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Back to Birds

2021-02-21T12:20:00.009-05:00

I haven't done a personal bog post in awhile now. I guess I have to feel I've got something new or exciting to share before I make the effort of putting a new post up. Well today isn't much different than my usual photos of nature. What make this one different is that I REALLY like this portrait of a femail cardinal. It is one of many I took on the RBG's Grindstone Marsh Trail.

What makes this portrait work? To my eye it's the unity of colour and tone with just the highlights of red and black making the cardinal stand out from the background. I also like the way the twigs frame her as she perches patiently. I also noticed that the exposure was set to +1 EV, making it twice as bright as a normal setting. This was an accident due to shooting birds against a bright sky earlier. In subsequent shots I dialed back to 0 EV but in later comparison, I didn't like them as much. This exposure has a lighter, airier feel with no dark tones other than on her face. I shot a few video clips of the birds on Grindstone Marsh Trail as well.

Photo Safaris

2020-06-29T21:46:00.000-04:00

I wanted to compliment the Focus on Nature Online Lessons with something similar to the photo walks we take students with their cameras on at our school workshops. So I practiced making 'selfie' videos on some early morning hikes. I talked about some of the practical things young photographers need to learn. And I also tried to capture some of the flora and fauna that I encountered.

The video clips and stills were all captured on my iPhone X and then edited together with music using the iMovie app on my iPhone.

It's quite amazing that what took a team of professionals to do can now be done by one person on a device that fits in their hand!

Henry the Great Blue Heron

2020-05-22T14:58:00.000-04:00

When Focus on Nature conducts nature photography workshops at schools in Elora, we often see Henry the Great Blue Heron standing below the waterfall on the Grand River.

He usually flies away when he sees so many excited children pointing cameras at him. But this week, with no schools open due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Henry seemed quite relaxed and okay with me sitting on the other side of the river recording his comings and goings.

I made up the story to entertain kids stuck at home. I kept it under a minute so it could be posted to our Instagram account @focusonnaturecanada. Feel free to share it if you find it entertaining too!

Henry the Great Blue Heron

May Days

2020-05-14T15:05:00.001-04:00

Online Lessons

2020-05-10T18:19:00.000-04:00

It looks like students will be out of school for the rest of the school year. So, in some haste, we here at Focus on Nature have created an online program of nature photography lessons for students now learning from home.

During the first week we had over 350 teachers and parents register for the free weekly lessons! They will then engage thousands of young people in some creative activities that they can do around their home or garden with a camera or phone.

Live on CBC NEWS

2020-04-29T12:40:00.001-04:00

I was amazed by how far an expression of gratitude can take you! Perhaps the timing was perfect too.

A week earlier I'd sent a letter of appreciation to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, thanking him and his team for the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy that would allow me and my staff at Focus on Nature to keep working and developing new online lessons for teachers to use in their virtual classrooms.

The interview has made millions of Canadians aware of Focus on Nature for the first time. Donations and expressions of interest in our program soon followed. As a Registered Charity, we rely on contributions from government, corporations and donors like you to keep building kids' connections to nature through photography.

With no revenue coming in from workshops and camps, the pandemic has hit us hard. Pease support us with a donation now if you can. Thank you.

Bajan Isolation

2020-04-13T17:42:00.000-04:00

Once I'd canceled March Break camps, due to the need for social distancing, I bought a return flight to Barbados to self-isolate with Gail for two weeks.

There was no reported Covid-19 on the island and I was glad to let them take a temperature reading from my forehead when I arrived. But within days coronavirus cases started to appear. I guess it was inevitable at such an international tourist destination.

We did enjoy the sea and sun but we kept our distance from everyone, including friends. But it gradually dawned on us that a small island wasn't the best place to be isolated in a time of plague.

We drove to the wild north shore and we visited Hunte's Gardens on the last day it was open. But soon everything on the island was shutting down. We booked a flight home.

Our time in Barbados was cut short by a week but I did get the chance to go snorkelling. At the Folkstone Marine Reserve I was very pleased to see new coral growth, something I've been concerned about for awhile.

Argentina 2020

2020-03-06T22:14:00.002-05:00

Argentine Arthropods

2020-02-29T17:18:00.000-05:00

Easier to photograph than birds and often more plentiful, the butterflies, damselflies, moths and spiders (arthropods) that I encountered were astonishing in their variety and beauty.

