The reflections this time of year are spectacular, the wood duck is icing on the cake 😊
Tag Archives: Landscape
DIFFERENT FACES OF FALL (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
As the season moves along you have to give your surroundings a closer look but there’s still plenty of beauty about.
REFLECTIONS
I see the occasional duck on this pond. Today though, the mallard was secondary.
Early Fall
Not too far from the centre of the city is this wonderful reserve that I visit often. As the birds get ready for their fall migration they often stop here before they fly south. They seem to like this old tree too; every time I visit I’m happy to see that it’s still standing. A pleasant place for all before the real cold sets in.
Splendid Isolation
Someone on the path pointed to the duck and asked me if I knew what kind it was. I couldn’t give her an answer but I liked how it sat a distance from shore absorbing the late summer sunshine.
SUMMER’S END -2 (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
I took these photos on a recent walk. As the days get cooler I linger a little longer and look a bit more closely at my surroundings.
SNOW BIRDS
The Canada Geese are certainly on the move. They begin their migration in September and most will have headed south by next month.
NOT ALL STING
The wasp found some goldenrod in bloom, most has faded by now. Despite their nasty sting, they are important pollinators and help keep the insect population down. Still though, I’m glad the goldenrod had its full attention.😏.
Summer’s End
At the end of summer the flowers in the fields are looking pretty spent, but there are some like this salsify that aren’t going quietly.
The Heron’s Court
The gulls were there first and then the Heron landed close by. It was as though they were expecting him 😏
ALONG THE PATH
The leaf almost seemed suspended in mid-air. It was only when I got closer that I saw it had been caught in the spider’s web along with an unfortunate insect. Another mini drama playing out right under my nose.
Late Bloomer
Despite their name, New England Asters are native to many Canadian provinces. We see them from mid-August through October. These were at the edge of a pond in good company.
Late Summer Reflections
As I mentioned in a recent post, there’s still a lot of greenery about. I was pleased to catch this scene on a recent walk.
WHAT’S IN A NAME
I had wondered how sneezeweed, this attractive wildflower got its common name. Indigenous people and early settlers ground it up for medicinal use as well as to make snuff, It certainly brightens up the landscape in late summer and has never once made me sneeze 😏
A SLIGHT SHIFT – 3
Fall is certainly putting in an appearance. There’s still a lot of green about but the curtain is drawing on summer.
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH
We visited a local wildlife garden recently and saw more that morning than we had in several recent visits. Among the sightings was this American Goldfinch. He was moulting now that breeding season is over and will soon migrate further south.
Japanese Beetle
The Japanese Beetle has no natural predators in North America so it’s very destructive to a large variety of plants. They are attractive though and I enjoyed watching this one lounge on some spotted jewelweed.
HAPPY GO LUCKY
At least it looks that way to me 😊
EASTERN PAINTED TURTLE
These are the most common turtles we see around here. They have an anti freeze-like substance in their blood that keeps their cells from freezing when the temperature drops. They hibernate in the mud at the bottom of ponds and lakes and emerge again in the spring. As long as the sun is warm we still get to enjoy them.
CANADA GOOSE
Canada Geese migrate south when the temperature turns cold. Not everyone’s favourite waterbird but I enjoy them especially like this, taking a quiet swim.
CLOSE CALL
We had noticed a snapping turtle close by and hoped the young wood duck would veer off before the turtle got too close. Fortunately she did.
A SLIGHT SHIFT – 2
Still sunny and bright but these sunflowers are slowly starting to fade.
Great Blue Heron
The few Great Blue Herons I’ve seen this summer have been at quite a distance. I usually see them fishing in the reeds close to shore. This pond is large and not very deep. I guess the heron was trying his luck a little further afield.
BUDDIES
A lot of old trees have fallen into the lake making nice perches for birds and turtles. These ducks were sharing this one in amiable silence.
A SLIGHT SHIFT
For a few weeks now, I’ve noticed that some plants and trees are beginning to show a change of colour. This small plant was a typical example. It’s still in the mid-30’s C but time marches on.
BY THE RIVER
As summer winds down I especially enjoy walks by the river. The local flowers are beginning to fade but the sunflowers are still bright and dance in the wind alongside the grasses.
Late Afternoon Swim
I caught these geese in a quiet moment. Canada Geese can be very elegant birds, especially when they’re not acting up or messing up. 😏
SLEEPY WOOD DUCK
In the heat of the day, this female wood duck found a quiet spot for a nap.
FEMALE WOOD DUCK
I tend to see wood ducks in small groups or swimming off on their own. They do mingle with other ducks but tend to be quieter types.
HALLOWEEN PENNANT
It’s easy to see how this dragonfly got its name. It’s colours are festive and it has the habit of perching on tall grass where its wings catch the breeze like a flag or pennant would.
FINALLY, A MONARCH
Butterflies have been pretty scarce this summer, so I was very pleased to see a monarch. It flew between the clover and made itself visible for quite a while.
HERE COMES THE SUN (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
Sunflowers are such cheerful looking flowers. These flowers were practically beaming at me as I walked up to them.
HEADLINERS
I came across these attractive flowers in the garden of a small theatre. They occupied their own flower bed, no need for a supporting cast 😏
WOOD DUCK
The temperature has cooled off somewhat so it’s more pleasant to get out with our cameras. Although I’m not seeing the number of birds I usually do, I have seen quite a few young wood ducks. This female was going for a quiet swim when I caught up with her.
ALONG THE PATH
This field borders an entrance to a reserve we visit from time to time. On a hot day this area has the most wonderful scent as the sun works its magic. It’s a favourite spot for rabbits and bees as well.
DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY
These American Black Ducks turn it into that kind of day!
Canada Geese
I liked this family scene with the gosling following closely behind its parents.
ANOTHER SUMMER TREAT
Echinacea or coneflowers are native to eastern and central North America. I started seeing them a few weeks ago, another sign of the hotter summer months.
FRAZZLED
It’s shaping up to be a very hot summer. What remains of this seed head sums it up nicely.
COLD SHOULDER
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.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 