End of August

 Enjoying Nature

Here in Ontario most children start the new school year on Tuesday. Even though it was a mostly overcast day when I took these photos, a few young'uns  were out enjoying the fresh August air. These two stopped on this boardwalk to...

Painted turtle

watch the painted turtles sitting on logs below. When I got down to where the kids were, I decided to watch them for a while too, five on one log and four on another.

End of August bouquet choices

Another child was with her dad and picking flowers for her mom, she said. She had lots of wildflowers to choose from: Queen Anne's lace (Daucus carota) going to seed (actually, her bouquet has Queen Anne's lace still in flower), jewelweed (Impatiens capensis), lobelia (Lobelia siphilatica), blazing star (Liatris punctata) and goldenrod (Solidago).

FYI: The reason I include botanical names is because they always staay the same but common names change from region to region.

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.

Black Swallowtail Butterfly

Eastern Black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes) view 1

This butterfly is also known as the American Swallowtail or Parsnip Swallowtail.  I was pleased to see this swallowtail fluttering between wildflowers in a conservation area as I have not seen a lot of butterflies this year.

Black swallowtail view 2

I am linking to Saturday Critters HERE.

I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

Framed In Red

 Hanging plant reflected

These are reflections in a Port Perry store's windows.

Decorative railing reflected

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

White Picket Fence

 Garden outside the fence

This fence is on a corner lot way out in the country, not in a village or town as I usually think of when I think of picket fences.

 

Closer revealing peeling paint

I am linking to Good Fences HERE.

O/Alphabe-Thursday

Smokey's eyes are OPEN

O is for OPEN

Smokey is our neighbour's sweet cat. When we first met her she was very shy but NOW she comes right up for a scratch behind her ears and a pat on her head. She's welcome here because she just watches the birds at out feeders, doesn't want to hassle them.

OPEN windows

Cormorant flapping its wings for takeoff, here its wings are OPEN wide

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE 

Red-necked Grebes

Adult Red-necked Grebe (Podiceps grisegena)

Last week on a visit to a Toronto park on Lake Ontario, I was lucky to see this adult Red-necked Grebe swimming fairly close to shore with two juveniles. At first I assumed this adult was a female but since Red-neck Grebe males and females - which look very similar - raise their young, this could be a male.

Juvenile still with stripes on its face and fluff on its body

 Most Red-necked Grebes nest in shallow lakes and ponds quite a way north of Lake Ontario, but this year at least two couples have raised families in Toronto.

 Adult guarding young as they sleep

Sorry about the glare in these photos but I had to face westerly in late afternoon to get these shots.
I am connecting to Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

Old Train

 Old steam engine

What is it about old trains that we find so fascinating?  One day last week my husband and I were in Tottenham, where a group of volunteers runs the South Simcoe Railway.

 Rickety wooden car on some side rails

Sadly, the railway wasn't open the day we were there so I took photos from outside the fence.

 Closeup of rickety old car

Well, I was brave enough to sneak through the open gate to take the last photo. I was actually looking for someone to ask permission to walk in, but when I saw no one, I went back out.

Line of old cars

NOW I'm wishing I had been braver to get closer to the old cars!
In celebration of the old and wonderful "stuff", I  am connecting to Rubbish Tuesday HERE.
More photos from Our World can be seen by clicking HERE.

In My Gardens

 Japanese anemone

One good thing about having a cooler summer than normal is the blossoms are not fading as quickly as they usually do.

 Phlox

Gooseneck loosestrife

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.

Dragons & Damsels

 White-faced Meadowhawk

This time of year when traveling through fields or woods, I'm almost certain to see dragonflies and damselflies challenging me to take their photos. And if they rest on a leaf or stem at least I have a fighting chance to get a decent photo.  I think these guys and gal wanted their portraits posted on my blog because they stayed put for more than a few seconds.

