Two mallards enjoying the calm before the snow begins. When I took these photos last week we were enjoying a mild stretch, the ducks seemed to like it too. As I write this, wet snow is falling. Although most ducks will fly off soon, a hardy few persevere throughout the winter. No snowbirds (Canadians who head south for the winter) are they.
I hadn’t been to our local reserve in a while so I was particularly happy to see this Red-breasted nuthatch close to the entrance. A bit smaller than the white-breasted variety and not as numerous in our woods, this little guy was very active, flying and landing briefly in the surrounding trees. A nice start to our walk.
The warm weather is long gone in these parts but a quick look through my photo catalogues brought to light these summer delights. The colours, scents and quality of light for a few short months each year make any walk, at any time, a pleasure.
This building, The Aberdeen Pavilion, was the central hall of the Central Canada Exhibition, that took place in Ottawa, Canada every August between 1888-2010 with the exception of World War II. What began mainly as an agricultural fair expanded over the years to include a midway. The land around the Pavilion has been redeveloped in recent years and the fair no longer takes place but this beautiful building, designated a heritage site, is still enjoyed by the public and houses other events throughout the year. I took the photo on a sunny day this summer but I think it lends itself to black and white.
This back view of the wood duck made me think of the ducktail, a haircut that was popular in the 50s. You don’t necessarily have to get your subject face on to get a decent shot. I liked the duck’s puffed up chest in the second photo too, as if his “do” wasn’t enough to impress the ladies😊.
As the warm weather ends and frogs begin hibernation, I thought it would be fun to have another look at these wonderful subjects. There is a cove at the reserve that was a perfect spot to photograph a variety of frogs. After a summer windstorm, access to it was blocked by fallen trees so we had to go further afield for photo opportunities. It would be nice if the management of the reserve does a bit of clearing next spring so that we can enjoy these little creatures nearby once again.
Chickadees forage well on their own all summer long, so we don’t see as much of them until the weather gets cooler. They’ll soon become our constant companions. When I took this photograph earIy last month I was lucky that the bird sat still long enough for me to take its picture. Often they don’t!
In June when the peonies begin to bud the ants arrive in droves. The buds secrete a sap that attracts the ants. Once the flowers bloom the ants disappear with no harm done to the plants. I had my 105mm the day I took this photo, I had hoped for some flower shots and got a “twofer” instead!
This wood duck pair was enjoying a quiet swim around the lake. The photo was taken in May when both were in full breeding colours, no young yet for these two. Parenthood was still a few weeks away.
When I first saw the scene above I thought I was looking at a mural and not live trees. I think the natural and man made elements complement each other very well here. I liked the shapes, colour and lighting and most of all the feeling of surprise and delight the scene initially evoked.
In the second photo, the wonderful shape and colour of the railing also inspired the title of this post.
If the weather cooperates we usually see the first dragonflies at the beginning of May which was the case this year. The photograph above is one of the early bloomers, a clubtail. The second dragonfly, a meadowhawk, was taken in July but I’ve seen them late into the fall. I hope to see a few more before the season ends.
I usually see these little acrobats in the trees and only occasionally foraging on the ground. These two were approaching their meal differently. You only truly appreciate their diminutive size when spotted on the ground. Beautiful little birds that we enjoy year round in this part of the country.
I have rarely come across this variety of skipper. The orange ones are more common in my area. Any time a butterfly remains still long enough to take a photo is a good day. Spotted in early July.
They are our smallest squirrels and yet the most assertive of the lot. It’s funny to see red squirrels chase the larger greys around the park. I’m not sure if it’s because they’re territorial or they just enjoy it. Maybe it’s a bit of both. This little guy was giving me the eye, I blinked first and moved along.
On this cold grey day, summer seems like it’s been over for weeks not days. In looking through my catalogues I found these two photographs I took earlier in the year, when the whole summer stretched before us. We’ll still get some nice temperatures before the cold really sets in but on a day like today a little summer cheer is welcome.
A storefront in an older section of town captures the mood of the street. Nothing slick here just a nod to the past. The old brick facade and the reflection of the modern building provide additional interest.
I do like frogs, something I came to realize when I took up nature photography. You have to appreciate their patience and skill in the hunt, their ability to hide in plain sight, their comical expressions and those eyes. With the cooler days upon us, we haven’t seen them for a while. I imagine they’re preparing for their long winter of hibernation until next spring…
This was one of only a few Great Blue Heron sightings all this summer. A cold rainy start, followed by drought conditions might explain this. When I did come upon this regal bird I was delighted. He was just within my len’s reach and just far enough away to not care about my presence. I do hope to see one again before their fall migration south.
I enjoy photographing a lone duck, taking a break from the noisy group. This lake has many fallen trees that the ducks and geese take advantage of for just such a purpose. It was a good year for water lilies and their leaves provide a pleasing backdrop for the shot.
When I get out early enough I often catch the passing parade of people walking their pets. Usually dogs, sometimes a cat or two , and even the occasional ferret. When they’re not being walked you often see them waiting for their owners to return as is the case in these photographs. Dogs tend to look alert and baleful, while cats look rather cool and collected.
You don’t have to look very far to find examples of public art. I saw the first piece on the campus of a Montreal university. I liked its vibrance and its nod to diversity. In the second photo, the influence of my talented mate is rubbing off – in that I noticed the play of light and shadow before I even saw the ironwork on display.
