After photographing certain subjects for a while you begin to anticipate their behaviour. In the case of damselflies (and dragonflies) they tend to return to the same perch you might have startled from as you approached. So if you don’t get the shot the first time your chances are good the second time around.
I often see female wood ducks on their own or in very small groups. They are not as gregarious as mallards but have a charm all their own.
This pretty little beetle was inching its way along the leaf when I spotted it. I might not have noticed it if it weren’t for its colour. The leaf gives you a good idea of the insect’s size.
This lake has a fair number of resident turtles. As I scanned the water for birds, I noticed a painted turtle enjoying a swim. Now it and its mates are buried deep in the mud, hibernating until spring.
Muskrats swim quickly and like to dive, particularly when they have an audience. I saw this one on an early April morning enjoying a solitary swim.
This lake has a lot of lily pads which these frogs call home. They blend in so well that often only a splash or movement alerts you to their whereabouts. The photo below gives you a good idea of their environment and how well they blend in.
I didn’t follow the rules for my composition. I don’t think the photo would have worked as well if I had.
The barred owl or hoot owl is very common in Ontario though I’ve only seen one twice. Like most owls they are nocturnal but both my sightings were during the day. This owl was just slightly off the main path, I happened to look up and there he was.
Pretty good advice for the times we live in 😏.
Someone had stamped down the path somewhat but we still got plenty of exercise making our way along. No need for a gym membership with conditions like these 😏.
I caught this duck as she stood on some rocks close to shore. She gave me a curious look which made for a nice photograph.
Fall is a good time to photograph mushrooms especially if there’s been a lot of rain. As I was walking, I noticed some bracket fungus running along this fallen tree. It almost looked like a border of lace.
Happy New Year!
A little cheer on a cold December day.
Canada Geese have long since left for warmer parts. While we’re strongly encouraged not to travel this winter, these snowbirds are exempt.
Best wishes for the Holidays!
The chickadee looks like it’s trying to keep its balance on the branch. I thought the leaves framed him nicely too.
The bluet damselfly is a common visitor in early summer, often seen near bodies of water. Like many birds and insects, when they become accustomed to your presence they’ll often linger for a portrait.
Now that the weather has turned cold, I hope this chipmunk remembers where he has hidden the food he was busy collecting. It’s going to be a long winter.
A female mallard enjoying a swim on the lake. On a sunny day in October the water takes on the wonderful colours of the sky and trees. These remaining days of fall are there to be enjoyed as they’ll be gone before too long.
The day and path stretched before me as I set off that morning. The woods were quiet. No wind or squirrels rustling the leaves, no people either. A quiet moment in late October 2019.
On passing a lean-to in the reserve, I saw this raccoon ambling about. I think he had found something to eat on the floor and just gave me a passing glance as I walked by.
Another early morning on the Maine coast. Plenty of time to photograph the harbour before the sun burns off the fog.
I took this photo in late July, so I think the cardinal had just begun to molt. Molting begins after mating season and before the cold weather sets in. They can look pretty rough over several weeks but this bird still looked pretty spiffy.
On a drive one day, we stopped at a reserve that advertised a wild bird display. This peregrine falcon was waiting his turn and seemed to look in my direction so I took the shot. I’m not a great fan of these events but the birds were beautiful and if people take away an appreciation of them it can only help conservation efforts.
This casse-croûte (snack bar in English) promises you your fries quick! We discovered this place on a walk through a small Quebec town.
From this angle I thought the buildings looked like they were nestled by the greenery surrounding them. I liked the effect of the Antique Preset in Tonality CK in the second photograph.
A typical early morning scene on the Maine coast. We spent many summer holidays driving through this beautiful state. I hope to return again when things get back to normal.
There are nine species of Orioles in North America; both the Baltimore Oriole and Orchard Oriole can be found here in the east but I’ve yet to see an Orchard Oriole. This colourful bird usually shows up in May and stays the summer.
I like to watch bees as they work their way among the flowers. This one had just gotten started as it hadn’t pick up much pollen yet. I took this photo with a long lens, you can get quite near to the insects without disturbing them or getting too close for your own comfort.
A scene from a warm summer day. No better way to spend a sunny afternoon than camera in hand surrounded by sights like this.
When I took this photo I was focussed on the wood ducks. Looking at the image when I got home I thought the goose was part of the story too and a funny one at that.
I took several several photos of the cardinal on the ground and when it flew into the trees. In late summer they seem more relaxed around people; their young have left the nest and they’re less wary. Nice for me.
Downy Woodpeckers are the smallest of the woodpeckers and quite numerous. We enjoy them year round. They don’t cache food but survive the winter by excavating the trees for overwintering insects. They are also a frequent visitor to bird feeders.
Although very small there is no overlooking these brilliant green bees. This one was gathering pollen, and its legs are well dusted with it. Nothing says summer more to me than a scene like this.
This was a first for me and the only time I’ve ever seen a brown creeper, so it was pretty exciting. Their numbers are declining in the eastern part of North America, due to habitat loss, so I was particularly happy to see one. It’s called a brown creeper but I thought it looked more like it was hugging the tree as it foraged for insects.
Canada Geese may have their detractors but on a lake in the fall they are among my favourite subjects. They’ve had their young and territory is no longer an issue so scenes like this are common. Ottawa is a city that includes a lot of rural land, so you don’t have to go too far to see them flying in their wonderful V formations (or echelons) as they head south.
The slight tilt of her head, makes me think the female mallard has heard it all before 😏. These ducks can be quite vocal, I wish I spoke duck!
I waited for the mimic fly to turn around and face me, it was acting like someone who just didn’t want to be photographed. After a five minute stand-off I went looking for a more willing subject 😏.
This was the only Phoebe I saw this year and I was at a fair distance from it, so I wasn’t sure I would get it. A handsome little bird, it’s a member of the flycatcher family.
