I like to see robins strike this pose, stretching to their full height. It stopped feeding for a moment, looked around and then continued on.
Tag Archives: Nature Photography
URBAN LANDSCAPE (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
Ottawa’s Centretown neighbourhood is a mix of the old and new. A lot of old houses and apartments have avoided the wrecker’s ball and are a source of much of my photography. The garden in the first photo is one I return to throughout the warmer months, I like its untended look. The elements in the balcony garden look carefully chosen, a little oasis in the city.
CURIOUS SQUIRREL
The black squirrels we see in Ontario are a subgroup of the Eastern Grey Squirrel but when I saw this squirrel with its unusual blond tail I thought the light was playing tricks on my eyes 😏. Another interesting discovery on a neighbourhood walk.
MELLOW YELLOW (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
There’s just something about yellow flowers in springtime!
YOUNG BEAVER (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
We found a new spot along the river this spring. It has a nice trail, few crowds and a fair amount of wildlife. One day last week I noticed some movement in the reeds and to my delight I saw this young beaver. The vegetation along the shore was thick so I had to wait a long while before I could get a clear shot. He looked like one contented beaver!
WHAT’S IN A NAME
Despite the heat, I just felt cooler looking at the plant growing in the shade. Its common name is Bleeding Heart, not a name I would have chosen for such an attractive plant.
NATURAL ART
The shapes and colours of the budding maple reminded me of a fine drop earring; except its enjoyment comes at no cost.
DOWNY WOODPECKER
This downy woodpecker is one of the first I’ve seen this spring. She appeared to be considering how to approach the job of searching for insects.
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD
If you see a Red-winged Blackbird, it’s supposed to be a lucky sign. Given that they usher in Spring, I would have to agree!
TULIP TIME
I liked the effect the breeze had on the tulips, it almost looked like they were dancing.
SPRING YELLOW (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
When I saw this beautiful tree I pointed my lens up to fill the frame. I believe it’s a Forsythia, if not please let me know. No doubt about the daffodil, an annual spring favourite.
CITY BIRD
The red brick made an attractive backdrop for this common pigeon. Often maligned, I thought this bird had presence.
LOOKING UP (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
After a long winter, the temperature is warming up! The ground is coming to life again and there’s something to savour everywhere you look.
Duck Out Of Water
Walking along the path, I happened to look up and saw a wood duck sitting on the branch of a tree. There’s a first time for everything 😊
SECOND LOOK
I liked the frog’s pose but the background was too messy. I tried cleaning it up, without much success. In changing the crop I managed to remove most of the pond debris and was pleased with the outcome. It goes to show that in most things it pays to take a second look.
Line Up
You can’t get much cuter than these goslings.
FOR THE BIRDS
I took this Black-crowned Night Heron one day in May a few years ago. We’re having snow showers today. The early spring migrants must be wondering what’s up with this weather 😏
JUST A LITTLE LONGER
Not much spring colour yet so I thought I’d revisit fall when the leaves were putting on a fireworks show.
MOODY MONDAY
I took this photo earlier in the week at a wildlife garden I hadn’t been back to since the start of the Pandemic. I saw a few robins (photos coming up), a bit of new spring growth and this meadow scene that caught my eye.
You may have noticed that the Comments section was closed on my site for the last few days. It seems to be working again!
WAITING IT OUT
With the continuing cool temperatures you can’t blame the raccoon for not giving up its snug quarters. Spring is taking its time around here.
MONDAY MALLARD
Warm spring days aren’t with us yet so it’s a bit cold for much photography. I continue to dip into my archives for now. A duck for your Monday viewing.
Wood Ducks (Two Photographs)
Wood Ducks are the most colourful ducks we see in this area. A few have been spotted here this spring. They return to breed and remain until the temperatures dip. I took these photos several years back.
NORTHERN CARDINAL
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.
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 😊
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.
CABBAGE WHITE
I’ve never seen a cabbage white this shade before. Perhaps its colour changes as the summer moves along.
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.
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.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 