Young Wood Ducks
August 13th, 2009
At Riverain Park a number of Wood Ducks, mostly young Wood Ducks, have joined the year-round Mallard flock. At places like that they follow the Mallards' lead and come close to humans looking for handouts (Wood Ducks are normally quite skittish). Thus, very photographable!
There were roughtly eight juveniles milling around, probably ones who grew up on the Rideau, as well as a couple of adult females. No adult males, which is typical for this time of year. They always seem to disappear in late summer, probably gone somewhere secluded to molt their flight feathers. They'll be back in force come September.
1680x1050 wallpaper
The duck in the middle is a juvenile male, far enough along that his eyes have turned red. The white and grey patterning on his cheek is the placeholder for what will become, in maturity, an ornate facial pattern of black, red, white and iridescent green. The slight swelling at his nape is the beginning of the adult's swept-back green crest.
A young female:
1680x1050 wallpaper
This last picture is of a mature female, likely the mother of some of these juveniles. The large, wedge-shaped eye patch gives her away.
1680x1050 wallpaper
Stages of Life
August 5th, 2009
1680x1050 wallpaper
Purple Coneflower, aka echinacea. This is a native North American wildflower, although I don't think it's native to Ontario. I've only seen it in or near gardens.
Great Crested Flycatcher
August 4th, 2009
Great Crested Flycatchers seem to be moving through. Mud Lake was teeming with them yesterday.
This one must have decided that flycatching was too much work.
Black-Crowned Night Herons
August 3rd, 2009
The Night Herons at Mud Lake have fledged their young, and both adults and young are becoming a common sight. This one is molting, I think, thus the somewhat dishevelled appearance.
1680x1050 wallpaper
Carrying lunch, maybe a catfish:
1680x1050 wallpaper
1680x1050 wallpaper
A handsome adult. This is certainly the most classic Night Heron shot I've ever taken--a much more typical shape and pose than in the one pictured here.
Things Best Not Messed With
August 2nd, 2009
1680x1050 wallpaper
Bald-Faced Hornet in a milkweed plant.
July 30th??
July 30th, 2009
Unlikely as it seems, July 30th and songbird fall migration is underway!
There were flocks of them on the ridge. Umpteen Yellow Warblers, Warbling Vireos and Cedar Waxwings, a few Eastern Phoebes, an adult male Yellow-Rumped Warbler, a Nashville Warbler, and last but definitely not least, a juvenile Canada Warbler (pictured below). That's a new species for me.
I also got a good Cedar Waxwing picture:
And this cutie of a Wood Duck duckling:
Wildflowers
July 29th, 2009
Daisy Fleabane
Goldenrod
Red Clover, wallpaper available
Peaceful Wallpapers
July 27th, 2009
This female Mallard seemed rather satisfied with life. That's one of her nearly-grown young behind her and to the left. This was in a shallow, slow-flowing part of the Deschenes Rapids, a popular nursery area for both Mallards and Wood Ducks.
Great Blue Heron at Dominion Arboretum.
1680x1050 wallpaper
Another view of the Brant at Andrew Haydon Park, looking meditative.
My backlog of photos is dwindling. I would like Ottawa to please stop thunderstorming all the time so I can get out and take some more. After all, fall migration is coming!
Nothing To Hide
July 23rd, 2009
1680x1050 wallpaper
This is a wildflower called Yellow Goat's Beard. It closes around noon (and on cloudy days), which explains, I guess, why it took me so long to see my first one :-)
A Brant at Andrew Haydon Park
July 19th, 2009
I saw my first-ever Brant goose at Andrew Haydon Park today. This is an arctic-breeding goose and it's highly unusual for one to be in Ottawa in summer. He's been feeding on the park lawn along with Canada Geese (his close relatives) for about a week now.
Comparison with Canada Goose:
He was playing "follow the leader" with the Canada Geese, which made him, probably, easier to approach than he normally would be. When they went into the water, he went into the water. When they came onto land, he came onto land. If they acted like something was okay, he said, "well, um, if you guys say so." And about the only thing the Canada Geese at AHP don't consider "okay" is dogs.
I spent the afternoon photographing him, not so much because Brant are intrinsically glamorous, as that the opportunity to photograph one so close-up might not come around again for years, if ever. As I was winding down, another photographer showed up looking for him, so I pointed him out to her where he was cleverly hiding himself amidst a raft of mallards. When I left about 40 minutes later, she was still crouched on the grass snapping shots.
I always enjoy finding people as fanatic as I am.
|