Scavenger Hunt

1. Water

Creek rounding a curve, about to empty into Lake Ontario at Port Darlington.

2. Empty

Speaking of empty, no one is sitting on the bench facing a private pond.

3. Fresh

No crocuses blooming here yet, but this one was fresh last year at this time.

4. Weathered

It's still hanging on its hinges so I guess this door still opens and closes.

5. Ordinary

Milkweed is very common along Ontario roadsides. Right now, milkweed is brown and dried and most of the seeds have blown away to seed somewhere close by.

I am linking to Ashley Sisk's Scavenger Hunt HERE

Rural Sunset/Top Shot

Colour above the frosty drab grey/brown landscape

I am linking to Madge's Weekly Top Shot.

Abstract Almost/Weekend Reflections

Portion of the docks, Whitby Yacht Club

Much of the ice is gone from the docks, and in a few weeks boats will be moving in.

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

Beach Fence/Friday Fences

Fencing and shadow, Pickering

While the entrance into Frenchman's Bay is being deepened for bigger boats, fencing has been erected to keep people from getting too close to the dangerous machinery.

Lake Ontario in the background

I am linking to Friday Fences here.

S/Alphabe-Thursday

Water-tumbled stones and  brick on the shore of Lake Ontario

S is for STONE SHELTER

 These lake-washed stones and brick reminded me that both are used as building materials for...

Stone house

fancy shelters and...

Stone cottage

not-so-fancy shelters and even...

Stone barn foundation

shelters for animals.

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE
I am also linking to Rurality Blog Hop HERE.

Tundra Swan/Wild Bird

Tundra swans (Cygnus columbianus)

Tundra swans are on their way back to North America's high tundra, here stopping to rest a while before continuing their journey.

Swimming in a pond with Canada geese

Tundra swans  eat aquatic plants, tubers and roots as well as shellfish. In some places they also eat grains they find on farms.

Four swans a-swimming and one goose

They look meek and mild but they can be ferocious if threatened.

We have three kinds of swans in Ontario. Many Mute and Trumpeter swans are here all year round, but these Tundras migrate between the Arctic and the Atlantic coast so will not be here very long.

Added later in responce to MB: Tundra swans do look a lot like trumpeter swans. One telltale sign on some Tundra swans is the yellow teardrop on their eyes. They don't all have the yellow teardrop though. It may be something that happens as the tundra swans age. Dunno. You can see the yellow teardrop on the lead swan in the first photo.

I am joining Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

Spring/Nature Notes

Hardy dog  chasing sticks in icy Lake Ontario

Yes, it's officially spring but...

It's still March

1. Largest square: Warmly dressed fishers
2. Swans in the water, gulls on the ice behind
3. Ice fisher not ready yet to give up his auger and fishing pole
4. Tree sparroe sitting amongst tree buds
5. dog and its family out for a walk
6. Bare branches, sunshine and clouds

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.

Scavenger Hunt

2. Wavy

Welcome to Scavenger Hunt Sunday.

I love these wavy reflections on old glass.

1. Asian

The saying is Chinese and the background is Japanese rice paper.

3. Draw

I can't draw, but my computer can.

Original of Draw

4. Snow

New snow is soft and fluffy. Yes, cold...but still soft.

5. Texture

Bricks and mortar, window shutters, and peeling paint.

I am linking to Ashley Sisk's Scavenger Hunt HERE

Winter into Spring/Top Shot

Humber Bay Park East, Toronto

It was late afternoon and somewhat overcast when I took this photo. And so far there's no green.

I am linking to Madge's Weekly Top Shot.

Bejeweled/Weekend Reflections

Nature's jewels on an old log

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

Winter-Spring/Friday Fences

Frenchman's Bay, Pickering

Even though it still felt like winter - blustery and cold - the day I took this photo, spring was in the lighting.

I am linking to Friday Fences here.

