After a bit of research I found out that this is a two-spotted grass bug. (The spots are on its back which made it a bit difficult to identify. 😏 ) When I started out in photography I never thought I would take an interest in insects and enjoy photographing them as much as I do.
A wood duck admiring its reflection.
These gulls have presence and this one was no exception. He looked around like he owned this patch of grass.
Damselflies are quite comical when you can catch them like this. I wonder what they make of us. 😏
On this side of the reserve the river runs quickly. Threats to these mallard ducklings are fewer; the snapping turtles remain on the lake opposite and fewer hawks patrol the area. I came upon this family group on the river’s edge, two years ago. I hope to see similar scenes before too long.
I like to watch ladybugs as they make their way though the greenery. They appear to be hard working beetles. Though attractive to look at their bright colour warns potential predators that they aren’t good to eat. The brighter they are the more poisonous.
With its wings by its side, the phoebe reminded me of a penguin. I took the photo a few years ago, so I can’t remember the reason for the unusual angle or light but it worked.
These squirrels are quite common in my area and in the same family as the eastern grey squirrel. They often run off as you approach but not this time.
Not sure what’s going on here, not sure the mallard on the left knows either. Just another afternoon at the lake. 😏
This female cardinal gave me a strange look. I almost felt like I was trespassing as I passed by.
Mallards are among my favourite ducks, and a familiar subject on my blog. This duck was enjoying a swim on an early December morning.
I usually see pileated woodpeckers high up in the trees, often hearing them before I see them. It’s easier to spot them in winter when there are no leaves to block the view.
With their tucked in necks, these herons often look like they’re skulking around. I took this photo in early spring so it was easier to get a clear shot. This becomes tricky later in the season with all the greenery.
Some picnickers had just packed up and this ring-billed gull was checking for any leftovers. There was nothing left behind but the gull was polite enough to wait until they had gone.
Some mallards remain here year round. They can find enough to eat if the water along the shore remains free of ice and if people feed them. Canada Geese, on the other hand, fly south in late fall. Smart birds!
These are some of my favourite late fall subjects; a solitary leaf or several on a stem among the surrounding fall display. I always keep an eye out for these fading beauties on my walks.
This was the first and only time I’ve seen a Chestnut-sided Warbler. Unlike many warblers at this reserve, it wasn’t hiding up in the pine trees, so I could get a clear shot. I wish it had turned a bit so I could have got more of its colouring but was still pleased to add another bird to my list.
I took this photo on holiday a few years ago. The warehouse was well cared for and appealing, a nice photo opportunity on a misty morning.
This is the first time I’d seen an insect with such fancy head gear. It turns out it’s a male non-biting midge. They fly in swarms and can be very annoying on early summer mornings as you walk along. Not sure how I spotted this individual, just lucky I guess.
With its algae covered back, you have to be lucky to spot a snapping turtle swimming through a murky pond. I didn’t have a polarizing filter so the photo might have been sharper but I managed to get a decent shot. I think this turtle was quite young as it wasn’t as large as some I’ve seen. Not the prettiest kid on the block but certainly one of the more interesting.
I was pleased to get so close to this female hooded merganser. Often they’re out in the middle of the lake just beyond range. This duck found a quiet spot to enjoy the sun.
This grey squirrel was tucking in as I passed. A felled tree makes a nice surface for dining and hikers often leave seeds and nuts for birds and squirrels, particularly in the colder months. I was glad to see that this diner was well fed.
Damselflies – a sure sign of warm weather. They begin to appear in late spring and remain throughout the summer. Looking at the blue skies and sunshine right now, you can almost imagine it’s warm out, until you step outside that is 😏 .
There’s always something that catches my eye when I’m out for a walk. I liked the windblown leaf pattern on the forest floor and the sapling pushing upward. It was nice to see the mushrooms too.
Trout lilies are one of the first wildflowers we see each spring on our walks through the woods. I love to see them pushing their way through the leaf litter and melting snow.
We usually see a few Great Egrets at the reserve every summer. When they’re not fishing the waters we often see them preening. This one was doing just that on the remains of an old tree.
The bright head of the house finch caught my eye, I didn’t see the less colourful female when I took the picture. Most finches I’ve seen are more rosy coloured. This one must have found a good crop of red berries as diet can effect their colouring.
Ring-billed gulls are often seen in parking lots and city parks, so it was nice to see this bird on the water. A much more fitting location for a seagull.
The woods in winter are quiet; the only sounds are my boots on the snow and the wind in the trees. I wasn’t alone though, as I looked up I saw this squirrel looking down at me.
The Iris was vying for attention with the Prairie Smoke, a curious almost whimsical native plant. Later in the season the seed head of this flower produces whispy strands that look like smoke. Pollinators love them.
I was surprised to see a peregrine falcon as I passed along the shore. Peregrines swoop down on their prey from the air so it wasn’t hunting, probably just cooling off in the lake. Except for the falcon no other bird or squirrel was in sight.
The out of focus branches framed the chickadee nicely and also made him look like a little “jailbird”. He doesn’t look too happy about it 😏 .
There’s a natural channel in the lake that ducks often swim through. On this occasion I watched as a long line of ducks swam towards me before they went their separate ways.
After photographing certain subjects for a while you begin to anticipate their behaviour. In the case of damselflies (and dragonflies) they tend to return to the same perch you might have startled from as you approached. So if you don’t get the shot the first time your chances are good the second time around.
I often see female wood ducks on their own or in very small groups. They are not as gregarious as mallards but have a charm all their own.
This pretty little beetle was inching its way along the leaf when I spotted it. I might not have noticed it if it weren’t for its colour. The leaf gives you a good idea of the insect’s size.
This lake has a fair number of resident turtles. As I scanned the water for birds, I noticed a painted turtle enjoying a swim. Now it and its mates are buried deep in the mud, hibernating until spring.
Muskrats swim quickly and like to dive, particularly when they have an audience. I saw this one on an early April morning enjoying a solitary swim.
This lake has a lot of lily pads which these frogs call home. They blend in so well that often only a splash or movement alerts you to their whereabouts. The photo below gives you a good idea of their environment and how well they blend in.
I didn’t follow the rules for my composition. I don’t think the photo would have worked as well if I had.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 