Red-tailed Hawk/ Camera Critters

He/she almost got away before I snapped the shutter

But at least I took a pretty good shot of its red tail!

The hawk was at the side of the road feasting on road kill.  Apparently this variety of hawk sticks around all year so I'm hoping for tons more chances to take a good photo.

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

Icy Reflection

Reflection - water and ice

Part of the river had not yet frozen.

To enjoy reflections from around the world, visit James at Weekend Reflections HERE

Sunset over 2011/ SkyWatch

Like the sun in this photo, 2011 is almost gone...

And 2012 is nearly here!  (And yes, we do have snow. Fortunately for my husband and me, it started to snow in earnest a couple of hours AFTER we arrived home from our trip to Upstate New York.)

  Sky Watch

Self Portrait/ Alphabe-Thursday

Celebrating the week between Christmas and New Years

Yep, this is what I really, REALLY look like - just ask anyone who has ever been on this side of my spy camera. (FYI: My spy camera is the one I can fit in my pocket, so beware! You could soon be on my candid camera.)

This week Jenny and her Alphabe-Thursday gang are celebrating the holiday season. Next week we will continue on with the alphabet.

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE

December 28/ Nature Notes

Thin ice, Newmarket, Ontario

Geese and mallards are still swimming in the local waters and will hang around until the rivers, lakes and ponds freeze over. No kidding, there's no skating!

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.

Winter Light/ Watery Wednesday

Moody afternoon light over Ontario creek

Believe it or not, the sun peeked out for a few seconds. Then it was gone!

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

Windy Ridge/ Our World

 View from the lookout, Windy Ridge Conservation area

Sunday afternoon,  two weeks ago, was such a lovely day that my husband and I decided to explore Windy Ridge Conservation Area east of Peterborough. It was a warmish day (for December in Ontario) but there was a bit of haze. 

 Fence along part of the ridge

This time of year if the weather is nice, it's important to get out and enjoy it!

As you can see, there was a bit of snow...but not much. The trail was easy to see and in some places where the trail was facing southerly, it was muddy so we had to be careful not to slip.

 Icicles on the picnic shelter

Icicles melted in the sun too.

 Bluebird house

Grass poked up through the snow and several birdhouses seen from the trail were already eagerly awaiting spring. (And winter hasn't officially arrived yet!)

Wild apples still on the trees

Hungry deer will be glad to find these apples still on the trees.

Click   HERE to see tons more photos about Our World.

Merry Christmas/ Creative Exchange

Wishing you all the best!

I am  Linking to The Creative Exchange HERE.

Sun Worshipper/ Camera Critters

Soaking up some sunshine

This gull senses that the sun has left it's southernmost point and has now started north. The days in the Northern Hemisphere are getting longer!

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

Ho Ho.../ Weekend Reflections

Trent-Severn Waterway, Bolsover, Ontario

Someone on the waterway is spreading Christmas spirit. Ho Ho Ho!

To enjoy reflections from around the world, visit James at Weekend Reflections HERE

Thorah Centennial Park/ Sky Watch

Thorah Centennial Park, Beaverton, Ontario

Sunset over Lake Simcoe last Saturday

  Sky Watch

White Christmas/ Alphabe-Thursday

Store-window Santa dressed in white

Alphabe-Thursday is celebrating the season this week...and not the alphabet.

It looks like Christmas in Central Ontario will NOT be white this year, which is GREAT for everyone who's traveling to visit friends and realtives.

I hope all who are traveling

have a safe journey!

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE

December 21/ Nature Notes

Icy but not totally frozen

Today is the last day of autumn 2011. Officially winter begins tomorrow in the wee morning hours (12:30 a.m. Eastern Standard Time).

This photo - taken last weekend - is of a shallow, slow moving creek at the side of a country road. Snow had fallen here when the water was higher, then as the creek water receded, chunks of icy snow were left suspended on the reeds.

To me, it looks more like spring than autumn. Since then the temperature has fallen significantly so I imagine it's all ice now.

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.

Ice Forming/ Watery Wednesday

Ice forming on the Trent-Severn Waterway, Bolsover, Ontario

This photo was taken last Saturday afternoon, another lovely late autumn day.

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

Beavers/ Our World

 Two adult beavers chowing down

One of my goals this year was to photograph a beaver in the wild.  Spring, summer and fall,  my husband and I saw beaver lodges but no beavers. Well, not quite true. One evening I saw a beaver but it saw me before I could click the shutter.

With less than two weeks till the end of 2011, my mission was a failure until...

 One adult walked out onto thin ice and then dove in.

last Saturday when we spotted what looked like an active lodge.  My husband spotted one beaver. YAY!

Then I saw TWO! They were at the edge of their lodge eating "yummy" branches. I think their meal must have tasted great because we could hear the beavers crunching the wood and bark.

Adult checking up on its kit

After a few minutes, one beaver shopped munching and headed out for a swim. Brrr. It must have heard its kit surface in a water hole in the ice a few feet away. Then a second kit appeared. And a third.

Adult and three kits swimming in a pool surrounded by ice

So not only had a I seen a beaver in the wild...but I got to see and photograph five of them!

My next goal is to get a great closeup.  And now I know where to look.

Click HERE to see tons more photos about Our World.

Pine Reflections/ Creative Exchange

City of Barrie Marina, Ontario

I am  Linking to The Creative Exchange HERE.

