Cobblestones/CDP Theme Day

 Cobblestone house over an antiques and collectibles shop

This month's City Daily Photo theme: cobblestones

Icicles over cobblestone

To see more City Daily Photos featuring cobblestones, click HERE

Wild Mink/Camera Critter

 Wild  mink on the shore of Lake Ontario

Last Monday as I was watching bufflehead ducks dive for lunch, a mink (a member of the weasel family) walked by.

Mink wondering: What was that click sound I heard?

Added later: Many thanks to Gary who identified this mink.

To see many more critters, visit Misty Dawn at CAMERA CRITTERS 

Carrying Place/Weekend Reflections

 Reflections at Carrying Place, Prince Edward County, Ontario

 A closer look

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

Sunset/ Sky Watch

Sunset over countryside

  Sky Watch

S/Alphabe-Thursday

 SPRING!

Nothing says spring better than daffodils...

 SPRING!!

tulips or...

SPRING!!!

pasque flowers.

My gardens don't quite look like this today but are on the verge of popping out after last week's heat wave.

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE

Great Blue/World Bird/Nature Notes

Great Blue Heron

Yesterday, I spotted and photographed my first great blue heron of the year. Actually, it spotted me first and flew from one side of a narrow inlet to the other. He/she watched me carefully until I left.

I am linking yo World Bird Wednesday.

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more
NATURE NOTES.

Railway Museum/Our World

 Memory Junction Railway Museum, Brighton, Ontario

This museum is located on land that was until the 1960s a station for passenger service. Trains don't stop here any more but they do pass by on the nearby tracks, and museum visitors are invited to sit on the platform to watch.

It's a small museum but what's there is worth seeing.

Side view of Canadian National Railway engine #2534

Built in 1906, engine 2534 was once used to draw freight between Quebec City and Ottawa.

Closeup of engine window

Caboose

This caboose spent most of its work life on the Canadian Prairies. From the cupola, the train's brakeman viewed the length of the train to watch for potential problems such as smoking wheels or swaying cars.

Kids of all ages love trains

Click  HERE to see tons more photos about Our World.

Grecian Windflower/ Sunday Best

It's spring here!

Yes, it truly is. And this daisy-like flower just opening out to receive the rays of the sun  is proof. I'm quite sure this Grecian windflower (Anemone blanda) has never bloomed this early in my gardens before, so I am amazed!

I am linking to Your Sunday Best at A Rural Journal

Escape Artist/ Camera Critters/Top Shot

 Muscovy duck

A stranger has arrived in our neighbourhood, one I have never seen before - a Muscovy duck whose ancestors hail from Latin America. They are said to be hardy lovers of freedom who escape farmyards and fly away with wild geese and ducks.

Another view of same duck

This Muscovy was silly to escape  without another Muscovy.  The geese and mallards sharing its pond shun this guy or gal now that they are thinking of starting families.

The Muscovy was not afraid of me but was hoping I was the bearer of a tasty goody, which I was not.

To see many more critters, visit Misty Dawn at CAMERA CRITTERS 

I am also linking to Madge's Weekly Top Shot

Sunset/Weekend Reflections

Sunset over East Gwillimbury Puddle

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

Misty Sunrise/Sky Watch

Misty fields

Some days it pays to rise before the sun does.

  Sky Watch

R/Alphabe-Thursday

 RAILWAY: Canadian National coming from the north

As you can see, March is not the most photogenic of months in central Ontario. Luckily this REDDISH orange Canadian National RAILWAY (commonly called CN) engine entered the scene and saved the photo. CN passes through East Gwillimbury on the east side of town. During the night, if I'm awake, I sometimes hear trains every 20 or 30 minutes. Most of the time I don't hear them though.

 Track heading southwesterly

This is the same intersection looking the other way.  I took the photo last fall, but you can see a misty sunset adds a light REDDISH (aka pink) tint here.

Curve in the track

I cannot remember, but I think this track belongs to the Canadian Pacific RAILWAY (aka CPR) running parallel with the north shore of Lake Ontario. I'm always looking for a chance to take photos of CPR engines, which are RED.  Unfortunately I had no luck the day I took this photo.

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE

Greater Scaups/World Bird/Nature Notes

 Male greater scaup duck

Ducks are migrating northwards, many making a stopover on the north side of Lake Ontario. This one was resting on the edge of some ice at a marina watching...

