East Gwillimbury CameraGirl

E/Alphabe-Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Wed, 19 Jun 2013 09:40:00 +0000

Great egret (Ardea alba)

E is for EGRET

Hunted nearly to extinction more than a century ago, great egrets are now extending their territories so that a bird that once seemed exotic here is becoming more and more common.

Dropping in for a landing

Great egrets hunt for food in both fresh and salt water. This one is fishing in Lake Ontario.

Wading in shallow water on the edge of Lake Ontario

Like other herons, the Great Egret stands motionless as they hunt frogs, fish and other small aquatic animals.

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE

Indigo Bunting/Wild Bird

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:28:00 +0000

Male indigo bunting (Passerina cyanea)

I wanted this indigo bunting to move in closer (I cropped this photo way more than I really would have liked), but he preferred to sit and sing from his high-up perch. Isn't he handsome in his brilliant blue breeding plumage?

Stopping for a moment between songs

This one lives on the edge of a local forest where his mostly brown mate has likely built a nest in shrubbery about a metre above ground. I must go back to see if I can find it.

Since indigo buntings eat flies, mosquitoes, grasshoppers and aphids, they would certainly be welcomed visitors in my yard!

I am joining Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

Mid June/Nature Notes

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 23:43:00 +0000

Late spring in Ontario

Everything looks so green and fresh this time of year. And lately I've noticed a ton of butterflies, more than in the past few years. Could it be all the rain we've had this year?

Largest square: bee on fleabane (Erigeron pholadelphicus). The fleabane I've seen this year appears to be especially lush.

Moving clockwise:
1. purple-flowering raspberry(Rubus odoratus)
2.White Admiral butterfly
3. Bladder campion (Silene cucubalus)
4. Dames rocket (Hesperis matronalis)
5. Pearl Crescent butterfly

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.

The Big Pull/Our World

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 09:49:00 +0000

Truckload of invasive weeds

When my husband and I visited Tiny Marsh about a week ago, volunteers were pulling invasive weeds - garlic mustard to be exact.

Wheelbarrow in the path

Tiny Marsh is not tiny but in the township of Tiny, a rural community south of Lake Huron. We like to visit it to see the wildlife there.

Shallow water where pied-billed grebes among other waterfowl breed

I was hoping to see pied-billed grebes, but they were too shy to come out.

Boardwalk through part of the marsh

I was also hoping to see wood ducks but was told to return in another month.

Garden tools

The volunteers were replacing the invasive weeds with indigenous species such as mayapples, trillium and bloodroot that grow in shade and bloom in spring.

Native species grown from seeds

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

Hairy Beardtongue

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 13:08:00 +0000

Hairy beardtongue (Pentstemon hirsutus)

Hummingbirds love these wildflowers and I do too. If you look closely at this plant's stem. you can see why it's called "hairy."

A lovely clumping flower

What a pleasure to find a field of these!

Wilson's Snipe/Birding

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Sun, 16 Jun 2013 10:02:00 +0000

Wilson's snipe (Gallinago delicata)

Wilson's snipes are usually quite common on the Carden Alvar northeast of where I live. The alvar is a wet, grassy place in spring, although quite dry in summer.

Last time we visited the alvar, we could hear them but they were otherwise elusive until late afternoon when one suddenly flew out of a ditch, circled in the air above and then landed on this post.

On another post, this one looks a bit wind blown

Notice this one's very long beak. It's used to probe muddy areas for small invertebrates. The Wilson's snipe's beak is flexible. The tips can be opened and closed without moving the beak at its base.

Flying high

Here's an interesting fact: the femlae lays four eggs. The male takes the first two that hatch to raise them. The female raises the second two.

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

Rosa Glauca/Top Shot

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Sat, 15 Jun 2013 11:00:00 +0000

A shrub rose with lovely grey-green leaves and red veins

This rose doesn't bloom for very long but that's okay since I grow it for its leaves. Having said that, every year when it blooms I take my camera out to take photos of this shrub's tiny (an inch to 1 1/2 inches in diameter) flowers.

