We came across this fledgling on a recent walk in the park. The little bird looked dazed and confused. I assumed it was a very young red-winged blackbird because some adult birds were nearby and very raucous. We went on our way and hoped the chick was claimed when we left.
I’ve seen fewer butterflies this summer, as other bloggers have mentioned. So I was happy to see this one even though it was turned away from the camera 😏 . I believe it’s a silver spotted skipper.
It could have been Groundhog Day at the park. We spotted at least four. They tend to be solitary but it’s a big park with enough grass for all 😊
Our favourite reserve has become very popular so we took a quiet path to avoid the crush. Looking around I saw this scene. My spouse calls these intimate landscapes, I like that!
I’ve only ever seen a thrasher a few times and almost missed this one as I was at quite a distance from it. They’re a common species but not to me 😏. Thrashers are in the same family as catbirds and mockingbirds.
A wildflower I saw growing alongside a small pond.
I enjoy seeing a dragonfly on a lily pad. I associate both with summer by the lake.
Happy Canada Day to all those celebrating!
We hadn’t seen much on our walk but as often happens, we had better luck as we were heading back. I’ve only seen wood ducks once before this year so I was very happy to come across this female duck and one of her young.
The ducks at this reserve often take a walk by the car park. Mallards don’t mind people which makes for some nice photo opportunities.
The chipmunk had found a quiet place to do a bit of grooming. If it sensed my presence it wasn’t bothered.
I’ve only had a few opportunities to photograph dragonflies this year. They can be very flighty subjects but fortunately, not this one.
On these hot summer days, the goslings seek the shade as do the rest of us.
Walking through a public garden I spotted this flowering bush. Among all the plants, it attracted my attention. Its flowers reminded me of candle flames.
The only sightings I’ve had this year of night herons have been in the same suburban park. He’s a handsome bird showing of his breeding plumage and those yellow feet 😊
I saw these mallards in early May taking a leisurely swim. Hoping to be noticed, I guess. 😊
We had planned to go to a park by the river but there was an event going on so we went to a nearby trail instead. There weren’t many birds but there was a nice variety of wildflowers. The bladder campion, though not native to North America, has been naturalized and insects are attracted to its nectar.
Among all the bees, I saw this one little wasp seeking some nectar. Like bees, wasps are also pollinators.
There must have been several bullfrogs in the pond, given the racket as we approached the water. I watched and waited as the frog inflated his throat. He was likely trying to call a mate or guard his territory.
Earlier this spring, I caught this goose in a quiet moment with a bit of green stuck in its beak 😏
We stopped by a wildlife garden recently and were told that a hummingbird was in the area. While waiting for it to appear (never saw it) I saw this phoebe and took several shots. I was also told the phoebe had a nest nearby (which I never spotted), so I imagine the caterpillar was for its chicks.
I’ve seen a lot of healthy looking robins this year. We’ve had a good mix of sun and rain, food must be plentiful.
I have been doing some street photography recently. Towards the end of a walk I noticed this tower under construction. The reflection made for an interesting if distorted view of the surrounding buildings.
I knew that grackles were omnivores but I was still surprised to see it fishing. He flew away with his catch a short time later.
Where did I hide that nut?
Maybe it’s over here.
From the brilliant to the more subtle, each flower has its own beauty and uniqueness.
Even on a quiet day you can count on the appearance of a Red-winged Blackbird. I’ve seen more this year than ever before.
It’s fun to watch a gosling explore a bit on its own. The parent birds were close enough if it ran into trouble.
Buttercups and fleabane daisies are considered weeds but I prefer to call them wildflowers, Both of these photos were taken in the woods where they grow freely. The frothy substance on the stem of the buttercup is produced by immature spittlebugs, a definite concern for gardeners yet it appears on a variety of garden plants as well.
The trees along this path are close to the river bank and almost touch the water. I was rewarded with these reflections on a recent walk.
It’s always nice to see the first damselflies of spring.
I liked the leaves in this photo, the damselfly on the left was secondary.
Every year at this time, these wild rose bushes are covered in bees. We had taken a walk about two weeks ago to see how the flowers were developing but they were just beginning to bud. This past weekend we returned and were happy to see some bees gathering pollen.
I didn’t see the heron catch anything but he was certainly trying.
It seems that every week, new flowers are appearing in gardens and woodlands. Not enough time to catch them all 😊
The Red-winged Blackbird seemed to be enjoying her bath.
I took this earlier in the Spring as the migrants were beginning to return. This little island was a perfect spot for the birds to have a look around,
There are some who don’t appreciate dandelions. I like them and so do bees.
I don’t know what the grackles were looking at but it sure grabbed their attention.
Two weeks ago I saw some goslings in this location. If these are the same geese, I imagine they’re now about a month old. They mature quickly and reach adult size in about 10 weeks.
This handsome goldfinch zipped by, headed for the feeder. With no other birds around he had it all to himself.
There are new flowers in bloom everytime I look around. Today I noticed this iris beaming back at me.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 