And so, as I finish my last photo-blog entry from my 2020 journey in South America, I'd like to share some of the intricate details I found in these tiny creatures.

Enjoy!

Argentine Birds

2020-02-29T14:38:00.000-05:00

I was fortunate to see some 75 different bird species while travelling for the month of February in northern Argentina.

Not having a field guide, I relied on the help of my birding friends at Eco-portal de Piedra and also Alex Earnshaw, a relative by marriage.

Not all the birds were easy to photography but below are some of the better ones I managed to capture.

Aurora trogon

Black vulture

Black-throated mango hummingbird (same as top photo)

Buff-browed foliage gleaner

Crested caracara

Great pampa-finch

Monk parakeet

Plush-crested jay

Ruffous hornero

Spot-winged pigeon

Whistling heron

Guira cuckoo

Toco toucan

Southern lapwing (photo by Peter Jaspers-Fayer)

La California

2020-02-29T08:26:00.000-05:00

After our family reunion, we spent a delightful day at Estancia La California, the original family ranch in Santa Fe province, hosted by our cousins Veronica and Josephine Benitz and their families. While the original building (above) is gone, it is still a working farm with dairy, soybean, corn and grains being produced.

After a traditional asado under an enormous oak tree, and a swim in the family pool, we took flowers to the family cemetary to pay our respects.

Here are buried my father James Frank Macdonald Bell; my grandfather and grandmother; their parents and grandparents; and many other relatives as well. We had a few moments silence around my Dad's grave and I was moved to say the following:

Dad, we lost you too soon. We’re here today to honour you and to thank you and mum. You gave us life, good health and a very good upbringing. You live on in our hearts. We will never forget you. Thank you.

Benitz Family Reunion 2020

2020-02-26T07:55:00.002-05:00

Every five years the descendants of William & Josephine Benitz, my grandmother's grandparents, gather for a family celebration. Five years ago we celebrated at Fort Ross, an earlier Benitz home in California.

This year, the four day reunion was held in the town of La Cumbre, in the province of Cordoba, where many Anglo-Argentine families had summer homes to escape the blistering heat of the pampas.

We had our first asado at El Rincon, a beautiful home tucked into the hills of La Cumbre. Built by Great-great Uncle Alfred in the early 20th century, it has an irrigation system cut into the surrounding rock that keeps the swimming pool fresh and sparkling, and the extensive gardens lush and green.

It's encouraging to see the younger generation taking an interest in their family history and connections that stretch to 5th cousins.

I hope they and their children to come will join us at Fort Ross in 2025!

Colonia del Sacramento

2020-02-25T11:05:00.000-05:00

Uruguay is just a short ferry ride away from Buenos Aires and the closest town, Colonia del Sacramento is well worth a visit.

Established as a Portuguese colony in 1680, its historic buildings, cobblestone streets and great restaurants make it worthy of a longer visit than my day-trip provided.

Buenos Aires

2020-02-25T10:21:00.001-05:00

Buenos Aires (aka BA) is a big, bustling city with a metro population of over 15 million. It's a capital city with much to admire: Beaux-Arts buildings, broad avenues and leafy green parks; it's the Paris of South America.

The old port area of La Boca is where tango dancing started in the 1880s. Its colourful building and narrow streets make it a mecca for tourists today - including me!

The night we arrived in BA there was a huge protest outside the Congress building near our hotel. Tens of thousands of young porteñas were waving their green scarves and demanding the legalization of abortion.

Our hotel was low budget but very funky (in a positive sense). Set in an old historic building with no sign on the door, the long creaking wooden staircase led to an open common area that can only be described as classic Steampunk. Fortunately we had a private, clean room with plenty of hot water for about $35 USD a night!

Iguazú

2020-02-23T05:59:00.000-05:00

View from the Lower Trail

Our next stop was to see Las Cataratas del Iguazú, recently voted one of the seven natural wonders of the world. Even though I visited 10 years ago, these falls are so amazing that I had to come back again!

View from the Devil's Throat Trail

We took a ride on the 'Jungle Boat' and got throughly soak by the waterfalls.

They say the negative ions given off by waterfalls are very grounding.

They certainly made me feel good!

After two days in Argentine, we took a taxi to the Brazilian side for new vistas of the many falls.

