Details/CDP Theme Day

 A corner decoration, Victoria Hall, Cobourg

October 1st is a City Daily Photo Theme Day  and this month we are  featuring DETAILS.

Classical in form, Victoria Hall's construction was begun in 1856, said to be "an expression of civic pride and confidence in the future." 

Elaborate carvings

The building was Cobourg's courthouse and town hall for nearly a century. It was closed briefly for restoration and reopened in 1983 as a concert hall and theatre.

More elaborate carvings

I've taken photos of this building many times and every time I notice different elements. On one occasion, a worker cleaning the limestone wanted to know what I was taking photos of.  Hmmm. I can't be the only one taking photos of this building!

I am linking to City Daily Photo Theme Days  HERE

Drum Circle

 Opening ceremonies, Weaving Words Festival, Sharon

Yesterday I attended Weaving Words, a storytelling festival held at the Sharon National Historic Site and Museum. This year the event opened with a drum circle, which I really enjoyed.

 Georgina Drum Circle

Can you hear the drums? I can can still hear the rhythm and my feet are still tapping.

 Audience participation

Georgina Drum Circle brought along some extra drums, which they allowed members of the audience to play.

 Many in the audience joined in the fun

The youngest participant

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

Scavenger Hunt

 1. Rule of thirds

The lighthouse is on the imaginary lines that cross this photo one-third down and one third across.

 2. Made me smile

I hope these painted bales made you smile too.

 3. Lines

OOPS!  Originally this photo made me smile (#2).  But there are also lines on the road: black patches and a yellow one to remind drivers to stay on their own side.

 4. Alone

King of the hill and there's only room enough for one at the top.

5. Together

Three cozy butternuts growing together.

I am linking to Ashley Sisk's Scavenger Hunt HERE

Viceroy

Viceroy on asters

Last Monday was a lovely day and various butterflies were busily sipping aster  nectar. I haven't seen a ton of viceroys this year but I have seen a few.

I am linking to Madge's Weekly Top Shot.

Windows/Weekend Relections

Reflection in window of Victoria Hall, Cobourg

I guess you can tell (but in case you can't) the windows are reflecting brick building across the downtown street.

Reflection in window of Victoria Hall #2

Don't you love the wonky reflections in old glass?

Reflection in window of Victoria Hall #3

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

Horse and Buggy/Friday Fences

Buggy decor somewhere south of Beeton, Ontario

Last week the trees and grass were still quite green here. In addition to the green, you can see two fences.

I am linking to Friday Fences here.

S/Alphabe-Thursday

 Window on south side of city building

S is for Shadow Shots

As you can see in the photo above, shadows do not always take the shape of the object casting the shadow. In this case, the folds in the curtains modify the original shapes.

 Top of old gate

Here the shadow clearly resembles the original shape.

 Old light fixture??

But here the original circles are horizontal and and the shadows vertical.

Another look at shadows created by the top of the window and muntin bars

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE 

Pectoral Sandpiper/Wild Bird

 Pectoral sandpipers (Calidris melanotos)

It was late afternoon and a small flock had just flown in for a little R&R. They are on their way southward to South America having spent the summer in the Arctic.

 A closer view

Here this medium-sized sandpiper has found a small, shallow pond.

 Walking through shallow water to find a more fruitful spot

In fact, it's preferred habitats are marshes and grassy pools.

Beak-to-beak foraging

Pectoral sandpipers eat mostly insects and larvae but enjoy small, tasty crustraceans, snails and even small fish.

I am connecting to Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

Definitely Fall/Nature Notes

 Last of this year's sunflowers

Now that the Northern Hemisphere has passed the autumnal equinox, we're definitely into fall.

 Roadside stand

And merchants are encouraging us to decorate for the season.

 Arranged on rocks

 Squash and pumpkins come in many different shapes, colours and sizes.

 Tons of pumpkins

There are still plenty of pumpkins to choose from.  Many of the smaller ones will be cooked to make pies and whatever for Canadian Thanksgiving, October 14th.

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.

Making a Curb/Our World

 Curb being formed

I have never seen curbs being formed before so when I saw it happening I was fascinated.  I hope you find this interesting too.

 Curb making machine (left), cement mixer (right)

The job involved two large machines and several workers.

 Transferring cement to curb making machine #1

I was pleased to see that there were several workers there making sure everything was going smoothly and safely.

 Transferring cement to curb making machine #2

Cement moved down a chute then up a conveyor belt, sprayed with a bit of water to maintain the correct consistency, and then down into the machine to be lower into the ditch below and shaped into the curb. (See top photo)

Other side of curb making machine

Here you can see the edge of the road and the ditch being filled with the new curb.

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

Hawk Watch/Birding

 Hawk watcher #1, Cranberry Marsh

Hawk watch is the term fondly used to describe what is actually a raptor watch. Many migrating raptors (eagles, hawks, falcons and vultures) are heading southward to avoid Canada's winter.

  Hawk watcher #2, Cranberry Marsh

Many raptors fly through southern Ontario to the northern shores of Lake Ontario then head westerly  to cross into the U.S. between Lakes Ontario and Erie. Cranberry Marsh is one spot on Lake Ontario where the raptors  turn westerly.

 Spotting scope

To conserve energy on their long journey, raptors take advantage of strong updrafts to help them glide towards their destination. Since most raptors flying south are very high up, hawk watchers use binoculars and spotting scopes to help them identify which raptors are passing through. 

 Bald eagle flying over Cranberry Marsh

A few raptors did fly low enough for me to capture with my lens, but this bald eagle was likely not part of the official count as it was one of the "locals." In fact it was in the middle of a scuffle with another local bald eagle over the prize (whatever that is I don't know) this eagle was carrying in its claws.

Record keeping

I am linking to I'd Rather B Birdin'  HERE.

Cook's Bay II/Top Shot

Sunset, Cook's Bay

Boaters returning to the shore at sunset.

I am linking to Madge's Weekly Top Shot.

Cook's Bay I/Weekend Reflections

Cook's Bay just before Sunset

It was mostly cloudy but sunlight was sneaking through the space between the horizon and the the bottom of the clouds.

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

Wrought-iron Gate/Friday Fences

 Left side of gate to private property

I love this gate and wish I owned an impressive property with a long road into it so I could have a gate similar to this one.

Both sides of gate

I am linking to Friday Fences here.

R/Alphabe-Thursday

 Rusty car

R is for RUST

I am always on the lookout for interesting rust to photograph.

 A few rusty cars

 Rusty roof

Power shovel's rusty bucket

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE 

Green Heron/Wild Bird

 Green Heron (Butorides virescens) neck outstretched

Late on Saturday afternoon a green heron flew into a local marsh to hunt for fish. Notice the focused look on the heron's face. In this position it caught several water spiders. Appetisers.

In a sunnier spot

Then it moved to a new spot.

Plop!

Feet still hanging on to the log, it bent head first and...

YUM!

it came up with a satisfying meal.
I am connecting to Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE