We see quite a few American Black Ducks during the warmer months. They resemble female mallards though they’re darker and their bills are yellow, they are also heavier than mallards. They seem less rowdy too but perhaps that’s because there are fewer of them. 😏
Sometimes that’s all you can do 😏
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.
We’ve had frequent snow squalls today, so I thought a bit of late summer would be welcome.
I’m not sure if the ant saw the wasp but it was clearly in its sights. These small dramas play out in nature all the time.
A sunny day ending on a high note.
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.
These two colours are well represented in our winters by snow covered evergreens. I thought these hostas would be a nice change of pace.
If an insect can be cute this one ticks all the boxes 😊
We’ve had some unusual weather for January, mild and rainy; perhaps this is the way it will be going forward. In any event, at the end of a dark wet day, this splash of melba mixed with the grey created a pretty effect.
We saw few ladybugs this year, few insects in general. But I was lucky to catch this one as it made its way along.
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.
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.
To a bright year ahead. Happy New Year!
Canada Geese seem to enjoy this park as much as people do. There’s a lot of grassy lawn, shade trees and the river is close by. Just add a bit of sun, perfect!
Today began with a fiery sunrise but its bright start faded to this milky sun. It’s the season of short walks, hot tea and books.
Groundhogs hibernate here during the winter months, in specialized burrows below the frost line. This individual was fattening up for a long “sleep”.
Wishing you all the best for the Holidays!
December 21 is the winter solstice in the Northern Hemisphere, after which we begin to gain more daylight, slowly moving towards scenes like this.
Well almost, as both were underway.
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 😏
The days are short right now but you can usually count on a spectacular finish.
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.
We’ve been seeing some interesting and unusual skies lately. When the sun does make an appearance it’s usually towards sunset as was the case here.
The view from my window as we sped through the Quebec countryside.
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.
The transition to dusk is so rapid this time of year; a grey day wakes up just before it ends and becomes painterly.
We haven’t seen much sun this month. But there it is peaking through the clouds on a late November afternoon.
When I looked outside early this morning the streets were bare. Then the snow began, not too much just enough to pretty things up.
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.
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.
These flowers aren’t fading quietly as summer draws to a close. They continue on well into September adding cheer to the cooler mornings.
Birds seem to like perching on overhead wires. This starling pair got a nice view up there.
This flower was an introduced species and is considered invasive. I still like it.
I’ve never seen a juvenile European Starling before and at first I wasn’t quite sure what it was. Then I saw a mature bird close by which confirmed it.
These goslings must be full grown now, getting ready to fly south for the winter.
The flowers no longer have the vibrant colours of early summer. I thought it would be nice to return to earlier in the season.
I like getting a bird looking in my direction. Sizing me up perhaps 😊
She was swimming up to shore and I was lucky to be standing right there.
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.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 