Uxbridge Pond/ SOOC

Elgin Pond, Uxbridge, Ontario

To see more photos straight out of the camera, visit Jan's  SOOC at Murietta365.

Friendly Greeting/ Camera Critters

New friends

Who's more pleased, the little boy or the golden canine?

To join in the fun, visit Misty Dawn at CAMERA CRITTERS.

Lake Scugog/ Weekend Reflections

Easter afternoon at Port Perry, Ontario

 Last Sunday, the docks in Port Perry were put out and bolted together - so the boating season has officially begun on Lake Scugog. In fact, a few smaller boats were tied to the docks and ready to go.

To enjoy reflections from around the world, visit James' WEEKEND REFLECTIONS at Newtown Area Photo.

Sunset-Mt Albert/ Sky Watch

Last Saturday over Mount Albert (East Gwillimbury)

Saturday had been a warmish but windy day but by early evening the winds died down and a few clouds moved just in time for a dramatic sunset.

To see tons of beautiful skies from around the world, visit  Sky Watch

B/ Alphabe-Thursday

Bird condo #1

Local birds have a wide variety of places to build their nests.

The condo above boasts several levels, real shingles on the roof and a white fence out front.

Bird condo #2

There are real shingles on this condo too. And someone has taken the time to paint the walls white and add shutters. The front door looks permanently closed but three windows, the garage door and two round openings are forever open.

Bird condo #3

And for those bird who prefer high rises, here are three abodes atop a tall pole. I hope the birds appreciate the fine details!

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE

April 27/ Nature Notes

Browns are turning into green, blue, pink, yellow and white

Even though we did receive a dusting of snow this week, spring is beginning to grow green. See it in the grass beneath the feet of the Canada goose?  Believe me, that was one very noisy goose. It honked and honked to warn me away from the end of a friend's pond. I'm thinking its mate is sitting on some eggs in a very private spot.

We have many more blossoms this week than last. Truth be told, none of them are very big so most of nature here is still looking fairly brown. But if you look closely you can now see buds and tiny red flowers on some maple trees like the one in the upper left square. Moving clockwise, yellow and often mistaken for dandelions, coltsfoot blossoms (Tussillago farfara) hug the ground at the sides of roads and in waste places without any leaves to accompany them. (The leaves will appear later.)

Pink Bethlehem Sage (aka lungwort or Pulmonaria) turn blue as they age. And the emergence of white Liverwort (Hepatica) means the woods will soon be coloured with spring wildflowers.  Blooming profusely, Siberian squill (Scilla siberica) have temporarily coloured at least one East Gwillimbury front lawn blue.

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.

Sandpiper/ Watery Wednesday

Solitary sandpiper taking a bath

As you have probably already guessed, I was crouched down behind some rocks when I took these photos.

Is this sandpiper  admiring its own reflection?

I am linking to Watery Wednesday where you can find many more watery photos.

Welland Canal/ My World

The Welland Canal, St. Catherines. Ontario

There are two bridges here: The Garden City Sky Way and a lift bridge, which is down so traffic can pass over it. The two bridges are needed as the lift bridge carries local traffic and the skyway,  a major highway - the Queen Elizabeth Way - between Toronto and the United States border.

The Welland Canal (part of the St. Lawrence Seaway)  allows HUGE ships to travel from Lake Erie to Lake Ontario, bypassing Niagara Falls.

Raising the lift bridge, as seen from the west side

The lift bridge is raised to allow a combination barge/tugboat to pass through from west to east. (I was standing on the west side.)

Although the Welland Canal can handle 30 freighters a day, only two passed through the day I was there, just two weeks into the Great Lakes shipping season. What luck for me and my camera that the first one came through as we were shooting the bridges!

Barge/tugboat passing through, as seen from the east side

I am linking to My World.

Lungwort/ Macro Monday

Bethlehem sage (aka lungwort) in my garden

Every spring I look forward to seeing these pure white flowers growing under a linden tree. where they get spring sun but are shaded most of the rest of the growing seasonn.

Bethlehem sage, a longer view

Pink Bethlehem sage blossoms that turn blue as they age

To see more macro shots visit  MACRO MONDAY at Lisa's Chaos.

Pink Clouds/ Scenic Sunday

End of day over the Grand River, Ontario

From my archives, this photo was taken when Ontario was greener than it actually is now. In another week or so, Ontario really will be this green again.

I hope everyone is enjoying a joyous Easter weekend!

To see more scenic photos visit  SCENIC SUNDAY. 

Spring Geese/ SOOC

Canada geese enjoying a swim on the river

Here the geese look serene and relaxed but actually they were resting after many sessions of honking and welcoming other geese as they flew in to join them. It was a joyous honking. Geese are very sociable creatures!

To see more photos straight out of the camera, visit Jan's  SOOC at Murietta365.

Red-Winged Blackbird/ Camera Critters

Male red-winged blackbird on cattail

The wetlands are alive with red-winged blackbirds. These males are lookouts for females that are building nests and sitting on eggs. The top one is very concerned and warning the neighbourhood that I am out and about.

It's not quite as crisp as I would have liked...but he wasn't  sitting there very still and the light was not great. :)

Male red-winged blackbird on reed

This second one is a tad less worried about me and my camera...NOT! He was about to fly away.

To join in the fun, visit Misty Dawn at CAMERA CRITTERS.

Lake Simcoe/ Weekend Reflections

Cottage reflection last night on a Lake Simcoe inlet

This photo was taken yesterday just before sunset when the sun was low in the sky.

I was most interested in the light and reflection of the porch railings, how the railings in the reflection became squiggly lines.