Northern Bluet damselfly

I am linking to Saturday Critters HERE.
I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

Car Windows

House on left reflected on shiny car

Siding on two houses reflect stripes on this squeaky clean car.

House on right reflected in back window

A view of the back of the car

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

Natural Additions

 Grown into wire fence

I think it's fascinating the way trees will grow around  wire fencing. This wire fence appears to have been erected after the trees were planted.

 Piece of tree trunk

Top and bottom of the trunk has been cut off.

Cut off a few feet above the ground

I am linking to Good Fences HERE.

N/Alphabe-Thursday

 Canada: the Great White North

N is for NORTH

Occasionally people cross the Canadian border in summer from the U.S. thinking they have only a few more miles to travel NORTH to find ice and snow. I know NONE of you, dear bloggers, think we are covered in ice year-round, but some visitors bring their snowmobiles over the border  hoping to use them during their summer holidays.

A cool summer evening near Lake Simcoe, NORTH of East Gwillimbury

Jacket or sweater weather is about as cold as it gets here where I live NORTH of Toronto, where this year it has felt a lot cooler than usual. Yes, it has been cool but NOTICE there's NO snow.

Another sunset over Lake Simcoe

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE 

Chukar Partridge

 Chukar (Alectoris chukar)

Although this bird is native to southern Eurasia, a feral population now exists in North America, some of which reside in south central Ontario. It's a gamebird, a member of the pheasant family.

Chukar partially behind cedar bush

Supposedly they prefer arid, rocky terrain, but two or more were hanging around a brand-new holding pond in a subdivision near us that's under construction.

Chukar edging its way out

Apparently they are quite hardy and can survive winters much further north than where I live an hour north of Toronto.

When I looked them up on the Cornell Lab of Ornithology site, I saw on their map that these partridges are well established in the western U.S and in southern parts of Canadian  Province of British Columbia. I think they are finding it quite pleasant here north of Toronto as well.

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

Crumbling House

 Old house being taken over by Nature

Family farms are being sold to make way for larger farms.  Smaller farm homes are being abandoned. Plus I live in an area that's slowly quickly becoming urbanized.

In celebration of the old and wonderful "stuff", I  am connecting to Rubbish Tuesday HERE.
More photos from Our World can be seen by clicking HERE.

Grassy Fields

 Lines of gold and green

I very much like the contrast of the yellow fields with the green.

 Blackbirds

Blackbirds are gathering - not ready to fly south yet, though.

 A longer view of blackbirds

Almost like patchwork

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.

Scavenger Hunt

 1. Home - osprey nest

Many thanks to Ashley Sisk who hosts Scavenger Hunt Sunday.

Ospreys - or sea hawks - live in nests high above the ground. This young one's nest is on platform on the south end of Cook's Bay, part of Lake Simcoe, and it's at home waiting for one of its parents to return with yummy fresh fish.

 2. Guilty pleasure

Yep, I'm guilty of taking candid photos of people without them knowing I'm doing it.  OOPS! Are they in the middle of a disagreement?

 3. Lucky

When I was growing up, the kids in my neighbourhood believed ladybugs were lucky. We all hoped one would land on us because we KNEW we'd have a lucky day. This one is burying its head but you can still see it's a ladybug.

 4. Heart

An X-rated heart seen on a nature walk last week.  The heart is out-of-focus on one side but you get the idea.

5. Window

I'm thinking this window could be straight out of Hansel and Gretel...except it's not made of frosted gingerbread. Well, I didn't taste it, but I'm pretty sure it's not made of cookies and candy.

I am linking to Ashley Sisk's Scavenger Hunt HERE

Bee on Echinacea

Macro of nectar-loving bee

I am linking to I Heart Macro HERE.

Chippy

Chipmunk in planter

This little guy has a super vantage point and loves to sit in this plater outside my kitchen door.

 Chipmunk foraging for seeds

I just love these little guys. They can be so entertaining as well as industrious.

Spying something that looks yummy

I am linking to Saturday Critters HERE.