We’ve had few opportunities to see or photograph great egrets in the last year and a half. Our favourite reserve has been jam-packed since Covid struck and we haven’t been back. We parked by the Ottawa River recently hoping to see one of these beautiful birds and luck was with us.
A friend spotted the leopard frog in the grass. Pretty good observation as the frog hadn’t just jumped to that spot. It remained in place long after I had moved on.
Goldfinches breed later in the summer than a lot of other birds. I watched as the goldfinch gathered nesting material and flew back and forth to her nest deep in the trees.
Nothing common about this Common or European Starling. Their plumage is extremely colourful and unlike many birds in the neighbourhood, they never shy away from my camera.
These two flowers are early spring arrivals and share a subtle beauty. More delights of the season.
I almost missed seeing this little meadow vole or field mouse as it quietly moved through the leaf litter. If it sensed my presence it didn’t show it.
Despite that long neck, when a Great Blue Heron stands motionless it can blend in easily to its surroundings. They imitate statues quite well.
No matter the season, chickadees are always around; near a feeder or seen in the woods. Although they’re common it’s hard to think of these little birds in that way.
One of the most attractive ducks that migrate through each year. I chose not to crop in further as the reflections in the water were also vying for attention.
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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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 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.
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.
Happy New Year!
Canada Geese have long since left for warmer parts. While we’re strongly encouraged not to travel this winter, these snowbirds are exempt.
Best wishes for the Holidays!
The chickadee looks like it’s trying to keep its balance on the branch. I thought the leaves framed him nicely too.
A female mallard enjoying a swim on the lake. On a sunny day in October the water takes on the wonderful colours of the sky and trees. These remaining days of fall are there to be enjoyed as they’ll be gone before too long.
I took several several photos of the cardinal on the ground and when it flew into the trees. In late summer they seem more relaxed around people; their young have left the nest and they’re less wary. Nice for me.
Downy Woodpeckers are the smallest of the woodpeckers and quite numerous. We enjoy them year round. They don’t cache food but survive the winter by excavating the trees for overwintering insects. They are also a frequent visitor to bird feeders.
The slight tilt of her head, makes me think the female mallard has heard it all before 😏. These ducks can be quite vocal, I wish I spoke duck!
The goldfinch held on tight as the wind buffeted him about. I thought he’d fly off to a more sheltered spot but he held his ground. Lucky me.
I liked the look of this Halloween decoration, someone got very creative with their pumpkins this year.
A few more flowers taken recently and looking pretty seasonal. With the temperature continuing to drop, scenes such as these are fast disappearing. Although a few hardy flowers are still hanging on.
I usually see chickadees out in the open flitting from branch to branch. I caught this bird in a quiet moment well off the path in challenging light. I liked the photo but hesitated before posting it because of the flare at the bottom of the image. Still worth featuring though.
On another note, a few of you let me know that you were unable to see the image that accompanied my last post. Mike Bizeau of naturehasnoboss.com had the same problem and suggested I set my image as a featured image. Like Mike, this has altered the appearance of my website (a change I don’t like) but until this glitch has been fixed I will continue to post in this way and hope you will all see my images.
As the first light snow of the season falls outside, what better time to revisit a scene like this. I can almost feel the sun on my face and hear the bees buzzing 😏.
I haven’t taken too many grasshoppers. If you manage to scare one up when walking along and see where it lands, you have a chance at a photo. That’s why this shot was particularly lucky. I came across these two when focusing on something else in the grass and saw them frozen on the stalk.
The first flower is wearing its Halloween colours, The second still has a petal or two but my eye was attracted by its intricate centre. You might have to look a little longer for flower subjects at this point in the fall but they’re out there.
I took this photo in October of last year. I’m not sure if this is a female goldfinch or a male in non breeding colours. Either way, an attractive bird in a thoughtful pose.
More chipmunk photographs from earlier this summer. With the colder weather setting in I hope this chipmunk has a good cache of nuts set aside. Judging by those cheeks I think he must have 😊.
