Gutsy Nomad

Friday, May 10, 2013

Photowalk .... Owls, Turtles and Night Herons

This time I went to check on the Owls again, to see how much bigger the young ones have gotten. I also was hoping to see another adult owl when I'm in the woods.

These trees smelled wonderfully. By looks I would guess that they are some sort of apple tree.

There she is. According to another photographer, that is Mrs. Owl.

The youngsters grew quite a bit since I visited the previous time which was 6 days ago.

Amazing. By now they actually look like owls already, not like cotton balls with beaks. :)

Midland Painted Turtle

Full attention of a Canada goose.

Night heron. I saw at least 6 of those guys this time.

That is a new record for me!

Mrs. Owl, basking in the sunshine.

Mr. Owl, keeping a cool face even though a crow tried really really hard

to annoy him enough to move.

Midland Painted Turtle

Photowalk...Cardinals, Owls and Turtles

Northern Cardinal

Some Midland Painted Turtles enjoying a beautiful spring day.

Siberian squill

That is what I actually came here for, although most of them were
past their prime already so I did not manage to picture a "field in blue"

this year. Maybe next time. :)

Another Northern Cardinal clowning around. Checking me out in all different angles

to make sure it is safe for him to emerge from the bush he was hiding in.

As it turned out, he's kind of a professional photo model... At least it seemed that way.

I managed to see and photograph my very first baby owls!! I am so, so, so happy! :)

These guys are just so cute and fluffy looking.

Mom or Dad, keeping an eye on things.

Midland Painted Turtles

Quite a large Snapping Turtle swimming by ...

....and taking a breath of fresh air.

Saturday, May 4, 2013

Photowalk - Greenbelt Pathway

This walk actually happened already last Sunday but I did not get around posting the pictures until now. It was the first proper spring walk in +24C or so and it was a most delightful one. :)

I really enjoy this time of the year when one can find spots of color among the various shades of brown that still dominate the landscape. I get excited about so many little things when I am out there, whether it is a freshly blooming tree, a little flower on the ground, a pretty bird, or even some animal I have never seen before. For me it is like a treasure hunt.

Beautiful spring colors Young horsetail plant .

Not sure, but I think that's a Field Sparrow

Crow Red-bellied Snake

Red-bellied Snake

They are small snakes and get only 30-35 cm long. Apparently what we saw,
was an adult already; and I thought it was a baby-snake... pff.

This snake was very very patient with me trying to focus my camera. After a couple

of minutes of picturing, it eventually turned its head towards me like asking
"are you done then? I got things to do, you know?". Well it was time to move on
for us, too. So we watched it smoothly disappear into the dry leafs.
What an elegant creature!

Six-spotted Green Tiger Beetle

They can be found around dirt paths in grassy areas, seldom far from the woods;
they are often hunting along sidewalks/roads and on large lying logs.
They eat other small insects, spiders and other arthropods.

After looking around a bit on the internet, it seems that those lumps are a fungal disease called "Phomopsis gall". It is not clear why it effects
some trees but not others but besides slowing growth
and a peculiar look it does not seem to be much of a problem.

Raccoon enjoying an afternoon nap in the sun. :)

* * *

After this very enjoyable walk we decided to make a quick visit to Shirley Bay to drop off our last sachet of mixed seeds for the birds until next winter. I am so glad that we did.

There was also a nice couple with a large bag of peanuts which drew out the chipmunks and gave me a nice opportunity to snap some pictures here too.