I am linking to Madge's Weekly Top Shot.

Red Canoe/Weekend Reflections

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 09:41:00 +0000

Red Canoe paddling through Tiny Marsh

What fun to explore a marsh in a canoe...and it was a beautiful day to do just that.

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

Orange/Friday Fences

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:30:00 +0000

At the side of a house on ariver

Not just anyone could paint a fence orange and make it look so good. I think it works well here where there are several other artsy properties.

I am linking to Friday Fences here.

D/Alphabe-Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Wed, 12 Jun 2013 09:59:00 +0000

Dilapidated house, Shelburne, Ontario

D is for DILAPIDATED, DECAYED, DETERIORATED

Some of you may remember this old house from when I posted about it HERE. This is what it looks like now.

Almost DOWN, almost DONE

DANGEROUS, eh?

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE

Nesting Warbler/Wild Bird

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 09:48:00 +0000

Female yellow warbler (Dendroica petechia)

In my imagination I could hear this warbler saying "Ha ha! You can't see me." And then she flit to another spot to make sure she was correct.

Below her nest

But I knew she wouldn't go far because I had spied her nest.

Close up of nest

Do you see her in her nest?

I am joining Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

Nature Notes

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 01:04:00 +0000

Mostly overcast and wet

Largest square: a tern and gull fly over a pond prepared to dive if they see a swimming treat.

I love all the wildflowers we now see along roadsides and in fields.

Moving clockwise:
1. English daisies (Bellis perennis) blooming in a park lawn;
2. Morrow honeysuckle (Lonicera morrowii);
3. Daisies (Leucanthemum vulgare);
4. Dames rocket (Hesperis matronalis)
5. Tufted vetch (Vicia cracca)

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.

Chocolate Scandal/Our World

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 09:51:00 +0000

Refuel and win?

Snicker if you will, but Canada has a scandal on it's hands. Well, actually we have quite a few at the moment (check out the CBC News website to see what I mean), but this is the scandal that's sure to speak to the minds and hearts of most Canadians. Two chocolate companies (Nestle and Mars) have allegedly been in collusion with each other - meeting to price fix their products.

KitKat is made by Nestle in Canada (Hershey in the U.S)

Now I agree that Canada has been built on capitalism and that a company can charge whatever it wants for its products, especially if it's not a necessity. (But wait! Isn't chocolate a necessity? Maybe not.)

But price-fixing in Canada is a criminal offense. Nestle and Mars say they will vigorously defend themselves against the charges. Those found guilty could face a fine of $10 million dollars and up to five years in prison.

Apparently not so guilty

The Competition Bureau recommends leniency for Hershey Canada, who is said to be cooperating. Canadian authorities have to prove that the companies agreed to price-fixing their chocolate and that this had a negative effect on the confectionery marketplace.

What do you think the outcome will be? Do you think fixing the price of chocolate affects the economy?

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

House Wren/Birding

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Sun, 09 Jun 2013 09:13:00 +0000

House wren (Troglodytes aedon)

Could this guy ever sing! For sure it was hard to believe such a small bird was making all that noise!

Still singing

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

Nature's Garden/Top Shot

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Sat, 08 Jun 2013 09:40:00 +0000

Blue flag iris

Here in central Ontario, this is the time of year to look for wild irises in bloom. They are so beautiful...and there's NO weeding required!

Yellow flag iris

I am linking to Madge's Weekly Top Shot.

Marsh/ Weekend Reflections

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 09:45:00 +0000

Southern end of Cranberry Marsh

A narrow strip of land separates the water in this marsh from Lake Ontario seen in the background just beyond the logs.

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

Sauble Beach/Friday Fences

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 09:23:00 +0000

Fencing on Lake Huron

Sometimes the wind blows fiercely off Lake Huron! This fencing helps control some of the blowing sand.

Pathway to control foot traffic

The fence helps keep traffic off the sand dunes when visitors leave the beach to reach their transportation home.

I am linking to Friday Fences here.

C/Alphabe-Thursday

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 10:00:00 +0000

CAMEL

C is for C-CRITTERS here in CANADA

Can you believe it? Just last week, this camel was nibbling grass in a farmer's field...in Canada!