We’ve seen more chipmunks than usual this summer. Two reasons for this I imagine – their food sources are plentiful and we’ve seen fewer of their natural enemies in the woods, hawks and owls. This little guy was enjoying a snack and judging from his full cheeks hadn’t finished consuming an earlier one.
When I feature more than one photo per post, they usually share a common theme. Although these are two very different subjects, I think they both evoke a feeling of quiet watchfulness. The brick wall backs onto a vacant lot, it’s been empty for years. So far developers have shown no interest, just the wildflowers.
Early in the summer when everything is in bloom, you tend to admire it all but don’t really focus on any one thing in particular (at least that’s the case for me). However, as summer winds down I look at flowers and grasses more closely enjoying them that much more.
Every couple of months the wall art changes at this construction site. Passing by the other day I was struck by this vibrant painting. It’s fun to see the locals (two and four legged) walk by. The man was intent on checking his phone, maybe the mural was no longer a novelty for him but I loved it.
I took these handsome fellows back in May when they were in full breeding plumage. They are the most colourful of ducks and migrate to our region each spring. If we’re lucky wood ducks remain until the first frost. As the season progresses they become less wary of people and will swim close to shore or walk along the pathways for some nice close-ups.
This scene in Quebec, reminded me of black and white postcards I’ve seen in shops selling old prints. The stillness of the lake, the empty chairs waiting for their occupants to arrive, sit a while or take out the canoe. Ah, Summertime!
We took a walk through the entertainment section of Gatineau, Quebec this summer and came upon these umbrellas. It was a brilliant sunny day and the umbrellas provided a perfect awning. As colourful as they are I preferred the photograph in black and white, as it emphasized shape, form and contrast.
The “musical trio” struck my fancy for their enduring and endearing nature. They appear to have weathered many seasons, yet the band plays on.
I love to see ducks swimming in formation, they swim with such purpose. American Black Ducks are not as common in our area as mallards but when you see mallards you usually see a few American Black Ducks as well. They might be common but I still find them extremely appealing.
Although many flowers are beginning to fade at this point in the summer, they still hold a lot of appeal. Queen Anne’s Lace reveals an intricate weave. The yellow salsify contrasts with the one beside it that’s gone to seed, Both beautiful in their own way.
I took these photos in May as the Grackles were migrating through. I’ve yet to see them in the fall although I’m sure they fly through as they head south. I usually spot them along the shoreline, half hidden by branches looking for food. I was lucky in this case as the bird was out in the open. Grackles are gregarious birds, if you see one they’re usually in the company of more. A striking bird with its iridescent plumage and yellow eyes.
As I’ve mentioned before, birds have been rather scarce this year so we’ve been doing quite a bit of street photography. In the first photo, a Victorian bird cage in the window of a local business had some lovely elements to it. In the second, I thought the red of the brick wall as well as the bird theme made for a nice pairing of the two photos.
The colour and texture of this weathered looking house caught my eye and when I saw the sign I smiled and took the shot. Taking an alternate route in a familiar neighbourhood can be an adventure. The second photo was the result of a similar walk. These houses were ordinary but the city laneway reminded me more of one in the countryside and was well worth some attention.
Photographs taken at different times during the summer. Of the three kinds of flowers pictured, the peonies are the ones I look forward to the most. Once their buds form in May you know the summer heat is close at hand. Their form, scent and brilliance are much anticipated. The flower in the second image is beginning to fade, I’m not sure when it was in full bloom although the photo is quite recent. I took the morning glory earlier in August, it has a wonderfully long growing season. I liked the play of light on the pink of the flower.
This warbler passed through our area last spring. I hope to catch another glimpse of these birds as they migrate south this fall. I usually see warblers high up in the trees. This bird was busy hopping along the ground close to a decaying tree and feeding on insects as he went. Fast subject, tricky light.
We had a very rainy spring when I took the photo of these shelf fungi. I didn’t publish it as I was hoping to pair it with something similar. Except for a brief period this summer when it rained so much we had flood conditions it’s barely rained since, so I thought I’d try a black and white treatment of a colour photograph I’ve posted before.
As I mentioned in a previous post there is a feeling of change in the air, as the seasons slowly shift. I feel a pressing need to store up all the remaining sights and sounds of summer. One way of doing this is to linger a little longer in the fields of wildflowers. This touch-me-not and salsify caught my eye.
Rock Dove is another name for this bird, that most of us call the common pigeon. You see them all over the city, but we were in the country, in the woods, which made their sighting more unusual. They were the only two pigeons around, so perhaps they were a breeding pair. I had the time to really look at them as they perched in this natural setting and found them attractive, not a quality I usually attribute to this breed. More dove than pigeon these two.
The first time I passed by this mural, a truck was parked directly in front of it. When I went back the other day I was able to take a couple of shots before the space was occupied again. It’s a fun bit of wall art. The second photo was taken on a busy block of commercial and residential buildings. The truck was a standout and I found the photo quite effective in black and white. Both taken with my Fuji XT-1.
These photographs are the first I’ve ever taken of this woodpecker. I have not seen one in our local woods although they are said to be quite common in our area. We spotted him while on a road trip earlier in the summer. The bird was a handsome one but tricky to take because of the light conditions. I had to open up the shadows, remove the colour cast and adjust the luminance and saturation. He was quite close to us and our presence didn’t bother him so we managed to make the most of our brief encounter.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 