Not a chick anymore and not quite adult but growing up fast.
Milkweed Bug (Correction)
The insect under question was misidentified as a Milkweed Beetle when first posted. (See Steve Gingold’s comment)
I was happy to get this shot so late in September as we’ve had several frost advisories at night. The milkweed bug didn’t seem to mind though. I had also planned to take landscape shots that morning, so this wasn’t taken with my macro gear. The natural light provided this interesting effect.
TOUCH OF PURPLE
Early fall is a great time for photography. Late summer flowers vying for space with the autumn leaves. I liked the way the purple flowers were standing their ground.
SEPTEMBER SUNFLOWERS
I took this yesterday. Summer’s not quite over.
HIGH NOTE
Many of us are feeling a little sorry that the warm weather is ending but scenes like this soften the blow 😏.
A SLIGHT TURN
The Sumac is beginning to change colour here. These leaves have a shimmery glow to them.
SEEN ON A WALK
I saw this piece of driftwood on the windowsill of an old house which made for a fine display cabinet. The sea, wind and sun produce some striking art.
HOLDING ON (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
The temperature’s getting cooler but these flowers are still in bloom, making you half believe that summer is still here.
OSPREYS, LATE SUMMER
Volunteers had built two nesting platforms by a local marsh and we’ve been lucky to see osprey there most summers. I’m glad we passed by when we did because on our second visit in early September the nest was empty. The birds had probably begun their migration south.
NEW LEAF
As the seasons begin to shift, there’s still a lot of beauty to capture.
THE BUSINESS OF BEES
As we move closer to fall, I enjoy scenes like this even more than I did a few months ago.
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD
They are beautiful birds but tricky to photograph given their dark plumage. This bird was looking for some lunch.
RING-BILLED GULL
Ring-billed gulls don’t overwinter here, and will head towards the Great Lakes or the Southern United States when the cold sets in. They are very common during the warmer months and when seen outside the city, in a natural setting, are quite attractive birds.
METALLIC BEE
This photo was taken in high summer, I haven’t seen any metallic bees in a while. The season is certainly winding down.
This male bee has an attractive striped abdomen while the female is completely green.
SHARE THE PATH, DUCK
Obviously, the signs don’t apply to this duck. 😏
LAND LILY
This plant was growing in a flower bed but reminded me of a water lily. If anyone can identify the plant please let me know.
BUTTERPATS
I saw these attractive late bloomers on a walk the other day. They refused to blend in to the tall grass around them.
ABSTRACT VIEW
The branches overhang the water so it’s unclear where the leaves end and their reflections begin. It created an attractive abstract.
OFF A COUNTRY ROAD
Friends introduced us to this spot a number of years ago and we’ve been returning ever since. We’ve seen egret and osprey here (we saw both this visit) but I’d come back just for the view. I’ve never seen beaver though; there’s no fresh wood on the lodge so I think it’s probably been abandoned.
LOVE BUGS (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
This milkweed plant was home to a lot of lady bugs engaged in various activities 😏
SLEEPING GOOSE
I often see birds sleeping with one eye open. In this way they can be aware of danger as a part of their brain remains alert. As for the raised leg, it minimizes heat loss. Clever birds!
THE QUEEN’S GOLD
The birds nest shape of Queen Anne’s Lace is revealed as its seeds ripen. The flower was surrounded by the glow of goldenrod.
POND SIDE
Rather interesting to see these damselflies mating on a plant stem near the exoskeleton shed by a recently emerged damselfly.
AMERICAN BLACK DUCK (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
The American Black Duck is very similar in appearance to the female mallard, although its feathers are darker and its bill is an olive yellow. Not as common here as the mallard but still well represented.
FLOWER POWER
Out for a walk on a very hot day, I found a tree lined path to walk down and I saw these hostas growing in the shade. A pretty and cooling sight.
DUCK PADDLE
A group of ducks on the water can be called a paddling of ducks. I think the term suits these mallards just fine.
FLIGHT OF FANCY
Not the usual geese in flight but a fanciful weathervane on the roof of a former church.
TIME PASSAGES
It’s still very hot but there’s no denying that the season is moving along. This sunflower won’t be going silently.
READY FOR TAKE-OFF
I haven’t seen many dragonflies this summer so I was pretty happy to get this shot of one.
ALL THE USUAL SUSPECTS
I thought this was a curious looking set up and took the shot.
THERE’S ART EVERYWHERE
I liked the curves and lines of this ladder that leads to the building’s roof. A piece of functional art.
SHY NEWCOMER
Chicory was introduced to North America and you see it growing in meadows and on roadsides later in the summer. Many varieties are also cultivated for commercial use.
SEEN IN A LANEWAY
The owners took some thought with the back entrance of their home. Quite pleasing to the eye.
SLIGHT SHIFT
I went for a walk in our neighbourhood today, a familiar route but one I hadn’t taken in the past few weeks. I noticed that the variety of flowers in the gardens had dwindled and what remained was looking tired. The weather is still hot and summer is still with us but the feeling of a long lazy summer stretching out before us is no longer there.
ANT ON A PLANT
Sometimes a small subject can present a big challenge. Ants are tiny and fast, so I often end up with a blurry image. This particular ant was in no hurry, the light was nicely filtered and this was the result.
GOOSE TRIO
If you wait awhile Canada Geese can strike some interesting poses or sometimes you just happen upon a scene like this.
CONEFLOWERS
Coneflowers or echinacea are among my favourite summer flowers. They are hardy, long lasting and attract many pollinators. Pretty perfect!
THE QUEEN’S BEETLE
I noticed a nice grouping of Queen Anne’s Lace that I wanted to photograph. When I got a little closer I noticed a Common Red Soldier Beetle walking along its surface. They are partial to open-structured flowers.
ONE IN EVERY GROUP
I watched as the mother duck led her young ones towards the pond. They all fell into line except for the one at the rear 😊
CROSSING THE FINISH LINE (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
The vein in the leaf made the title of this post easy. I’m not a fan of yellow jacket wasps and usually head in the opposite direction when they’re flying close by. In this case it was a cool morning and the insect seemed lethargic, so I took these photos with little worry.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 