Male and female greater scaups

a few of it's relatives swimming and diving for aquatic treats. Soon they will move on to the Far North to breed.

Female greater scaup

I am linking yo World Bird Wednesday.

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more
NATURE NOTES.

Toonies/ Our World

 Campbellford, Ontario

The toonie is a bi-metallic coin introduced to Canadians in 1996 and was originally made of an aluminum bronze core with a nickel rim. However starting this year the core will be coated with brass and the outer ring will consist of steel plated with nickel. It's hoped the new coin will make them harder to counterfeit.

Backs of four toonies

I found four toonies in my change to show you their different backs. (Queen Elizabeth II is on the front of all.)

Starting in the upper left-hand corner and moving clockwise: 1996 shows you the original bear designed by Campbellford artist Brent Townsend (the reason for the big toonie in the first photo); 1999 features an Inuit drummer and commemorates the founding of Canada's third territory (carved out of the Northwest Territorries); 2008 commemorates the 400th anniversary of the founding Quebec City; and 2011 celebrates Canada's boreal forest (which covers more than half of Canada's land mass).

Added later because there have been questions: We do not use $1 or $2 bills here. We use $1 and $2 coins.

Click  HERE to see tons more photos about Our World.

Singing Chickadee/ Sunday Best

Chick-a-dee-dee-dee

Last Wednesday, this little black-capped chickadee was singing its heart out, so happy the day was warm and sunny.


I am linking to Your Sunday Best at A Rural Journal

Swan/Camera Critters/Top Shot

 Trumpeter swan 907 spent the winter here in Ontario

Another view

To see many more critters, visit Misty Dawn at CAMERA CRITTERS 

I am also linking to Madge's Weekly Top Shot

Old Glass/Weekend Reflections

 Golden reflections

I cannot remember what was reflected in this old glass but I love how wonky it looks.

Pinkish reflections

And guess what! I cannot remember what's reflected here either, so they make a great pair.

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

Uxbridge Sunrise/SkyWatch/Rural Thursday

 Sun rising over farmer's fields

Sunday morning the sunrise was brief but beautiful!

Sun a few seconds later

  Sky Watch

and

Rural Thursday

Q/ Alphabe-Thursday

 Queen Beans, Port Perry

I have a feeling the Queen of Canada (Elizabeth II) knows nothing about this coffee shop. I know very little myself as I took this photo because I liked the shadow cast by the logo.

 Official emblem of the Queen of Canada's Diamond Jubilee

This year is a BIG one for Queen Elizabeth II, her Diamond Jubilee - 60 years on the throne of England.

 Hotel Queens, Barrie

I doubt any queen  has ever stayed here.

Queen of spades & queen of diamonds

I wonder if Elizabeth II plays cards and if when she does the queen trumps all. Hmmm.

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE

Hooded Mergansers/Nature Notes

 Female and male hooded mergansers on Lake Ontario

Many birds are migrating back to their breeding areas. This pair was very shy so I couldn't get very close before they slowly paddled away. I cropped the photo so you could get a better look.

Wind messing up her "hair"

Here you can see the wind blowing the feathers in her crest. I've never seen that before!

I am linking yo World Bird Wednesday.

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more
NATURE NOTES.

Still Icy/ Watery Wednesday

 Icicles made by splashing water

Sunday it was windy and the water in Lake Ontario was rough - many big waves.

 Waves moving in

Sun on icicles

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

Wildlife/Our World

 Do you see what I see?

Saturday morning my husband and I were out looking for photogenic ice (everybody does that, right?) when suddenly I realized something moving and brown was off in the distance.

 Yep, a BEAVER!

The first beaver I have ever seen in East Gwillimbury. Sure I knew they were here (I've seen their dams) but the only beavers I've photographed have been in other towns.

 Red-tailed hawk

Then a little while later we spied a hawk, who was (you guessed it)

OOPS! It's not impressed by us. Not at all!

...spying on us.


Click  HERE to see tons more photos about Our World.

ICE/ Creative Exchange

 Ice where water has receded

I will be sorry when the ice is gone. It's sooo photogenic!

Ice at edge of creek

I am  Linking to The Creative Exchange HERE.