It’ll be several months before scenes like this will be common again. So in the meantime…
American Black Duck
Happily, some of these ducks remain during the colder months.
Black-crowned Night Heron
I usually see these stocky birds in the reeds waiting patiently for a passing fish or frog. I rarely see one in flight. This heron blended in quite well to its surroundings except for those striking yellow feet.
Dog Days
Along the river parkway there’s a landing for canoes, kayaks (and dogs) to enter the water easily. On our walks I always hope to come across a scene like this.
Buzz
On these cold cloudy days, I’ll be featuring some warmer scenes. I can almost hear the insects buzzing 😊
Touching Down
We’ve had a lot of mild weather this November and there are still some Canada Geese around. I caught this one as it was landing.
Colour and Light
We were treated to a long and colourful fall. This particular display had the perfect balance of colour and light, reminding me of a stained glass window.
CITY JAY
A Blue Jay sighting on a recent neighbourhood walk.
QUIET MOMENT
It’s nice to catch a mallard in a quiet moment, the fall reflections makes it even nicer.
Time Flies
Just two weeks ago, I saw this flower in a neighbour’s garden. Now the temperature struggles to get to +6 C during the day. No snow though 😏
Around the Corner (Two Photographs)
I always find laneways interesting. You never know what you’ll come across which is part of the attraction.
LESSER SCAUPS (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
This past summer we were treated to the appearance of lesser scaups. We only saw them twice but they provided a lot of photo opportunities. A new bird for me 😊
Thin Ice
This frog and its mates have probably burrowed into the mud at the bottom of a lake and are preparing for the winter. Although with the temperature icy cold one day and warming up the next, I wonder how all animals that hibernate will survive. I know people don’t know what to make of this weather pattern…
City Reflections
A portion of the House of Commons, in Ottawa, is reflected in a government building opposite it. Its Gothic Revival style makes for some interesting cityscapes.
Fall Find
It was a nice surprise to see this flower blooming among the fallen leaves.
Great Egret
I took this photograph in a suburban park that borders the river. We usually see a few of the large herons on the river but I’ve never see one land in the pond before. And what a landing 😊.
Two Cool Cats
Walking along, I often see people’s pets watch me walk by. The dogs often bark, the cats just stare 😏
STREET VIEW
It looked like a recent addition, yet the fence had already attracted the attention of a vine in nice autumn colours.
Another Halloween Treat
Among all the elaborate Halloween displays, it was nice to see this lively Chinese Lantern plant in the mix as well.
SERENDIPITY
I hadn’t seen a Blue Jay in months and then on a recent city walk, one landed close by. We had just turned off a busy street into a laneway and he followed close behind.
Somewhere Beyond the Sea
If a duck could look wistful, I think this one did. 😊
ON THE WEB
Spiders are often associated with Halloween. In myth, spiders were believed to be the companions of witches, and linked to death, poison and things that go bump in the night. I happened to see this non-venomous orb spider on a fine sunny day. It didn’t pose a threat to me unlike the unfortunate insects in its web.
Spotted Jewelweed
I look for these wildflowers in the same spot every year. They grow on either side of a small footbridge in a nature reserve. Taken last month when it still felt like summer 😏
Black-crowned Night Heron
All of the herons who migrate here in the spring have flown south by now but I thought it would be nice to look back to earlier in the season. I took this photo in May, The heron was sporting its breeding plumage including its white head plumes which were just visible in this shot.
Neighbourhood View
There’s something appealing and welcoming about an older home blocks from the downtown.
EYE TO EYE, WOOD DUCK
It’s nice when you can position yourself at the level of your subject. The wood duck’s direct gaze was nice too.
FALL VIEWS (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
You don’t have to go far to catch a glimpse of the changing landscape. I took these photos around the corner from where I live.
SAVE SOME FOR LATER
This red squirrel was enjoying his snack and wasn’t about to assign the nut to his winter stockpile.
DUCK BUSINESS
The ducks seemed to be swimming with a purpose known only to them 😊
A QUIET MOMENT
Another common waterbird here, this Canada Goose was grooming itself away from the flock.
Neighbourhood Watch
You know that feeling you get when you know you’re being watched? 😊
Faces of Fall (Two Photographs)
More autumn scenes. We’re having a wonderful fall, cold one day and warmer the next; the leaves are hanging on and so are many flowers.
Groundhog
Groundhogs are true hibernators and usually hibernation begins in late October and lasts through March. We’ve had up and down temperatures and the grass is still nice and green so maybe the locals will delay their long winter nap for a while.
NOT YOUR AVERAGE DUCK
I featured a female mallard on my blog yesterday. The male mallard has a guest spot today. One of my favourite ducks for their spirit and good looks. 😊
MID-WEEK MALLARD
I saw a lot of ducks swimming along the lake the day I was there. This female mallard was on her own and very close to shore. I liked her pose and took the shot.
CANADA GEESE IN FALL
Canada Geese are on the move. We see and hear them overhead flying in V formations. With the weather getting colder it won’t be long before scenes like this will be over for the year.
Wigeon in Fall
I caught sight of this American Wigeon through a break in the trees. My only sighting this year. It must have been resting up on its migration south.
Fall Wood Duck
The reflections this time of year are spectacular, the wood duck is icing on the cake 😊
DIFFERENT FACES OF FALL (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
As the season moves along you have to give your surroundings a closer look but there’s still plenty of beauty about.
SEEN ON A WALK (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
One of several entrances to The East Memorial Building, a federal government office building, with federal heritage status, in Ottawa, Canada. Its construction began in 1950, and it is an example of Classical-Moderne design. Like many of the older federal buildings, it has a wonderful bas-relief over the doorway.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 