Carrying a wide angle lens on this particular walk, I couldm’t get any closer to the black duck but I believe the emerging fall landscape was a nice compensation.
Tag Archives: Landscape
Changing Times – 2
Walking the paths by the water I find ordinary brush puts on a nice display.
Mallard in Fall
With fall here the pace of duck life seems quieter. The young are grown, the noise level and squabbles are fewer. The female mallard enjoying a solitary swim seemed to confirm this.
This Old Tree
I’ve been going to this reserve for years and each time I do I check on this tree. It’s been leaning all this time but continues to bud each spring and puts on an a show ever fall. Ducks and geese swim up to it and sometimes rest in its shade. I can’t imagine not seeing it as I round the curve of the path; this fine old tree.
Changing Times
The landscape is slowly taking on its fall appearance. Green is still the dominant colour but oranges, yellows and reds are coming into their own.
On Reflection
As I had set out to take some landscape photos, I had a wide angle lens with me and nothing else. I thought there would be more fall colours than there were but the reflections on the water were nice. The American Black Ducks added a little something extra.
Common Boneset – Correction
The plant above is a yarrow. I have to thank Eliza for the correct ID (see comments). Unfortunately, I don’t have a photo of one. That will have to wait until next year. Pretty plant though 😏
I took this photo in late June when the plant was beginning to flower. It’s native to Ontario and other parts of North America. It got its common name from its use as a herbal medecine to break fevers. I liked the way it was set off against that summer green background,
Daisy
When I took this scene in June, it seemed that summer would stretch on forever. Daisies were everywhere. Not so now; until next year then.
Along the River
Walking along the river a saw a group of black birds on the move. I have never seen so many cormorants at one time. I wish I could have got a closer shot but I was at the limit of my lens. Funny, the people in the sailboat didn’t even turn to look.
Late August
The landscape is taking on a different look as August winds down.
A Slight Shift
Late summer is reflected in the landscape. As August moves along, greens aren’t as vibrant, seed heads are forming and berries are replacing some flowers. Summer is slipping through our fingers and that familiar feeling of regret returns, as it does every year.
Marvellous Mallards
I have a soft spot for these ducks!
Landing Pad
Chasing dragonflies can be difficult as they’re in constant motion. If you see one on a lily pad chances are you’ll get a few photos, as they break from leading you on a merry chase.
Day lily
Glancing down towards the water I saw this day-lily growing in the filtered light. Not native to North America, the flower has become naturalized and its their season right now.
American Goldfinch
I saw this female goldfinch peering around the thistle at me. I’ve seen them feed on this plant later in the season when its gone to seed. I’m not sure if there’s something for them rto eat ight now or if she was just taking a break.
Summer Scene
In the warmth of the sun this field of wild flowers and grasses gave off the nicest scent. When I return next time, I hope to see a few insects.
Gosling
When I took this photo about two weeks ago I saw goslings of this size as well as young geese that were bigger and approaching that awkward looking stage. They certainly mature quickly.
Another Glimpse of Spring
A pretty sprig of red maple buds shouts Spring!
No Ice Please
We were at a favourite reserve a few days ago on a windless and warm day. A few weeks earlier there was still some ice on the surface of the water. The trees are slow to bud but their branches make for nice reflections.
Where’ve You Been?
We’ve had two wonderful days of warm spring weather and this was one of several robins I spotted. It was nice to walk around without a coat and and enjoy the earth waking up again 😊
April View
It was a grey wet day yet this tree continues to bud as it should do in April. Despite the temperature it’s right on schedule.
Spring Scillia
I’ve been enjoying signs of spring on other people’s blogs, so I thought I’d join in and share a photo I took in late April last year. No real signs of spring yet, we just reached +2C today; sooner or later… 😏
Que Sera, Sera
I enjoy taking these intimate landscapes, a term my spouse introduced me to when I first picked up a camera. I wish I could say I took this photo early in the winter but I took it today. Winter has not yet decided to make room for spring 😏
Last Swim
I liked this duck tableau, taken in late fall just before most of our mallards headed south.
The True North
I love walking along the water. The air is clean, there’s always a breeze and if you’re really lucky a couple of geese swim by to complete the picture.
Garden Variety
These poppies are an introduced species in Ontario. They’re popular in gardens and can naturalize in the landscape; I saw these growing in a field.
Cormorant
Cormorants tend to swim and perch far offshore. I would have liked to have been closer to the bird but it did pose rather nicely all the same.
Solitary Swim
I often see female mallards taking a solitary swim, they must enjoy the quiet 😏 . I was fortunate that this one was swimming into nice reflections.
Spring
Just six weeks to go!
In Transit
We usually see Lesser Scaups for a few days in the spring as they migrate through eastern Ontario. Their primary breeding range is further north and west. It’s always a pleasure to see them though, if only briefly.
His Best Side – Wood Duck
I took this photo in early fall. The duck had regrown his fine feathers to be ready for the breeding season in spring. We should begin seeing them again in April.
Ladybug
We saw few ladybugs this year, few insects in general. But I was lucky to catch this one as it made its way along.
Winter Blue
We’re lucky to see Blue Jays in winter. They’re clever birds and store large quantities of food in hidden caches as well as show up at bird feeders during the colder months.
Close Call
Though we live in the city, there’s a nature reserve close by that we go to frequently. Good years attract a lot of ducks and geese and several herons. The pond supports turtles and birds. This young wood duck was swimming quite close to where we had just seen a snapping turtle go by. Fortunately she didn’t linger long.
Summer Visitor
I stopped by the lake where I took this photo last summer. I had hoped to see some wildlife to photograph but there was nothing about. Looking through my files when I got home, I came across this cormorant swimming through some pretty reflections and felt a bit better about this whole winter thing 😏
Spreading its Wings
It’s nice to revisit spring when things are anything but outside. I caught this very young gosling spreading its wings one day last May.
Snowy Saturday
It’s been snowing all day, nature has a way of decorating a tree just right! The red topped sticks you see mark the path to be cleared when (if) it stops snowing 😒
As sunset approaches the sun makes a dramatic appearance in the sky.
Scene from a Train
The view from my window as we sped through the Quebec countryside.
Too Long Gone
Recently, I went out to the little pond I see wood ducks in season but it was frozen over and snow covered. As I took many photos of them last summer here’s one of a young duck to chase away the winter blues.
Early Winter
Just stopping by with a quick photo of the view outside my window. Settling into our new place and will be back later in the season. Hope you’ve all been well.