R/Alphabe-Thursday/Rurality

Rusty Remains #1

This week's Alphabe-Thursday challenge: R

It seems there are many places along the Lake Ontario shoreline where there's plenty of evidence that humans have been there.

 Rusty remains #2

And some of the artifacts have been there a while...

Details of remains #2

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE
I am also linking to Rurality Blog Hop HERE.

Bufflehead/Wild Bird

Male bufflehead (Bucephala albeola)

Small ducks, buffleheads are visiting Lake Ontario from the north. Isn't the male handsome?

At a distance, bufflehead males appear to be black and white, but up close and under the right conditions you can see the "black" is actually a glossy green/purple.

Female bufflehead

Females are less colourful but - to my eyes - still quite pretty. Both spend their winter days diving for aquatic invertebrates.  Soon they will travel north to breed in northern forests close to lakes, often nesting in former holes created by northern flickers.

Male, a tad miffed

Ahem! Did someone get too close to someone else's female?
I am joining Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

Woodland Walk/Nature Notes

A walk in the woods

Winter? Spring? Some days last week I couldn't tell which season it was. It was Spring Break here in Ontario when school age kids were out & about and some parents were able to spend time with them instead of hiring a babysitter or sending them to daycare.

1. In the largest square: three generations enjoying wildlife along this  urban woodland path.
2. Don't forget the ice: I had to smile when I saw this next to a marina. This time of year, how can any Ontarian forget about the ice?
3. Base of pine tree: I like the way snow melted first at the base of the tree and how the circle got bigger and bigger.
4, Red squirrel: saucy and cute...and yes, mischievous.
5. Moss-covered stump
6. Patches of snow creating interesting  patterns as they melt


Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.

Air India Memorial/Our World

Air India Flight 182 Memorial, Etobicoke, Ontario

This is a memorial that marks a tragedy, an act of terrorism that happened off the coast of Ireland on June 23, 1985. The bombing of Air India Flight 182 killed 329 passengers and crew. Sadly, the act was planned on Canadian soil.

Another view of the sundial

Rocks from countries directly affected by the tragedy - every Canadian province and territory, Ireland, India, Japan and the United States - support the sundial.

Another view

Victims names are inscribed on the wall behind the sundial.

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

Scavenger Hunt

1. Lucky

Welcome to Scavenger Hunt Sunday

This bunny doesn't care whether there are 3 ordinary or 4 lucky leaves on each stem.  He knows he's already lucky sitting in a field of yummy clover.

2. Irish

3a. Sunlight

Sunlight is streaming through the windows of the Allan Gardens Conservatory, Toronto.

3b. Sunlight

Here you see the outside of the dome.

4. Pot of gold

You can't actually see the pots of gold here but you KNOW they're there on each end of the rainbow, don't you?

5. Clover

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

I am linking to Ashley Sisk's Scavenger Hunt HERE

Toronto/Top Shot

The west end of Toronto from Humber Bay Park East

As you can see, it was mostly overcast when I took this photo.
I am linking to Madge's Weekly Top Shot.

Boardwalk/Weekend Reflections

Reflection in puddles on the boardwalk, Humber Bay Park East

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

Whitby/Friday Fences

Fence on the pier at Whitby Harbour

I seem to be forever intrigued by reflections!

Slightly different view

I am linking to Friday Fences here.

Q/Alphabe-Thursday

Juvenile herring gull on a QUEST

Q is for QUEST

Young gulls are just like human kids - always hungry. And the snow in this gull's beak is not satisfying it's hunger. A sign on the edge of the parking lot asks humans to please not feed the birds...and that includes gulls. But wait!

 Surprise!

A baggy. Hmmmm.

Circling the baggy

Gulls don't need experience to know something tasty might be inside the plastic. They just know.  However,  this gull didn't know how to get the goodies out of the bag.

Totally frustrated gull

The gull shook the bag, put it down, picked it up, then shook it again...and again.

Good thing the gull didn't want that human stuff anyway!!  (Yeah, right!)

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE
I am also linking to Rurality Blog Hop HERE.