When I was a kid at summer camp we used to call hawkweed (above) the devil’s paintbrush. Both are common names for this attractive flower although the latter appealed more to the imagination of ten year olds! I don’t think I really took notice of the yellow salsify before I picked up a camera. It was while composing in camera and in the editing that I began to appreciate the flower’s detail and form.
I featured a version of this photo several years ago. When I look back at some of my older photographs, I see what I might try differently. I converted the photo to black and white, reduced the clarity and saturation and removed a bit of vegetation that overlapped the mallard’s bill. I think it makes for a better photograph. My style and skill have developed over the years and it’s nice to see the progression. Of course when you have a subject like this you can’t go too far wrong 😊.
No one is indifferent to Canada Geese. Noisy, messy and gregarious; I like them best in photos like these, looking kind of smart. Fall reflections are a definite asset too.
It’s unusual to see an egret perched on a beaver lodge, normally we see them wading in the water or fishing. The bird stood there for quite a while and I managed to get him in several poses, the first of which is shown here. Most summers we see several egrets and herons in this one location, not last year. The lake was very high which must have made for challenging conditions. They likely found some easier spots to fish.
Another sign of spring is the return of cedar waxwings. We usually see them in a group or ear-full (as they’re known collectively) but I only saw this one bird. It was nice to get him out in the open before the leaves were out.
A bit late for a Groundhog Day post and too early to spot one out of its den. Groundhogs hibernate until March or April in our climate. No friend to farmers or gardeners as their burrowing can do serious damage and they like to feed off crops. They are cute rodents though and are funny when they freeze in plain sight as this one did.
I liked the way the frog was posed on the lily pad, rather prince-like. The frogs in this cove are very small. You get a sense of this from the plants that surround them.
