The old house that once stood on this lot was torn down many years ago. The land hasn’t been developed and is enclosed by a mesh fence which I shot through. I was struck by the sunflowers standing tall. They continue to flower and give pleasure to anyone that passes by.
Frogs blend in well to their surroundings. I was lucky to see this leopard frog as it stood out against the grey of the pebbles.
Painted Turtles enjoying the summer sun.
The downy woodpecker is the smallest woodpecker in North America. We see them all year round. If you hear a tapping sound in the woods it’s likely a downy going about its business.
I noticed the blue graffiti on the door frame earlier in spring. When I passed by recently and saw the day lilies I knew I had my picture.
A cat enjoying the sun on a warm afternoon.
I’m not sure what insect the robin had firmly in its grip. I think he was unsure of it as well 😏.
I like the brilliance of these red poppies but white poppies with their purple centres are appealing too.
I imagine the basketball was left there as I took the photo around lunchtime. The same holds true for the bike.
Queen Anne’s Lace is just coming into flower. These flowers were in a garden setting though I usually see them in fields and along roadsides. It’s nice to see them thriving in the city too.
Chipmunks always appear energetic, this one in particular!
I’ve yet to get to the lake where I normally see dragonflies, so I thought I’d post a photo from a few summers ago.
I noticed these flowers in a neighbour’s garden. I liked their colour and spiky appearance. I believe they are mountain cornflowers.
I’ve noticed a lot of violets this year. They’re pretty tenacious and can grow in shade or bright sunlight. As pretty as they are, they can take over a garden. Like many wild flowers/weeds, attractive to some a nuisance to others.
I’ve driven by this barbershop often. This time I was on foot and noticed the nifty signage. It’s nice to slow down sometimes.
I had to admire how a gardener turned an old tree stump into a thing of beauty.
I almost passed by the little statue in the second photo as it was quite hidden by all the vegetation. Its surroundings made it rather appealing.
We might not be able to gather but nothing is stopping the tulips from putting on a show. Some varieties are beginning to fade but many are still in fine shape.
Walking down a neighbourhood street I happened to look up and saw this construction worker suspended in midair. I can’t begin to imagine what that must feel like.
We walked past this Basset Hound on our way to the store and he hadn’t budged on our return. A study in patience.
I took this photo in August when the cardinal hadn’t finished moulting and was still a bit patchy. Still stylish though!
The merganser coming in for a landing reminded me of the game of skipping stones. I was a considerable distance from the duck but I liked the scene and used a Sepia Preset for added effect.
Canada Geese can be rather loud and aggressive but you’d never know it looking at these two.
The eastern phoebe is a member of the flycatcher family. With the arrival of spring they have returned to our area. Their distinctive song announces their presence often before you see them.
Spring is a season of firsts. First robin, first tulip, even first fly. Isn’t it great. 😊
Mallards are among my favourite ducks, and a familiar subject on my blog. This duck was enjoying a swim on an early December morning.
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.
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.
During this unusual winter, I thought I’d try my hand at doing some studio work. Here is my first eggample 😊. Learning how to use flash: diffusing, blocking, reflecting and positioning it is a steep learning curve but fun too. Stay tuned for more…
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.
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 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.
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.
I didn’t follow the rules for my composition. I don’t think the photo would have worked as well if I had.
The barred owl or hoot owl is very common in Ontario though I’ve only seen one twice. Like most owls they are nocturnal but both my sightings were during the day. This owl was just slightly off the main path, I happened to look up and there he was.
Someone had stamped down the path somewhat but we still got plenty of exercise making our way along. No need for a gym membership with conditions like these 😏.
I caught this duck as she stood on some rocks close to shore. She gave me a curious look which made for a nice photograph.
BELINDA GROVER PHOTOGRAPHY 