Dec 24, 2011 - Long time no see Nanticoke!

As the winter starts to set in, I get the urge to see what predatory birds I can find around Ontario. The Nanticoke/Haldimand area is one place I always find amazing in the winter, so today I decided to see what might be lurking in the trees.

It's still perhaps a bit early in the winter season to catch the full spectrum of species, but today didn't disappoint. Many hawks were seen, I had the pleasure of watching a Kestrel hunting, and also watched a Northern Harrier catch prey.

I also perused the coal generating plants in the area trying to find a Peregrine Falcon named Marla that I know lives in the area, but it's a big place and a falcon is small, I didn't have any luck tracking her down but maybe another day I will.

For lunch I headed to Selkirk Provincial Park, which I'm sure is much more populated in the summer, but today afforded a quiet walk and a peaceful commune with nature.

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Nov 7, 2011 - Fall foliage with my faithful furry friend

Today is my buddy Dexter's 11th birthday so I thought I'd share a recent adventure we had out in a nearby forest under the fall foliage.

Dexter has enjoyed this forest since he was a tiny puppy. He's chased squirrels, trapped raccoons in their den, and he's also made many friends in the area.

I can't recount all the hilarious times I've had with him, but during walks in this ravine, he's taken off on me many times. One time I watched helplessly as he opened the sliding screen door and entered someone's house, only to be dropped back out on the doorstep moments later.

Another time I was livid, after having to return home without him. Sure enough and thanks to having my phone # on his collar, I received a call where I was told "your dog is at our house, he came in while we were eating dinner".

Yet another bit of action Dexter instigated was when he chased a fox out of the forest into nearby streets. He eventually trapped it under a car and wouldn't leave until I came and retrieved him. To do this is the instinct of a Parson Russell, and Dexter fulfills his role as a working dog whenever he has a chance.

As any dog owner can understand, our companions enrich our lives in so many ways. They make us laugh, they make us scream, and they help us go places and experience things that we might miss if we didn't have them.

So, this post is dedicated to my scrappy little bugger Dexter, today, on his 11th birthday. Despite all the challenges and frustration he causes me, I most definitely appreciate all that he brings to my life. :)



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Jul 11, 2011 - More from the marsh

Once again, I made a trek to my favourite spot, Tiny Marsh. It was a great summer day to roam around and as you can see from the images there was a lot to look at.

The marsh changes from one week to the next and during this visit the most frequently spotted species was definitely the black tern.

It was also very cool to see Pied-billed Grebes, at least a few families including young juveniles that were swimming around with the parents.

I also checked in on the Osprey nest and saw that there are two juveniles there this year, so that's two years in a row they've nested at a newly installed platform at the far end of the marsh.

Compared to even just a month ago, the wildflowers have definitely kicked into action, so I spent a little while shooting those using extension tubes.



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