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.
As the seasons begin to shift, there’s still a lot of beauty to capture.
As we move closer to fall, I enjoy scenes like this even more than I did a few months ago.
They are beautiful birds but tricky to photograph given their dark plumage. This bird was looking for some lunch.
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.
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.
Obviously, the signs don’t apply to this duck. 😏
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.
I saw these attractive late bloomers on a walk the other day. They refused to blend in to the tall grass around them.
The branches overhang the water so it’s unclear where the leaves end and their reflections begin. It created an attractive abstract.
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.
This milkweed plant was home to a lot of lady bugs engaged in various activities 😏
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 birds nest shape of Queen Anne’s Lace is revealed as its seeds ripen. The flower was surrounded by the glow of goldenrod.
Rather interesting to see these damselflies mating on a plant stem near the exoskeleton shed by a recently emerged damselfly.
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.
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.
A group of ducks on the water can be called a paddling of ducks. I think the term suits these mallards just fine.
Not the usual geese in flight but a fanciful weathervane on the roof of a former church.
It’s still very hot but there’s no denying that the season is moving along. This sunflower won’t be going silently.
I haven’t seen many dragonflies this summer so I was pretty happy to get this shot of one.
I thought this was a curious looking set up and took the shot.
I liked the curves and lines of this ladder that leads to the building’s roof. A piece of functional art.
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.
The owners took some thought with the back entrance of their home. Quite pleasing to the eye.
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.
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.
If you wait awhile Canada Geese can strike some interesting poses or sometimes you just happen upon a scene like this.
Coneflowers or echinacea are among my favourite summer flowers. They are hardy, long lasting and attract many pollinators. Pretty perfect!
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.
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 😊
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.
There’s a wetland not far from town that we drive to a few times over the summer. When we pulled over we saw a solitary Egret fishing. I wasn’t using my longest lens but the 300mm did a fair job. After a few minutes, I looked away and when I looked back the bird was in the air. Look at those legs, pulled together like a diver in flight!
The clouds looked like they held rain but it remained overcast. I like conditions like this, and the soft light worked in my favour.
I’m happy to see a lot of bees this year. A bit of good news for us all.
The window was rain streaked but it didn’t block the cat’s view of the street. It seemed content to stare, so I took my photo and left him to it.
Despite how quickly the days are moving along, scenes like this serve as a reminder that there’s still plenty of summer left!
The rain and wind had bowed the peony, it was still beautiful though.
I rarely see a snapping turtle swimming as they move silently through the water (and my camera is often pointed up, not down 😏). It served as a good reminder to look around more.
I took the male’s portrait and then his mate joined the frame. I think mallards are the comedians of the duck world.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 