A four foot cayman ws dozing by the trail

Besides being surrounded by stunning waterfalls, the parks are a great locations to see animals: toucans, caymans, lizards and so many different butterflies.

A common butterfly known locally as the '88'

Toucans were feeding in a cecropia tree

Cachi and Los Cardones

2020-02-16T15:36:00.003-05:00

Los Cardones National Park

After our time in Las Yungas, we set off for the mountain town of Cachi. Getting there was a wild drive of switchbacks through the clouds, emerging onto to a high dessert valley of tall cacti, called Cardones.

The veranda of Casa de Campo La Paya

Cachi is a pretty, touristic town with the usual hostels, hotels and restaurants. We decided to stay out in the countryside at Casa de Campo La Paya. After a rough 1/2 hour drive, we were pleased to be welcomed to a historic hacienda built in 1878. Our dinners in this traditional home were amazing as was the Malbec wine grown on the property!

Peter and a friendly Casa de Campo companion dog

After two days of hiking in the hills, we set out at dawn to catch a flight from Salta to Iguazu Falls, the subject of my next post.

Below are a few more images from this fascinating part of the world.

The hills around Cachi were always changing in the brilliant desert light

A metallic green bumblebee looking for nectar at the Casa de Campo

The cardone cacti glowed in the early morning light as we drove back to Salta

Eco-portal de Piedra

2020-02-14T12:07:00.000-05:00

In eastern Jujuy, a variety of eco-zones are waiting to be explored. We made our base in a hacienda at Eco-portal de Piedra, run by Sylvia, Carlos and their son Carlitos. All are expert birders and they helped us identify many birds by their sound: toucans, macaws, salteros, hummingbirds to name a few.

We took an ATV high into the mountains with Carlitos until a fallen tree blocked further progress. Lots of birds to see but they were small, fleeting and difficult to photograph. Finally a beautiful Aurora Trogon posed nicely on an open branch for a few minutes. And one of the coolest things we saw was a scarab beetle pushing a ball of dung across the path!

Another day we drove further east into the Chaco region with Sylvia and a group of birders from Portland Oregon. Their guide was excellent at spotting birds. The best one we saw was the Red-legged Seriema, a very primitive bird of the dry Chaco.

A moth to be identified!

Probably more interesting than birds in the Yungas were the insects. So many interesting butterflies and moths. An unwelcome side effect were the biting insects. But I guess that was the price to be paid. I'll make a separate page for butterflies and another for the birds before this trip is over.

Salta & Jujuy

2020-02-12T06:34:00.000-05:00

View from my hotel room: San Fransisco church is a landmark in Salta city

Salta and Jujuy are two provinces in Northwestern Argentina with a great variety of beautiful landscapes and fascinating flora and fauna: perfect places to explore with my friend Peter Jaspers-Fayer, especially when our home in Guelph is gripped by winter weather!

Salta is also a bustling city of 600 thousand people with a rich history and a youthful, contemporary vibe. We made it our home base to acclimatize, change money and rent a car.

Peter taking in the crisp, clean air and wild landscapes on the way to Cafayate

The red, wind-sculpted rock reminded me of the Southwest USA

Our first foray was south through the wild Quebrada de las Conches to the town of Cafayate, which has become the centre of a region renown for its high-altitude vineyards.

Lunch with a bottle of local 'tinto' required a siesta before setting off home to Salta.

Morning view of the Hill of Seven Colours from our room at Tiny Eco Cabins, Puramarca

Puramarca: cute but very touristy

Next we drove north to Puramarca, an adobe village in the mountain desert of Jujuy. Because of its proximity to the Hill of Seven Colours, Puramarca has become a popular tourist destination. It seemed that the only businesses in the village were hotels, restaurants and craft shops catering to the visitors.

Jumping for joy at Salinas Grandes

So cute I could just hug you

Our next stop was Salinas Grandes, a salt flat in the Puna, a vast, treeless wilderness high in the Andes.

We were disappointed to see so much plastic waste at 14,000 ft. but pleased to have a close encounter with vicuñas, llama-related camelids who's wool is among the most-prized in the world.

Next we will head to an area called Las Yungas, a forested mountain area to the east of the Andes that will be wetter and warmer.

PhotoCuba 2020

2020-01-29T09:09:00.000-05:00

I was happy to return to Santiago de Cuba and the village of Chivirico in January as the lead instructor of the annual PhotoCuba workshop.

