Looking for its mate?
A SLIGHT SHIFT – 2
Another scene that signals late summer.
MORE MILKWEED BEETLES (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
I don’t know who was having more fun, me or these characters.
ANOTHER VIEW
There are several laneways nearby that can make for some interesting walks. No one parks in the garage anymore but it makes for a creative canvas and a nice spot for a basketball hoop.
DIRECT DUCK
That’s what I like about mallards, they look you right in the eye.
FINALLY… A FROG
I had almost given up seeing any frogs this summer until I spotted this handsome fellow. I’m not sure who was more surprised!
PILEATED WOODPECKER
I heard the pileated woodpecker before I saw it. As we got closer, several people were gathered close to the tree the bird was excavating. If you look closely you can just see its tongue darting into the hole it had drilled to retrieve its meal.
A SLIGHT SHIFT
It is still very much summer but the landscape is slowly showing signs of fall. There’s a bit more yellow in the fields and milkweed pods are opening to release their seeds. I like photographing these changes.
SHARE THE PATH
As the summer moves along wood ducks become a bit bolder and don’t retreat when they see you. This imposing male strode along like he owned the place 😊
CURLS & EDGES
We recently visited a favourite nature reserve that had a variety of birds the day we were there. After taking a good number of photos, I slowed down to catch my breath and noticed this scene. I’m glad I saw it, there’s a lot we can overlook when our eye is on the “prize”.
SUNFLOWER
The sunflower was centre stage but it had a nice supporting cast 😊
Poppy
Somehow I missed taking photos of poppies this summer until I came across this one in a wildlife garden. It’s approaching the end of their season so I was pretty pleased to get the photo.
Sunbeam
Even on a cloudy day, there’s always a bit of sunshine to be found in the summer.
SINGLE-MINDED
This female downy was enjoying her meal. When these little birds are feeding they don’t notice the photographer lurking in the background 😊
METALLIC BEE
Metallic or Sweat Bees have to be among the most colourful of bees. They can be attracted to the salt in human sweat though this one was more interested in pollen 😏
FRAZZLED
It happens to the best of us!
MILKWEED BEETLE (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
The other day we came across quite a few milkweed beetles and I took a lot of photos; more to follow. They certainly have impressive antennae!
Friday Follies
Something made me look up. I’m glad I did 😊
ROYAL FAVOURITE
Another bee this week (and several ants); all enjoying the Queen Anne’s Lace.
TUESDAY BLUES
I saw this Blue Jay in a wildlife garden back in May. He was staying close to the feeder but I took this shot when he flew to a nearby tree.
BALANCING ACT
I’m happy to be seeing a lot of bees this summer going about their business.
MORE BEETLE TALES
This beetle has only faint spots on its dome, I had wondered if it was an immature ladybug or an asian beetle. It has been identified (see comments below) as the later. It was searching for aphids just like its spotted cousins.
BEETLE TALES
We noticed a lot of aphids on the flower stems and so did the larva of this ladybug. It seems that aphids are their meal of choice.
RING-BILLED GULL
I don’t much care for these gulls in the city but on the river my opinion of them changes. They fish and fly and even pose quite nicely; and you don’t need to keep “an eye to the sky” 😏
BY THE RIVER
On this muggy overcast day, we thought we’d cool off by the river. I shot through a break in trees and was rewarded with this scene.
PASSING PARADE
One day in June we were treated to a mallard and her chicks swimming along close to shore. They had passed a gull earlier on who didn’t glance their way and this Great Blue Heron who was very preoccupied with finding its next meal.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 