The orioles arrived right on schedule in mid-May. May is their peak nesting period and we saw more than we normally do this year. Haven’t seen them since though. They are such brilliant little birds and add welcome colour to the spring landscape. This oriole kept popping in and out of the flowering tree, I guess there were many insects about.
I liked the way the first dragonfly peered out between the leaves and stayed still as I set up my shot. In the photo below, the dragonfly had just recently emerged, one of the first of the season. Every few days it seems new varieties appear, particularly welcome this spring as birding subjects have proved less reliable.
Hairy woodpeckers are a little less common in our woods than the downy woodpeckers which they closely resemble, so it’s always a good day when I spot one. This female was intent on finding some insects and my presence didn’t deter her in the least.
One of the first spring migrants to our region, yellow-rumps are a sure sign of the change of seasons. Our local reserve had so many that when we asked a fellow photographer in passing what he had seen, he answered “nothing, just yellow-rumps”. As they remain for only 2-3 weeks I can’t imagine tiring of them that quickly.
All kinds of subjects are vying for my attention this spring. Our senses are inundated by colour, scent, movement and life! New wildflowers seem to appear from one day to the next, the first two shown here just popped up.
A few weeks ago there were few insects around. In the last ten days or so with the return of damselflies and dragonflies, it feels like summer has arrived even though it’s still spring. I didn’t have my macro gear with me the day I took these photos, I used my 70-200mm and I had to crop quite a bit. I was pleased I could capture the detail.
This young woodpecker was aware of us as she made her way from the tree to the water’s edge. She remained on the ground for a good five minutes having a drink and looking around. I have never been as close to a pileated before or seen one on the ground, it was pretty thrilling.
We were walking along a forest trail when I saw first one, then many more trilliums. They are such striking flowers. These were the first I had seen this year, and though still beautiful no longer in their prime. Even so I took many photos, more of which I will feature later on. Trilliums don’t really need any dressing up but I did think this caterpillar was a nice added touch.
A few of my recent posts have had river based themes. As I walked by this scene what first caught my eye were the fungi on the fallen log. I had just seen some mushrooms further up the trail and I guess I was on the lookout. But taking in the surroundings, I was again struck by the stillness and the serenity of the scene, so very appealing.
I wouldn’t have noticed this leopard frog if I hadn’t been looking in its general direction. Perhaps my footsteps startled him and he leapt for cover under the dandelion. These frogs are so well camouflaged that I wonder how many I may have overlooked so far this spring, this being my first sighting.
We don’t see too many chipmunks anymore. They’re outnumbered by red and grey squirrels. I was happy to see this little fellow enjoying his cracker with no competition from the bigger guys. It looks like his snack just fell out of a picnic basket, his for the asking.
The water is still high along the river. The winter thaw and runoff is a constant in Spring. This part of the province isn’t too badly effected this year although parts of the country are having a very hard time of it. This is about as close as we get to “swamp-like” conditions and like the other images from Hudson, Quebec I featured last week, I was struck by the tranquility of the scene.
It was nice to see this sparrow on the ground at a relatively close distance. I usually spot them high up in the trees flying from branch to branch. The bird was nicely framed by new vegetation and seemed to be listening for something.
Nothing announces spring like tulips. With their scent, colour and perseverance, they appear soon after the last snow has melted. These photos were taken at Ottawa’s annual Tulip Festival. Given the late spring we’ve had, the tulips are a bit slower to open this year and there are still tulip beds that haven’t completely bloomed. Still though, a beautiful sight.
These photographs were taken on the banks of the Ottawa River in Hudson, Quebec. We had stopped for lunch and took a short walk along the shoreline. I was struck by the quiet and stillness of the park and the dappled light, a place I will have to visit again.
There are many wood duck pairs at the lake this spring, it should be a good year for them. I was told that a wood duck had been seen entering a nest in a tree trunk whose previous tenant had been a woodpecker. It shouldn’t be too long before we see the first ducklings.
In early spring, whenever I see the first of something it’s cause to smile. I have seen a few trout lilies this season but this was the first bee I’ve spotted. Although a lot of the cultivated flowers are in bloom, the wildflowers are slow to appear as are insects. It made the bee especially nice to see.
The first time I photographed a female red winged blackbird I wasn’t sure what I was looking at. The female is so unlike the male in appearance. They are quieter too, often in the underbrush gathering nesting material as this bird was. They do blend in quite well so I was pleased to have taken this shot.
Two very different photos of the same subject taken months apart. In the first, the bird was very close by and I was struck by his dramatic eye. The other was taken last summer and I couldn’t have posed him better myself.
In the first photo the bird is checking his progress so far. In the other two the woodpecker has just landed. The condition of the tree is the result of a short lived but powerful storm that hit this area last fall and left hundreds of trees severely damaged or destroyed. Fortunately for the birds and we nature lovers enough remain for the birds to breed and build their nests. Always a treat to see these flashy birds in the woods.
These little birds blend in so well that often it’s only their song that alerts you to their presence. We were joined on the trail by some avid birdwatchers who happened to point this one out. Song sparrows migrate to our region in the warmer months to breed, along with other summer visitors. Always a pleasure to see yet another species return for a while.