To enjoy reflections from around the world, visit James' WEEKEND REFLECTIONS at Newtown Area Photo.

Sunset/ Sky Watch

Sunset over fields north of Mount Albert (East Gwillimbury), Ontario

From my archives as either the skies have been dreary or I've been busy at sunset.  (Don't you just hate it when your non-photography life gets in the way of taking photos?! LOL)

To see tons of beautiful skies from around the world, visit  Sky Watch

A/ Alphabe-Thursday

ANCHOR and wave wind vane at a yacht club on Lake Ontario

Typically ANCHORS have broad hook-like arms that when dropped by chains, cables of ropes into a body of water bury themselves in the bottom providing a firm hold.

But in these photos you see three ways ANCHORS can also be used as an attractive motif.

ANCHORS as part the decoration on a fence, Lock 1 of the Welland Canal

ANCHOR on a light standard at a yacht club on Lake Ontario

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE

Mid April/ Nature Notes

Mid April 2001

This sparrow is singing its little heart, out and why not? Look at all the flowers...finally. In my gardens this week (moving clockwise): hepatica, crocus, lungwort, glory of the snow and hellebores.

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.

Wetland Area/ Watery Wednesday

Nonquon Provincial Wildlife Area, Port Perry, Ontario

This wildlife area is a thousand hectares of wetland with 100 acres set aside for educational purposes, the rest for camping, birdwatching, fishing, hiking and other outdoor activities.

I am linking to Watery Wednesday where you can find many more watery photos.

Nutum/ My World

'Nutum' by internationally renowned sculptor Ron Baird

Nutum by sculptor Ron Baird stands outside the Latcham Gallery in Stouffville, Ontario, a gallery that features the original works of artists who paint, draw, sculpt, photograph or work in mixed media.

A volunteer gardener beneath 'Nutum' cleans up for spring

The Latcham Gallery opened in 1980 and since then has presented more than 260 exhibitions by Ontario artists. I'm not allowed to take photos inside the gallery or I'd show you some of what's currently being shown.

I am linking to My World.

Chionodoxa/Macro Monday

Glory-of-the-snow (Chionodoxa)

This is one of the earliest bulbs to flower in my garden each spring... and finally they are!

To see more macro shots visit  MACRO MONDAY at Lisa's Chaos.

Holland Marsh Canal/ Scenic Sunday

Looking over the canal  to a hilly field and woods with bare branches

Do I see a hint of green grass?!

To see more scenic photos visit  SCENIC SUNDAY. 

Flying Geese/ SOOC

Canada Geese flying over East Gwillimbury

To see more photos straight out of the camera, visit Jan's  SOOC at Murietta365.

Urban Deer/ Camera Critters

Out and about

Deer appear to be getting very brave. Cars don't seem to bother them much...

Oops! Did I hear a shutter click?

...but people with cameras are very scary!

To join in the fun, visit Misty Dawn at CAMERA CRITTERS.

Red Over Canal/ Weekend Reflections

Bridge over canal in the Holland Marsh, East Gwillimbury, Ontario

Wasn't I lucky to have a red car drive over this bridge just as I snapped the shutter? Gotta love  synchronicity!

To enjoy reflections from around the world, visit James' WEEKEND REFLECTIONS at Newtown Area Photo.

Sunset/ Sky Watch

Sunset over East Gwillimbury

Sometimes we sense there's going to be a nice sunset so we hop into our car and drive to high place to watch the sun go down. This was one of those evenings.

To see tons of beautiful skies from around the world, visit  Sky Watch

Alphabet Soup/Alphabe-Thursday

Alphabet Soup on Wheels

Alphabet soup (AKA graffiti) travels through East Gwillimbury on Canadian National tracks many times every day.

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE

April 13/Nature Notes

Slow in coming this year, a few spring blooms are finally here

 I love this photo of this swan showing how agile it's neck is. Notice that the water is not frozen. But moving clockwise, last weekend we still had ice on a local reservoir in the town just south of East Gwillimbury. Note that the willows are growing yellower by the day and daffodils in sunny places on the south side of buildings) are forming buds.

Azaleas have buds since last autumn but they do seem to be swelling... but that may be my imagination living in hope.  Galanthus (snowdrops) are blooming as are purple crocus.

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.

Stouffville Pond/Watery Wednesday

Pond behind a lumberyard, Stouffville, Ontario

Last Saturday the sky was clear and the water glassy.

I am linking to Watery Wednesday where you can find many more watery photos.

CN Tower/My World

CN Tower as seen from the Gardiner Expressway, Toronto, Ontario

The CN Tower is a communications and observation tower and an integral part of the Toronto skyline.  When it was built in 1976, it was the  world's tallest free-standing structure, a record it held for 34 years until the construction of the Burj Khaifa in Dubai.

A view of Toronto from the Gardiner Expressway

I am linking to My World.

Cherries/Macro Monday

Last year's cherries

I'm thinking these cherries must taste AWFUL if they lasted through the winter. Anyone want to try one to see if I'm correct?

To see more macro shots visit  MACRO MONDAY at Lisa's Chaos.

Stouffville/Scenic Sunday

Reservoir Souffville, Ontario

Yesterday there was still ice still on the reservoir. (But it's melted around the edges!!) Meanwhile the willows are turning yellower, preparing to leaf out.

To see more scenic photos visit  SCENIC SUNDAY. 

Old Mill/SOOC

Roof lines on the Old Mill Inn & Spa, Toronto

To see more photos straight out of the camera, visit Jan's  SOOC at Murietta365.