CASPIAN terns

I've said it before and I'll say it again, terns remind me of old men in berets - COMICAL, CHARMING CHARACTERS.

CATBIRD

Ever heard the CATLIKE CALL of a catbird? Catbirds are often secretive hiding in tangles of vines and limbs (CLEVER, eh?) but passersby know they are there by their mewing sound.

I am linking to Jenny Matlock at Alphabe-Thursday HERE

June!/Nature Notes

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 15:12:00 +0000

June is bustin' out!

I seem to have spent a lot of time lately on shore lines and in forests searching for birds. But along the way my camera insisted I take these photos as well a of birds.

Few can resist the cuteness of a chipmunk...well, for sure I cannot. Moving clockwise:

1. Mayapple flower
2. Maple keys (not sure what kind of maple)
3. Dandelion fluff
4. Dandelion flower
5. Fungi on log

Please visit Michelle at Rambling Woods for more NATURE NOTES.

Two Lifers/Wild Birds

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 09:51:00 +0000

Whimbrel (Numenius phaeopus)

It was a soggy day last Thursday and the birds - interesting ones - were scarce. Until we saw this whimbrel on the beach in Cobourg...

Ruddy turnstones (Arenaria interpres)

and a flock of ruddy turnstones. While the Canada goose (far right) is certainly common here, the whimbrel and turnstones were merely traveling through, so we were lucky to see and photograph them.

The whimbrels that pass over the Great Lakes winter in the Caribbean and South America, and they breed in coastal areas close to Hudson's Bay.

Closeup of ruddy turnstones

These ruddy turnstones winter on the coasts of South America and the Caribbean, and they breed in the High Arctic.

Can you guess why they are called turnstones? When looking for food, they often flip stones to see what's under them.

All but the goose were shy; The whimbrel saw me and flew to the other end of the beach. The turnstones saw me,..

Ruddy turnstones flying

circled the harbour and landed at the other end of the beach. Hmmm. I wonder if I ought to take that personally!

I am joining Stewart M's Wild Bird Wednesday HERE

Hollow Tree Revisted/Our World

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 09:39:00 +0000

Hollow tree

Some of you may remember this tree from a shot I posted HERE. A few of you wanted to see it in bloom, so TA-DA!

In bloom last week

I know. Unbelievable!

Closeup of blossoms

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

Cedar Waxwing/Birding

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Sun, 02 Jun 2013 09:20:00 +0000

Cedar waxwing (Bombycilla cedrorum)

Looking a bit haughty here, but actually cedar waxwings are sweet and gregarious - even plucking berries and passing them on to other cedar waxwings. These birds are definitely not loners, sometimes they gather by the hundreds when in search of fruiting trees and shrubs. There are no berries ripe here yet, though, so now they are eating insects.

Looks like it's wearing a mask

This one looks regal in this photo, but when waxwings eat fermented berries, they can look a bit tipsy. Very entertaining!

Bringing home nesting material

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

Tiger Swallowtail/Top Shot

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 10:01:00 +0000

Tiger swallowtail on shrub

When I see butterflies I know late spring has finally arrived.

Actually it has been a tad too warm for the past two days, but the weather people are promising lower temperatures. Unfortunately we are also being promised rain. Ha! Is there such a thing as perfect weather in Ontario? What about where you live?

I am linking to Madge's Weekly Top Shot.

Bond Head/Reflections

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Fri, 31 May 2013 09:26:00 +0000

Marina at Bond Head #1

Thursday was overcast and drizzly but warm.

Marina at Bond Head #2

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

Carden Alvar/Friday Fences

noreply@blogger.com (EG CameraGirl) — Thu, 30 May 2013 10:50:00 +0000

Fence along ranch boundary on Carden Alvar, Kirkfield, Ontario

This week the prairie smoke bloomed inside and...

Closer view of prairie smoke

outside the fences on Wylie Road.

Closeup of prairie smoke - the seed head about to open

Seed head open

I am linking to Friday Fences here.