And now for a little change of pace, with the arrival of milder weather the painted turtles have returned to the surface after a long winter of hibernation. I spotted a few on the weekend and when I returned to the lake today there were even more about. Another welcome sign of the season.
This mallard was swimming his patch of the lake, there’s still a bit of ice around but not enough to keep him by the shoreline. It was a beautiful sunny day and the sun caught the brilliance of his feathers. Spring is definitely here, he was looking his best and if he hasn’t gotten hitched up it won’t be long now!
Wishing won’t make it so but a photo taken on a warm summer day works wonders! A seemingly ordinary insect on a daisy make for two of my favourite subjects. I liked the less than perfect look of the flower. Daisies have a long season in our climate and this showed it a bit worse for wear but still beautiful.
This is the woodpecker I mentioned in a recent post, we saw it last time we were at the reserve. I was a bit of a distance from him, shooting through twigs and branches but with no leaves out yet I did manage to get some clear shots. We heard the woodpecker working away before we saw him. A fellow photographer standing nearby like a beacon led us right to him. We didn’t see the bird’s mate but hope to when we return next time.
These are one of the first forest flowers of Spring. I took this photo in April last year when the weather was warmer. It’s always a pleasure to see these bright bursts of colour welcoming the season along. They usually keep company with snow drops and violets. I’ll check on their progress next time I visit the nature reserve.
We stopped by a reserve today hoping for a few signs of Spring. This is what it looks like in my corner of the world! This Canada Goose must have been wondering what was going on… The ice is beginning to recede on the lake but we need some +C temperatures to help things along. No snow drops or wild violets yet but we did see a few wood ducks in the open water and a pileated woodpecker starting a nest, sure signs of spring!
I came across this rabbit as he was feeding on winter grass that was slowly coming back to life. We spotted each other at about the same time. As I was moving quietly and gave him plenty of space he watched me for a few moments and then went back to his meal. I took a few photos and then left him to it.
I haven’t been posting many recent photos as the extremely cold temperatures discourage new photography excursions. As I’ve taken many chickadee shots in the past I thought I’d put up a few more. I never tire of these little birds, I hope you agree.
American Black Ducks are becoming more common on our waterways although still not as numerous as Mallards. A little more reclusive than the gregarious mallard I often see them alone or in pairs. They can interbreed and compete for the same food. This lake has a lot of fallen trees so there are many opportunities for photos such as this.
I have always loved this old tree. It hangs on by the edge of the lake, battered and scarred but still standing. The graceful curve of its bark forming a waterfall-like reflection in the water and one of its branches forming a jetty. Birds still gather near it, the wood duck and her chicks having a rest for a while.
It’s been a long, cold winter and I haven’t been on the trails much (not a big fan of winter). But on seeing this brilliant cardinal for inspiration, I’m dusting off my gear, examining every tree I pass for buds and counting the days/weeks when I’ll be out in earnest again.
It was mid March last year when I took this photo. A long winter was drawing to a close and more people were out in the woods enjoying the milder weather and bearing gifts for the locals. This squirrel was enjoying the bounty and neither this photographer nor any competition was going to move him along.
The first chickadee has appeared on my blog before but in colour, I had not started working in black and white two years ago. I always liked the photo and thought it earned a second bow. The second photo was taken more recently. I chose to feature them together given the birds’ excellent acrobatic skills.
I saw this female Redstart during nesting period last Spring. We were climbing up a steep, tree lined path when someone up ahead motioned to the nest. This shot was taken on an uneven surface through the trees and although the bird’s body was nice and sharp, her head wasn’t as sharp as I would have liked it. Yet, it was my first nesting Redstart, so all and all not a bad beginning to the season.
I have never been this close to a Great Blue Heron. It had landed right on the water’s edge, a few feet from where we were standing. There was a lot of brush around, which I couldn’t avoid but I don’t mind it in the frame. I used Field Blur in Photoshop to soften it a bit. I wondered if the heron was a young bird, it was so close to us and yet so fearless.
I love to watch nuthatches as they search for food, their moves are very impressive. Their nasal calls are distinctive and will lead you to them if you don’t spot them first. Both of these photographs were taken last winter, the first when the sun was low casting a golden glow. Both birds were male, they have darker caps than the female’s greyer version.
Two summers ago we had several Great Blue Herons at the reserve which was not the case last summer. In 2016 the water level was lower than this past year which made for easier fishing. The first heron is flying away with a catfish, the second is displaying a rather graceful takeoff. These herons are a pleasure to watch and photograph in flight or as as they stalk, fish, or preen, usually ignoring the photographer.
There is a group of mallards that remain here all winter. They congregate along the river’s edge that stays clear of ice. People feed them and between that and the bit of vegetation they find they seem to do alright. A hardy lot these ducks!
Both of these squirrels are well represented in our woods. The red squirrel looked like a young one, relaxed as he ate his snack. Maybe he thought I couldn’t see him with the branches providing a bit of cover. The black eastern grey squirrels are more common here than the grey variety and he was more on the alert than the red.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 