Weeping Willows/Weekend Reflections

 Last of our leaves to change colour and drop

Daylight hours are becoming ever shorter and the the sun is getting lower on the horizon, so it's a treat to find gold. And it's even better to see the gold reflected in water.

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

Lake Shore

 Lake Ontario #1

These photos were taken last weekend at various places on the shore of Lake Ontario.

 Lake Ontario #2

Mother Nature is saying goodbye to autumn and...

First snow

ushering in winter.

B/Alphabe-Thursday

 Hundreds and hundreds of birds!

B is for BIRDS

Is it just me or is anyone else thinking Alfred Hichcock?

 Migrating blackbirds

Last week my husband and I were on a roadtrip when we saw THIS crossing the highway and...

 More migrating blackbirds

THIS flying overhead. The good news is NONE of these birds was violent.

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE

Merlin/Wild Bird

Merlin (Falco coluumbariius) closeup

Merlins are small falcons, a bird of prey that relies on high speed and agility to hunt its prey.  Merlins  are one of Ontario's most able aerial predators of small and medium-sized birds.

 Merlin

A week ago, my husband and I were visiting a marina, on the lookout for birds that might be there.

 Back view

At first we saw two not-known-to- me gulls, which I was too slow to get photos of, but then we saw the back view of this bird sitting on a post. It let me circle around it, fully aware that I was there.

About to take off

Here I was about to tick this merlin off, but it waited for a couple of minutes longer before it flew away.

I am joining Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

Eastman House/Our World

 George Eastman

Last Friday, (Yes, Black Friday) a few family members and I got to peak into the life of George Eastman (1854 to 1932), founder of Eastman Kodak Company, the camera and film company.

 Closeup of portrait made of up of many photos

We visited the 50-room Colonial Revival mansion in Rochester, New York, where Eastman lived from 1905 to 1932. It is now a museum.

 Conservatory

To the far right of this photo (and not visible here) is a an organ with huge pipes that transform this mansion into a HUGE pipe organ, An organist was playing when we were there and the sound was phenomenally beautiful for anyone who took the time to soak in the sound.

 May I offer you a cup of tea?

But most visitors were touring the house to take in the opulence there, and...

 Crystal chandelier

it was definitely a wow experience. As you can see, the mansion was decorated for Christmas.

Stairway to second floor

Fun to see, for sure, but I was disappointed not to see more (although I did see some that I am not showing in this post) of the history of photography.

More photos from Our World can be seen by clicking HERE.

Milkweed/Sunday Best

Busting out

I am linking to Your Sunday Best at A Rural Journal

Foggy

Fog over old barn foundation, East Gwillimbury

Whitby/Weekend Reflections

Whitby, Ontario last Saturday

The weather last weekend was warm and lovely. It may have been autumn's last hurrah.

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

American Thanksgiving

I wish all my American readers a very happy Thanksgiving!

A/Alphabe-Thursday

Still here in Ontario - Great Blue Heron

A is for AMAZING

I am amazed that this great blue heron was still here last weekend.  I guess the fishing must still be good, as this GBH hasn't left yet for a warmer clime!

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE

American Black Duck/Wild Birds

 American Black duck

American black ducks live mostly in eastern North America, but they have been seen on the West Coast, in Europe and in Asia.

 Taking a bath

They are mostly vegetarian but eat insects and small mollusks and fish during breeding season. In shallow water they are dabbling ducks but in deep water they have been known to dive as much as 12 feet for tasty nibbles.

I am joining Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

Cranberry Marsh/Nature Notes

 Chickadee eating seeds of dried goldenrod

Watching several goldenrod stems swing gently when there was no breeze mad me curious. Up popped this black-capped chickadee.

 Burs ready ready to grab on to your clothes and travel

Platform for osprey in amongst the bare stems of red osier dogwood

Osprey build their nests close to easy fishing grounds. No nest here, though.

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more
NATURE NOTES.

Kempenfelt Bay/Our World

 Barrie waterfront

It was a mostly overcast day, the light just right for creating faint reflections.

Birdhouse in the harbour

I'm not sure what birds this birdhouse was made to attract, but most times there's a gull sitting on the roof.

 Neat and tidy island

I like to stand  on the bank and watch ducks and shorebirds. The distance between the shore and the island is fairly short, and all kinds of birds land her - for some reason, quite unafraid.

Fishers out on a warm late autumn day

More photos from Our World can be seen by clicking HERE.

Garden Grasses/Sunday Best

 Northern oat grass

Just when I was thinking there was absolutely NOTHING to photograph in my garden, the sun came out.

Maiden grass

I am linking to Your Sunday Best at A Rural Journal

Scavenger Hunt

 a. Vision

Do you feel like your vision has gone a little wonky here? This is a reflection in two pains of glass.

 b. Strong

Not many engines stronger than a train engine. And doesn't this one - taken with a fisheye lens - look like a bully?

 c. Buttons

If you think I have a clue as to what all thee buttons mean, you'd be WRONG.

 d. Map

It won't be long now before ice forms on the bay.

e. Favourite fruit

I am linking to Ashley Sisk's Scavenger Hunt HERE

Kempenfelt Bay/Weekend Reflections

Roots and Rocks reflected in Kempenfelt Bay

 Gull landing in Kempenfelt Bay

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

Morning fog/Rural Thursday

 Early morning, East Gwillimbury

Many mornings this time of year the air is thick with fog.

I am linking to

Rural Thursday

Z/Alphabe-Thursday

Zebra in an Ontario field - last summer

It's not often that we see zebras when we're on a road trip here so SCREECH! Yep my husband backed up so I could take this photo. The zebra is one of a few here, part of a small zoo near Tiny Marsh, Ontario.

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE

Common Loon/Wild Bird

 Red-throated loon (Gavia stellata)

Added later: After looking through a couple of bird books, I believe Paul in Powell River may be correct that these are Common Loons. I guess I will have to get photos in the spring when their breeding plumage will identify them for sure. Thanks, Paul!

Sunday we were in luck when my husband and I visited Barrie (Ontario).  Red-throated loons were in the harbour, passing through from the Arctic en route to a warmer climate (warmer than the Arctic, that is) to northern coastal waters on the Atlantic Ocean.

 Wearing their winter drab

The red throats for which they are named? That's their blooming plumage.

The smallest and lightest species of all loons

I am joining Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

Lake Simcoe/ Nature Notes

 Lake Simcoe on Sunday afternoon

The sun has been elusive lately. Environment Canada has promised sun but wherever I have been the skies have been an orange-y grey.

Grey but mild

But hey! That hasn't stopped a lot of us from spending time out with nature. And this weekend the weather was unusually warm.

Innisfil, Ontario

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more
NATURE NOTES.