Mer Bleue Conservation Area

Today we drove across town to the Mer Bleue Conservation Area. 

Mer Bleue is the largest bog and natural area in Canada’s Capital Region and the second largest bog in southern Ontario. The conservation area has a northern eco-system more typical of the Arctic than Ottawa Valley. It is 7,700-years-old!

On this visit to this northern boreal landscape we took a stroll along the boardwalk to take a closer look. The bog provides habitat to many species of regionally rare and significant plants, birds and other wildlife. There are still a number of other trails we look forward to exploring.

Experimental Farm Ottawa

After a doctors appointment we decided to take a walk at the Experimental Farm to enjoy the warmth of the sunshine. It was shortly after lunch time and the park was pretty scarcely populated with people. After bustling around on busy roads it felt like a mini-vacation to stroll around, watch the wildlife and enjoy the beautiful autumn colors of the trees all around.

The dragonflies were quite curious of us and one chose hubbies shoulder as a sunbathing spot. 

The ducks were grouped together depending on activities it seems. There was a corner where only males were hanging out and in another one only females. I imagine, they were exchanging the latest duck gossip. In another area a group of ducks was sleeping and in again another one they were busy cleaning themselves. 

We ended our lunch stroll by walking through the Arboretum where quite a number of squirrels were busy hiding their treasures. 

Andrew Haydon Park

Over the past few days I've been to Andrew Haydon Park a few times and enjoyed seeing quite an array of different wildlife. I'm always amazed at what one can find in this kind of public place.

I think this is a Horned Grebe.

Female Mallard Duck enjoying the sunshine. 

Juvenile Sharp-shinned Hawk. 

He successfully caught a red squirrel right next to where I parked my car. He sat on it until he was sure it's not moving anymore and then took off into a nearby tree where first a crow, same size like him, tried to take away his catch and then...

... he got scared away by a grey squirrel that was coming up right on the same branch he was sitting on. Quite some tricky dinner time for a little hawk. :)

 Hawk about to take off again with his meal.

Canada Geese

Double-crested Cormorant 

Great Egret 

Britannia Park

Today I went to a small section of Britannia Park for some fresh air. Contrary to the  summer months, only a few people were strolling around, enjoying the autumn sunshine. I'm not a big fan of crowds so it was very enjoyable for me to spend a little time there. 

Trees are clearly changing into their fall colors already turning everything a bit more vivid than in the months before.  The warm breeze makes me hopeful that we will have a warm, colorful autumn ahead of us.