I took this photo in the fall and the cardinal hadn’t quite finished moulting. A few weeks earlier he probably looked pretty rough, not here though.
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BUSY BEE
If I had been asked what I thought of insects before I began in photography I would have probably shrugged my shoulders and wondered if they stung. Now quite a few years on, I have to admire these hardworking and determined little critters. Seeing the bee move along the leaf’s surface makes for an interesting glimpse into their world.
ANTICIPATION – 1
With the temperature struggling to get out of the single digits, I thought I’d retrieve a warm weather scene; perfect for a grey day in late March.
HAIRY WOODPECKER
The hammering sound broke the silence in the woods and we followed it to its source; a male hairy woodpecker excavating a tree.
Duck Solo
We have a good number of mallards in my area and they’re a favourite on my blog. They’re handsome, lively ducks and you usually see them in large groups or rafts. This male mallard found the perfect spot for a quiet stretch.
CHIPMUNK
I think this was a young chipmunk given how tolerant he was of my presence. I hope he grew up quickly, it’s a dangerous world for these little animals.
ON THE EDGE
The metallic green sweat bee was working its way along the flower. As small as they are they’re easy to notice with that dazzling colour. It’s day one of spring and I impatiently wait for the first flowers and bees to emerge.
IN THE MILKWEED PATCH
This beetle led me on quite a chase through the milkweed. Impressive antennae 😊
TURNING A CORNER (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
It’s fun to walk along the quiet lanes in residential areas. The sheds there can be weather worn or sport a new coat of paint. Once the snow melts, I’ll be exploring them again.
BLACK SQUIRREL
We’re lucky to have a variety of squirrels in the area including the black squirrel. They’re a real standout, particularly in the Fall.
SHADOWS AND REFLECTIONS (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
I took both photos in downtown Ottawa. New construction abutting the old. This high-rise will be another added to the collection of unremarkable structures that take the place of buildings such as this lovely Art Deco style building.
CABBAGE WHITE
I’ve never seen a cabbage white this shade before. Perhaps its colour changes as the summer moves along.
ROYAL VISIT
I’m not a great fan of lawn art but I liked this touch of whimsy.
WATCHFUL
We stopped on the side of the road to enjoy the surroundings. It was perfectly silent and calm yet the sky held some menace as the clouds rolled in.
DRAGONFLY
The dragonfly reminded me of a little bauble hanging on to the green shoot. It rested there for a while before it flew off.
URBAN DEVELOPMENT
I had never seen a mature lady alongside its junior before. The larvae, or instar will moult several times before it is ready to transform to its adult stage. I saw these insects on some bushes on a busy downtown street. A lot going on on this little patch of real estate.
TAKING IN THE SIGHTS – 2
I took several photos of this Great Dane and featured another one in January. I think the dog was becoming a bit inpatient as it shifted position and was staring directly into the store window, willing its owner to return.
AT HOME
Raccoons are becoming more common in cities as their habitat shrinks and with it their sources of food. I saw this raccoon at a reserve one day. I watched as it moved silently through the water looking for something to eat. It kept an eye on me but carried on with its search.
BARE TREES
I chose not to crop the photo. You can just see the sparrow but I thought this was really a landscape photograph.
EARLY HERON
Great Blue Herons migrate alone or in numbers and return here in early April. I saw this solitary heron on the water’s edge. With the water open it would find plenty to eat while it waited for its mates to arrive.
CAN’T WAIT (2)
European Skipper Butterflies are seen in large numbers when the warm weather arrives. This skipper was resting and I was fortunate to see it in this pose.
TURTLE TIME
The painted turtle is the most common turtle at our local reserve although they share the waterways with snapping turtles and the rarer blanding’s turtle. I’ll be looking for all three when the weather warms up.
RED IN BLACK AND WHITE
Red squirrels are active all year round. When it gets very cold they retreat to dens in tree trunks but even so you often see them about if only briefly. They also depend on food that they have cached during the fall; frozen berries and buds.
ANTICIPATION
As the calendar slowly moves towards spring, scenes like this are getting closer.
BEST FRIEND
This dachshund looked patient and a bit wistful as it waited for its owner to return.
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE
Chickadees are another bird I feature quite frequently. We are fortunate to have their lively presence year round in our woods and backyards.
LEAVE IT TO BEAVER (AND THE GEESE)
An iconic Canadian scene (taken in early April as the lake began to thaw) a far cry from the siege-like images right now in Ottawa.
QUACKERS
Regular readers will know that mallards are favourites of mine. Looking at this bunch leaves little doubt why 😊.
CAN’T WAIT (1)
With winter slowly moving along, I thought a warm weather scene was in order. I liked the untamed look of the sunflowers so I let them fill the frame and didn’t crop the shot.
WINTER FAVOURITE
The Pileated Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in North America. They are non migratory; their main food source are the larvae and insects that live in the bark of trees. I love to see these striking birds in winter’s muted landscape.
ROLLING IN THE DEEP
This is a young snapping turtle, mature snapping turtles are much larger and even less good looking 😏. I was standing on a viewing platform and just happened to glance down when the turtle swam silently by.
DRAGONFLY DAYS
A summer scene is the perfect antidote to the weather outside.
LIQUID GOLD
It was difficult to say which was more eye catching, the wood duck or the fall reflections. I was just happy to be there that day.
EARLY GOOSE
I took this photo one year at the very end of March. Although the river was thawing the goose must have regretted its early return.
TAKING IN THE SIGHTS
The dog’s owner had run into a store and left his Great Dane in the car. The huge dog in the tiny car drew a lot of attention and I had to wonder how the owner managed to drive with him on board.
ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET
The rabbit doesn’t have the best table manners but at least its eating healthy 😏
VROOM
The water was cold when this mallard took a swim. That, or just a bit of natural exuberance. 😊
HAIRY WOODPECKER
Very similar in appearance to the Downy Woodpecker, the Hairy is distinguished by its larger size and bill length. Have to admire that fancy footwork too. 😊
CHICKADEE
Black-capped chickadees, all season favourites.
ON FROZEN POND
I took this photo in late fall as the water was just beginning to freeze. Mallards tolerate the cold and quite a few remain in this location all year. We’re under an extreme cold warning tonight and while we add on the layers, I can’t helping wondering how the ducks will manage.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 