I took this photo as the mallard was emerging from the river. The duck didn’t look too pleased by my presence 😏
Tag Archives: Photos
LOOKOUT
I like to see robins strike this pose, stretching to their full height. It stopped feeding for a moment, looked around and then continued on.
CURIOUS SQUIRREL
The black squirrels we see in Ontario are a subgroup of the Eastern Grey Squirrel but when I saw this squirrel with its unusual blond tail I thought the light was playing tricks on my eyes 😏. Another interesting discovery on a neighbourhood walk.
MELLOW YELLOW (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
There’s just something about yellow flowers in springtime!
DOWNY WOODPECKER
This downy woodpecker is one of the first I’ve seen this spring. She appeared to be considering how to approach the job of searching for insects.
SPRING YELLOW (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
When I saw this beautiful tree I pointed my lens up to fill the frame. I believe it’s a Forsythia, if not please let me know. No doubt about the daffodil, an annual spring favourite.
Line Up
You can’t get much cuter than these goslings.
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.
Wood Ducks (Two Photographs)
Wood Ducks are the most colourful ducks we see in this area. A few have been spotted here this spring. They return to breed and remain until the temperatures dip. I took these photos several years back.
WINDOW VIEW
While visiting an art gallery, I looked out a window at this scene. The mesh shade I shot through made for an interesting effect, I thought.
Duck Solo
We have a good number of mallards in my area and they’re a favourite on my blog. They’re handsome, lively ducks and you usually see them in large groups or rafts. This male mallard found the perfect spot for a quiet stretch.
EARLY HERON
Great Blue Herons migrate alone or in numbers and return here in early April. I saw this solitary heron on the water’s edge. With the water open it would find plenty to eat while it waited for its mates to arrive.
CAN’T WAIT (1)
With winter slowly moving along, I thought a warm weather scene was in order. I liked the untamed look of the sunflowers so I let them fill the frame and didn’t crop the shot.
ON FROZEN POND
I took this photo in late fall as the water was just beginning to freeze. Mallards tolerate the cold and quite a few remain in this location all year. We’re under an extreme cold warning tonight and while we add on the layers, I can’t helping wondering how the ducks will manage.
WINTER FAVOURITE
Winter doesn’t seem as long and bleak when there are Cardinals in the woods.
FLASH OF COLOUR
This single poppy stood out among the other flowers in the garden so I gave it centre stage.
BIG RED
Pileated Woodpeckers are the largest woodpeckers in North America. We’re fortunate that they remain year round, On a grey winter day, seeing this lively colourful bird always brightens things up.
FLOWERS IN NOVEMBER
If I could choose I’d have the ground covered in flower petals rather than snow 😏.
Marvellous Mallards
I took this photograph one December day when the light was just right. The male’s head was the emerald green you see here, I didn’t enhance the colour.
EASTERN PHOEBE
Eastern Phoebes migrate south between September and November, so this is probably the last one I’ll see until Spring. We enjoy them for only a short period so every sighting is a pleasure.
ALL SEASON FAVOURITE
We’re fortunate to see black-capped chickadees all year round. I’m always amazed at how a bird so tiny can survive our winters!
AMERICAN WIGEON
Another wigeon photo I took one November day. It looked like he was enjoying his greens 😏.
GREAT EGRET
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.
TRYING TO BLEND IN
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.
FEMALE GOLDFINCH
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.
UNCOMMON STARLING
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.
HINT OF VIOLET (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
These two flowers are early spring arrivals and share a subtle beauty. More delights of the season.
ON A WALK
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.
IN THE REEDS
Despite that long neck, when a Great Blue Heron stands motionless it can blend in easily to its surroundings. They imitate statues quite well.
BLACK-CAPPED CHICKADEE
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.
MALE AMERICAN WIGEON
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.
MIRROR, MIRROR
A wood duck admiring its reflection.
RING-BILLED GULLS (TWO PHOTOGRAPHS)
These gulls have presence and this one was no exception. He looked around like he owned this patch of grass.
EASTERN PHOEBE
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.
DUCK DRAMA
Not sure what’s going on here, not sure the mallard on the left knows either. Just another afternoon at the lake. 😏
DOCK OF THE BAY
This female cardinal gave me a strange look. I almost felt like I was trespassing as I passed by.
WINTER WOODPECKER
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.
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON
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.
CANADA GOOSE
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!
SEASON FAVOURITE
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.