Mallard/ Camera Critters

Mallard eating a small fish

Until seeing this, I had always thought mallard ducks were herbivores. But this mallard was greedily devouring a small fish. I learned something new!

I tried to capture the fish above water, but the mallard was too fast for me. Maybe next time!

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

Barrie Waterfront/ Weekend Reflections

Reflection,  Barrie, Ontario last Monday

As long as the mallards can find open water, they'll stay.

These ducks feel very welcome here

To enjoy reflections from around the world, visit James at Weekend Reflections HERE

Pigeon River/ Sky Watch

Pigeon River at Sunset, Omemee, Ontario

Autumn has been good to us in Ontario. Last Sunday was a beautiful day!

  Sky Watch

F/ Alphabe-Thursday

 FIRE engine on the side post of a bench, Seaforth, Ontario

Can you hear the siren blaring? NO?! I can... but perhaps that's because I'm just a kid at heart.  This fire engine is part of a public bench on a main street in Seaforth and I just had to take a photo.

 Longer view of bench

I guess no one wants to sit on that snow-coved bench. Go FIGURE.

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE

December 14/ Nature Notes

Mid December - East Gwillimbury

This week East Gwillimbury experienced a mix of rain and snow and even a few hours of sun.

Largest square: Canadian National passing through the outskirts of town under blue skies, which are usually very rare this time of year.

Moving clockwise: grass and cattails on the edge of a local creek, not yet frozen; snow on dried beech leaves; snow on young white pine tree; melted snow on back of fallen leaf; and black alder on edge of creek.
Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.

Local Creek/ Watery Wednesday

 Reflections in an East Gwillimbury Creek #1

The grasses and weeds looked golden in last Thursday's light.

 Reflections in an East Gwillimbury Creek #2

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

Small But Secure/ Our World

 Bars on the windows?

OH-OH!

 

Please, don't throw away the key!

Hey! Where are we?

Creemore jail built in 1892

This is Creemore, Ontario, a village that claims to have North America's smallest jail - 15 by 20 feet. (FYI: There are three other towns in Ontario that make the same  claim: Rodney, Coboconk and Tweed.)

 Sign outside the jail

I did go inside (my choice) and the accommodations are sparse - three small cells each with a bed,  a blanket and a chamber pot. A wood burning stove in a narrow hallway in front of the cells provides the only heat. Brrr.

Creemore on the map

So let this be a warning: BEHAVE YOURSELF!


Click HERE to see tons more photos about Our World.

Melting/ Creative Exchange

Ice melting on twig

These photos were taken last Thursday in the York Regional Forest on a day where the temperature hovered around 0°C (32°F).

Melting snow on spruce

I am  Linking to The Creative Exchange HERE.

Parade Watcher/ Camera Critters

Watching the Santa Claus parade

This is one of several of my canine neighbours watching the parade last Saturday.

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

Bracebridge/ Weekend Reflections

Reflection in a Bracebridge window

Trees, sky and a building are reflected in a building near the dam in Bracebridge, Ontario. In some places you can see a double reflection, which I think is caused by the two layers of glass in the window.

If I remember correctly, the building in the left-hand corner is the train station.

Inside the building you can see a sign for the Bracebridge BIA (Business Improvement Area) and also light coming through part of a window.

To enjoy reflections from around the world, visit James at Weekend Reflections HERE

Rural Sunrise/ Sky Watch

Sunrise over Uxbridge farms

  Sky Watch

December 7/ Nature Notes

My yard - yes, it IS snow!

More than a dusting but not enough to shovel...and it is melting. We are now entering the season or brown and whites with a smattering of evergreen.

Largest square: bunny tracks. The bunny was checking out the situation, me thinks.  Moving clockwise: snow on purple coneflower seed heads, icicle shaped like a Christmas stocking.  a grass (Miscanthus) seed head, dried hydrangea blossom  and turtlehead seed heads


Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.

E/ Alphabe-Thursday

 ELECTRIFYING #1

Power lines and towers owned by Hydro-One, the company that supplies the Province of Ontario with electricity.

As some of you already know (yes, my face is red), I mistakenly posted an E last week before I learned it was a D-week. Hmmm. If you would like to see my original E post on Elephants you can check it out HERE.

  ELECTRIFYING #2

 ELECTRIFYING #3

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE

Sauble Beach/ Watery Wednesday

Sauble Beach, Ontario

In early November, it was too cold to swim or sun bathe, but not too cold to walk on the beach.

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

Parade/ Our World

 Old fire engine, Mount Albert Santa Claus Parade

Mount Albert (a village in the Town of East Gwillimbury) has tons of spirit! Even though East Gwillimury has a Santa Claus parade every year (this year held on November 20th), Mount Albert has one too (this year on December 3rd).

Kids love being in a parade

I'm pretty sure last Saturday there were more kids in the parade than watching it. How can you not love a bunch of smiling happy kids?

The above photo was one of many groups but I included this one because the kids were dressed in such bright colours. As you can imagine, there were also groups of shepherds, kings, wise men, elves...well, you get the idea.

Kids and adults on a float

Okay, these floats didn't look polished like the ones you'd have seen in the Toronto Santa Claus Parade, but these were still fun. PLUS the participants were allowed to toss or hand out candy here, which I heard was illegal in Toronto.

Dog in sheep's clothing

Even animals were dressed up for the occasion! A few dogs along the route barked in approval.

It was a big day for smiles and waves!

Click HERE to see tons more photos celebrating Our World.