Old Quarry Trail

Today was finally a beautiful sunny day. Just -8C and actually very inviting for a walk in the forest. The landscape was still dusted in white from yesterday's snowfall.

Right in the parking lot there were 4 woodpeckers working on the same tree. After watching them for a short while I started my loop through the forest. It was a very calming walk I have to say. I enjoyed the silence and the trees, didn't see many animals though. 

I encountered a very curious squirrel that didn't seem to be able to make up its mind whether it's more scared or curious of me. Once it settled on a sunny tree branch I took a few pictures but moved on once it looked like the little guy was about to run off.

I also liked the back-lit fluffy cattails in the bog.

The chickadees were curious of course but settled in the afternoon sunshine once they figured that I came with empty hands (ok ok I felt bad about that but what can I do...). The breeze was quite cold but they looked very handsome with their fluffed up feather coats.

In order to return to the parking lot I decided to choose the grassy, brighter path on the west side of the trail system, rather than to follow the trail back through the forest. I also wondered whether I might see any deer there since I did not see a single one throughout the forested part of the loop. 

Out there in the open the wind was biting quite nicely (as I figured out at home, windchill was -19C) and I quickly made my way through that but not without stopping for a few minutes to take some pictures of 3 deers! I was actually really happy to see them.

Winter birds, passers-through and a very rare visitor

I ventured out to Shirley Bay and Andrew Haydon Park today in order to try and get some long exposure pictures but because there were so many interesting birds, I changed my plans, naturally. 

American Goldfinch Females

These four took over the feeder by storm.

Downy Woodpecker Female 

Blue Jay
There was a group of four, a family I guess, enjoying the seeds people left for them.

Chipmunk
Surprisingly I only saw one chipmunk.Well, I guess I simply was too late for the day.

Red Squirrel 

Seagulls

Hooded Meerganser 

 Mallards

King Eider Female
That's the very rare visitor from the Arctic.

King Eider Female 

Photowalk

A few days ago I took advantage of the sunny weather, grabbed my camera and went to "hunt" for some of the spring arrivals as well as some of the permanent residents of the region. I felt quite lucky with the variety of animals I encountered. I also wanted to play a bit with my ND filters so that they do not collect all too much dust in my storage bag.

My first stop was at Andrew Haydon Park to take a look at quite a nice group of Canada geese that were resting there.

I continued further down the Ottawa River to picture the Remic Rapids. I was too late to picture the guys riding the waves this time but instead played around with exposure times and ND-filters.

Most of the lookouts along the Ottawa River Parkway were still closed for the winter but the one at the Deschenes  Rapids was open to drive in. It was a great spot to picture Canada geese, ducks and sea gulls. First the seagulls were a bit shy when I pointed my camera at them but after a few minutes they started laughing away again. :)

The ducks and geese were quite busy wrestling each other for mates.

I also dropped by Shirley Bay to see what visitors are there now. As customary already, I also left some suet for them in the feeders, call it payment for model services. :)


There were two Red Squirrels,


a whole bunch of Redpolls,

two Mourning Doves,

a number of Red-winged Blackbirds,

two Chipmunks,

 a number of Common Grackles,

and one bird that I think is a Dark-eyed Junco.

What a great afternoon!