The shapes and colours of the budding maple reminded me of a fine drop earring; except its enjoyment comes at no cost.
Tag Archives: Photography (2)
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.
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.
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.
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.
TURNING A CORNER (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
It’s fun to walk along the quiet lanes in residential areas. The sheds there can be weather worn or sport a new coat of paint. Once the snow melts, I’ll be exploring them again.
ROYAL VISIT
I’m not a great fan of lawn art but I liked this touch of whimsy.
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.
TAKING IN THE SIGHTS – 2
I took several photos of this Great Dane and featured another one in January. I think the dog was becoming a bit inpatient as it shifted position and was staring directly into the store window, willing its owner to return.
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.
ANTICIPATION
As the calendar slowly moves towards spring, scenes like this are getting closer.
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE
Chickadees are another bird I feature quite frequently. We are fortunate to have their lively presence year round in our woods and backyards.
LEAVE IT TO BEAVER (AND THE GEESE)
An iconic Canadian scene (taken in early April as the lake began to thaw) a far cry from the siege-like images right now in Ottawa.
WINTER FAVOURITE
The Pileated Woodpecker is the largest woodpecker in North America. They are non migratory; their main food source are the larvae and insects that live in the bark of trees. I love to see these striking birds in winter’s muted landscape.
EARLY GOOSE
I took this photo one year at the very end of March. Although the river was thawing the goose must have regretted its early return.
ALL YOU CAN EAT BUFFET
The rabbit doesn’t have the best table manners but at least its eating healthy 😏
DUCK CHEER
Happy New Year!
A BIT ROUGH
I took this photo in late September when the Cardinal hadn’t finished moulting. He’ll need those head feathers now given the cold temperatures!
SOMETHING TO QUACK ABOUT
Happy Holidays!
CAT IN THE WINDOW
The cat in the window struck a regal pose, something they do so well. There are a lot of indoor cats in this downtown neighourhood. When the weather gets milder I’ll have to photograph more of them.
WORKING WITHOUT A NET
Chickadees are great little aerialists and quick. Always nice when one slows down long enough to take its picture.
COLD FEET
You’d think a duck’s feet would freeze standing on an icy pond. Unlike mammals, they regulate their bodies differently so that standing on an icy surface is almost like a walk in the park 😏
GOLDFINCH ON A THISTLE
The goldfinch landed on the thistle just as I was winding up my walk. Before long it began to feed on the plants’ seeds. I took a lot of photos as the bird didn’t seem to mind my being there. More to come…
BASHFUL
The chipmunk’s pose showed off his fine racing stripes 😊
BRIGHT SPOT
As winter approaches, the landscape becomes drab. This fine looking mallard added some much needed colour. A few resident ducks remain throughout the winter; close to shore the river remains open and they find a way to carry on.
QUIET SUNDAY
A quiet Sunday by the river.
GARDEN VARIETY
Canada Geese are pretty commonplace. Not always welcome, they can be loud and messy but they still hold an appeal. Right now we see them in large V formations, heading south.
SCREECH OWL AND THE FOREST (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
The screech owl I saw a few weeks ago is still around, It had changed trees and I had a different lens this time. I liked the wider shot below, but also cropped in close to give a better view of the owl.
PATTERNS ON THE SHORE (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
On a walk by the river, I noticed the exposed roots of the old tree. They formed swirling patterns on the shoreline. They reminded me of the legs of some fantastic sea creature.
GREAT EGRET
I had few opportunities to photograph Great Egrets this summer but I did get a few chances. I hope to have more next year.
FALL FASHION (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
In the first photo, I wanted to fill the frame with colour, you can barely see the sky for the leaves. I concentrated on a single leaf in the second shot and didn’t notice the crab spider in the lower right of the image until I imported it.
UNEXPECTED
On a walk last week, hoping to take some landscapes, I noticed this pretty bunch of daisies. As I moved closer I saw this wasp-like insect as well as a number of bees on the flowers. I didn’t have an ideal lens for insects but I took a couple of photos anyway. I imagine one of my last insect photos this year.
GONE TO SEED (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
I enjoy photographing the seed heads of Queen Anne’s Lace. Their structure is a delicate marvel.
SEASON DRAWING DOWN
This scene was taken on a late fall day a few years ago but today’s cold wind is a hint of what’s to come. The wood ducks hold on until the first frost, so they’ll be around for a bit longer.
EASTERN SCREECH OWL (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
We took a walk recently along the edges of a local reserve; we haven’t walked its trails since Covid struck, the place is packed with people. The crowds must have driven this eastern screech owl out of the park and close to where we were walking. We’ve only seen these owls in daylight and usually looking half asleep 😏 .
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 