European Starlings are not popular birds. They are an invasive species and aggressive to native birds. No friend to farmers either as they raid their crops. They sure are photogenic though.
Tag Archives: Nature
Lesser Scaups
I had several opportunities to photograph these beautiful ducks last year. We kept returning to the same area over several days and there they were. I guess they’re being enjoyed right now by those living in more hospitable climates. 😏
DOWNY WOODPECKER
A downy woodpecker going about his business.
AT THE PARK
It will be fun to get back to this park when the weather warms up. I think the dogs there have a better time than most people 😏
Something to Crow About
Another sighting while looking up.
Cheers
Here’s hoping for calm waters in 2025. Happy New Year!
I Couldn’t Eat Another Bite
The chipmunk had a very successful raid of this garden. I took a lot of photos of him with his cheeks stuffed with nuts. Unfortunately my settings were off and this was the only reasonably sharp shot I got.
REWIND – 2
The days are sunny and cold right now, here’s a bit of warmth to add to the mix.
Downy Woodpecker
Best Wishes for the Holidays!
Winter Light
I like catching mallards in this light. They seem to glow 😊
REWIND
It turned very cold overnight with the temperature now hovering at -17C. I thought this was the perfect time to revisit some summer scenes. Besides I can’t use my camera while wearing mitts 😏
Night Owl
As owls are nocturnal, when I see them during the day they often look half asleep. The eastern screech owl is tiny and blends into its surroundings so well that you have to be pretty lucky to spot one.
LATE FALL – 3
This small lake attracts a lot of ducks; even in winter we see a few mallards. They are hardy. The wood ducks have left now but I did catch this one as it took a last solitary swim.
Downy Woodpecker
I haven’t seen many downy woodpeckers this year but I did see this one in the spring. I really like these little birds, our smallest woodpecker.
Wistful
While looking for a photo to post, I came across this flower I took last spring. A sweet memory 😔.
LATE FALL – 2
A few more migrants passing through, I’ve only seen ring-billed ducks a few times and always as it gets colder.
Late Fall
One last swim at the lake. The waterfowl usually remain until the lakes and rivers begin to freeze.
Junior
This juvenile ring-billed gull was coming in for a landing. They take three years to reach maturity and acquire an adult’s white and grey feathers, yellow legs and bill with the distinctive black band. I like taking them in flight, good practice for the bigger birds 😊
Eastern Phoebe
These flycatchers are one of my favourite songbirds. I look forward to their return next spring.
Team Building
Canada Geese were gathering like this as we moved into fall. Just before the recent snow, I saw two large formations of geese overhead. They made it out just in time.
A Different View
We’re under a winter weather advisory (10 cms/4 inches is forecast). Luckily, I don’t have to be anywhere today and can watch the snow fall and swirl around from my window. When I was a kid the schools stayed open even with considerable snow. The snowfall would have to approach 25 cms/10 inches before we had a snow day. We could count on several each winter growing up.
I thought the daylily I took this summer would provide something else to look at 😏
Redhead
I saw this mallard in October. I was taken with his red head feathers. It was an unusual sighting, a first for me.
In the Reeds
The red-winged blackbird had found a good perch and and finally moved its head long enough to give me a clear shot.
STOCKING UP
Chipmunks don’t hibernate and with winter fast approaching they’re busy gathering food to build up their reserves. They seek shelter in underground dens and live a solitary existence. On warmer winter days you can see them out foraging.
Canada Geese
From early spring to late fall I watch Canada Geese a lot 😊. I think they’re beautiful birds and when not acting up or messing up they make great subjects to photograph.
Ready for Take Off
It’ll be several months before scenes like this will be common again. So in the meantime…
American Black Duck
Happily, some of these ducks remain during the colder months.
Black-crowned Night Heron
I usually see these stocky birds in the reeds waiting patiently for a passing fish or frog. I rarely see one in flight. This heron blended in quite well to its surroundings except for those striking yellow feet.
Dog Days
Along the river parkway there’s a landing for canoes, kayaks (and dogs) to enter the water easily. On our walks I always hope to come across a scene like this.
Buzz
On these cold cloudy days, I’ll be featuring some warmer scenes. I can almost hear the insects buzzing 😊
Touching Down
We’ve had a lot of mild weather this November and there are still some Canada Geese around. I caught this one as it was landing.
Colour and Light
We were treated to a long and colourful fall. This particular display had the perfect balance of colour and light, reminding me of a stained glass window.
CITY JAY
A Blue Jay sighting on a recent neighbourhood walk.
QUIET MOMENT
It’s nice to catch a mallard in a quiet moment, the fall reflections makes it even nicer.
Time Flies
Just two weeks ago, I saw this flower in a neighbour’s garden. Now the temperature struggles to get to +6 C during the day. No snow though 😏
LESSER SCAUPS (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
This past summer we were treated to the appearance of lesser scaups. We only saw them twice but they provided a lot of photo opportunities. A new bird for me 😊
Thin Ice
This frog and its mates have probably burrowed into the mud at the bottom of a lake and are preparing for the winter. Although with the temperature icy cold one day and warming up the next, I wonder how all animals that hibernate will survive. I know people don’t know what to make of this weather pattern…
Fall Find
It was a nice surprise to see this flower blooming among the fallen leaves.
Great Egret
I took this photograph in a suburban park that borders the river. We usually see a few of the large herons on the river but I’ve never see one land in the pond before. And what a landing 😊.
STREET VIEW
It looked like a recent addition, yet the fence had already attracted the attention of a vine in nice autumn colours.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 