CUBA! Sun, sand, palms and rum are all part of the fun. But it's the Cuban people themselves that makes the time there so special.

And while I'm always enamoured with the natural beauty of the island, it's the people's joie-de-vive and their resilience in the face of so many deprivations that make a trip to Cuba so memorable.

Here are a few of my favourite people pics from my two weeks stay:

Off to school on foot or, if you're lucky, on donkey

A son musician at the Casa de la Trova in Santiago. She pointed to faded photos of herself playing there as a young woman.

A homemade bat and threadbare ball are all you need to play pelota (baseball) on the street.

Diana from Havana posed for my camera

My birding guide, Sapo, and his Plymouth

Life on the street can be hard. This gentleman has just rummaged through a garbage can and fished out a plastic bag and some wire. He folded it carefully before moving on.

This is a candid shot. No permission granted. Sometime I have to be a little surreptitious to get the shot I want.

Another candid photo: my guide Odelsys at home with her son.

Hanging out with the musicians at Casa de la Trova was a highlight of my time in Cuba. (photo by Les Jones)

Sparkles in the Park

2019-12-31T21:53:00.000-05:00

We waited in silent excitement as the last dark hours of 2019 slipped away...

Soon the sky was crackling with sparks of colour.

A twist of the wrist and the fireworks danced on the water.

May the power of light delight you in 2020.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Bucket Hat Brigade

2019-10-27T15:39:00.001-04:00

Spent the morning on the floor playing with my grandson Daxton and his Play-Doh.

We took a break to play with his new sand castle buckets when I got this charming shot of Dax with his dad Daniel.

At 2 1/2 years of age, it's amazing to see him develop his verbal skills so quickly. Today he can count at least to 7 both forwards and backwards!

Lloyd Longfield

2019-10-22T15:22:00.000-04:00

Congratulations to my friend Lloyd Longfield on winning his second term as Member of Parliament for Guelph last night.

Though I've considered myself a Liberal for many years - I volunteered on Pierre Trudeau's leadership campaign in 1968 - I voted for the man more than the party.

Lloyd has come to embody all the positive things I love about this city: caring, progressive and inclusive of others; ready to take a greener path to a better future for all.

Mennonite School Workshop

2019-09-29T14:47:00.000-04:00

Many of the children at Floradale Public School, where I attended a recent Focus on Nature workshop, are Mennonite.

Children who grow up in the David Martin Mennonite sect wear traditional clothes - bonnets and long skirts for girls, straw hats and suspenders for boys - and come to school by horse and buggy.

Some children in the class were not permitted to take a nature photography course and were sent to another class for the day.

Those that did stay had a great time. They were enthusiastic to be out exploring nature and curious to learn more.

When I asked one student about high school and university, she said matter-of-factly "Oh no, we stop going to school when we turn fourteen."

British Columbia Wildlife

2019-09-10T22:53:00.000-04:00

I was hoping to see Orcas while in B.C. but that was not to be. Instead I encountered many other species on trip and they all seemed quite comfortable having their portraits taken.

Young male Stellar's sea lions posture and pose for the camera

Humpback whales are used to being petted in Mexico and will approach a tour boat hoping for similar treatment in BC

We watched an otter catch and eat a gull in Victoria's inner harbour

Flocks of Cedar waxwings gorged on hawthorn berries

Douglas squirrels liked the hawthorn berries too

We have Pileated woodpeckers and Bald eagles in Ontario but it was nice to see them here in the forests of beautiful British Columbia.

Really Big Trees

2019-09-09T22:02:00.000-04:00

Gail and I recently spent two weeks travelling in British Columbia. It was Gail's first visit to Canada's west coast and what impressed her most were the trees. Indeed, compared to trees in Ontario, they are huge!

On our way to Campbell River we took a detour to visit Cathedral Grove, one of the most impressive stands of ancient Douglas Fir, Western Hemlock and Red Cedar on Vancouver Island.

As soon as we parked the car the sun broke through the clouds giving the forest a lovely dappled light that was perfect for photography.

Some of the old growth trees are gone now, brought down by wild winds and the axeman's hand. But the old stumps and logs soon become a nursery for the next generation of trees.

Forests need our appreciation, respect and protection. We need them to be healthy and growing strong. Only then will life on this planet thrive and survive the coming climate crisis.