I’ve seen a lot of grackles this year although I’ve seen fewer birds in general. Grackles are intelligent birds and fun to watch as they go about their business. They are known for their striking yellow eyes and iridescent plumage. This bird was enjoying a snack in the shade so its colouring was more subdued.
The roadsides in summer turn into landscapes. Chicory and daisies are adaptable and seems to grow wherever there’s a bit of earth. Chicory has become naturalized in North America, brought over by early European settlers.
On a recent walk, we turned off the main path and came face to face with this imposing fellow/gal. I think it might have been a pregnant frog, but my knowledge of frogs is limited 😏. In any case we walked around it and I wished her well.
Seen on a walk in a small Ontario town.
I saw this cheerful looking Columbine in a garden we passed on a recent walk.
Milkweed is coming into flower now, I hope it will soon be attracting monarch butterflies. I was struck by the way this plant was growing. It looked like a florist’s bouquet, vase ready.
I liked the starkness of the scene. Just a bird on a branch with the river all around.
Walking around the pond I heard more frogs than I saw but this one looked like he was just waiting for me to show up.
The adult female merganser was giving her young brood a little space to explore the world around them.
I don’t often see Red-winged Blackbirds perched like this. No leaves to shoot through here 😏
I set out to find some Queen Anne’s Lace as it’s begining to flower right now. There’s a hint of pink in the bloom when it first starts to bud.
At a distance, I wasn’t sure of the insect inside the flower. As I got closer, the bee made its presence known.
I liked the way the light shone through the underside of the daisy. So much to appreciate in one little flower.
This litle dog was sitting in the shade watching a group of people doing yoga in the park. It was a hot day, I think the dog had the right idea 😊
Someone had this patch of pansies growing on their lawn, not in a flower bed. It was a remarkably cheerful sight!
I haven’t seen many butterflies his year. So I’m featuring one I saw last summer.
It was a spectacular season for peonies this spring. They were all vying for attention but this single white flower really stood out.
I think turtles must welcome summer as much as the rest of us. It does make you wonder though, why they always look so grumpy 😏
The central part of the country is under a heat and humidity advisory.There’s no nicer place to spend some time than under the tree canopy by the water.
I frequently see Red-winged blackbirds perched on car side mirrors. I was waiting for this one to peer into the mirror but it was content to just stand there.
Some of my favourite flowers are there for the taking; growing wherever there’s a bit of soil and sun or just by the side of the road.
The dog was tearing down the path running towards us. Then we saw its owner turn the corner holding the dog’s leash. Given the chance, it was enjoying the run.
I liked the weathered hoop and the shadow it cast.
There’s no nicer place to be on a warm day in spring.
The daisy fleabane is a native flowering plant with an unfortunate name. In the past, people thought that its aroma would rid their homes of pesky insects. I found these growing in a laneway.
Among all the new growth, I found last year’s Queen Anne’s Lace still making its mark in the field.
While photographing some wild flowers, I noticed this frothy substance on a nearby plant. It is produced by spittlebug nymphs and protects them from predators and temperature extremes. A mature spittlebug is also called a froghopper. It’s been a number of years since I’ve seen one. Actually, I’ve seen few insects so far this year. It’s been colder than usual, that might be the cause.
Another summer favourite.
The rose and wild flowers were growing in the same small garden of this house. It is an appealing space that isn’t overly manicured.
I was hoping to see a few tenants coming or going. No luck that day.
Starling out for a stroll.
It’s been a fine spring for these young birds. I see them on most of my visits to the lake.
Red-winged blackbirds can be difficult to photograph given their black feathers. I liked the exposure on this bird, I just wish I could have got a bit more of its wing colour 😏
I featured a portrait of this duckling’s mother a few days ago. In this photo the young wood duck is trying to keep up with her as she heads back to the lake.
While exploring a new neighbourhood, the street we were on suddenly came to an end on the edge of a small wildlife garden. This rather whimsical looking plant, commonly known as prairie smoke or old man’s whiskers was sharing the sun with some other native plants.
One in a group of Lesser Scaups we saw at the very beginning of last month. They are known to breed in the west of the country and in smaller numbers in eastern Canada.
More glimpses of neighbourhood gardens.
Wood ducks are usually a lot shyer at this point in the season. The reserve where I took this has become more popular in the last couple of years so the animals are more used to people. Probably not a good thing for them, but it does work out for the photographer.
It’s been a very cold few days so when it warmed up enough to take a walk, it was nice to see that the flowers are right on schedule.
Though more subtle than male Red-winged blackbirds, the females have fine markings.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 