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.
Tag Archives: Landscape
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.
Queen Anne’s Lace
One of my favourite wildflowers.
On a personal note, things have become very busy lately. Nothing serious but I won’t have as much time to spend on WordPress. I’ll be back later in the fall but until then I’ll be popping in from time to time.
Late Summer Mallard
I took this photo in August. The mallard hadn’t quite finished molting but as he was out in the open I assume his flight feathers had grown in.
Summer’s End
These flowers aren’t fading quietly as summer draws to a close. They continue on well into September adding cheer to the cooler mornings.
Bladder Campion
This flower was an introduced species and is considered invasive. I still like it.
A Look Back
The flowers no longer have the vibrant colours of early summer. I thought it would be nice to return to earlier in the season.
Wood Duck
She was swimming up to shore and I was lucky to be standing right there.
Seen on a Walk
A very large tree must have stood on this spot at one time. I liked the shadow play on the grass and the new shoot sprouting to life on the remnants of the tree.
Lesser Scaup
This duck is also known as the little bluebill for obvious reasons.
Fickle Leopard Frog
I had hoped the frog would turn around but its pose showed off its spots rather nicely.
Canada Columbine
Red Columbine goes by many names. It’s a hardy native that I always enjoy seeing earlier in the summer. I like its untamed appearance.
Last Daisy
While looking for a photo to post, I came across this daisy that I took earlier in the summer. I had forgotten that I haven’t seen any in a good month. Like summer, their season is too short.
Standout
This poppy appeared to be holding court among all the green.
Wood Duck
We’ve enjoyed seeing a fair number of Wood Ducks this year. I featured this young female late last month, her pose is different here.
Twist and Turn
I took the photo between the rails of a small bridge. The heron was positioned so close by , I had to twist a bit to get the shot. It had a few wispy feathers on the top of its head but other than that it looked like a mature bird.
Young One – 2
It’s that time in the season when young birds are maturing and looking more like adult birds. This wood duck is almost there but not quite. It still has some time to enjoy its youth. 😊
American Black Duck
American Black Ducks and Mallards are closely related ducks and they can often be found together, hybridization is also common. This particular duck was taking its turn on a popular log.
Green Heron
The light in this little cove isn’t ideal but that’s where the Green Heron chose to perch. Ducks like this spot too so I always pass by when I’m at this reserve.
Cabbage White
By far, cabbage whites have been the most numerous butterflies this year. Despite their numbers, I still enjoy seeing them.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 