I shouldn’t always apologize for my photographs. I’m not in the business of circling a single pond for the possibility of becoming a photographer, but I would like it if the images were focused. I am walking daily, however, in order to document what I feel, see, hear and experience. I am there to learn and to discover through all of my observations.
Well, today, I saw one single male Northern Pintail duck on the pond. While a very common bird, I have never seen one and I’m always excited to spot a new species. I find it funny that I’ve observed such a variety this autumn and usually solitary male birds. Please enjoy the link to the Northern Pintail that I have provided. It doesn’t get much better than Audubon!
Just after snapping these two photographs, a train thundered to the west of me. The Pintail took off, circled the pond and then headed south across the debacle that is the South West Ring Road, likely to the larger water body to the south. Grateful for this siting.
Three days now, I’ve been deactivated on the most popular social media website since sliced bread. I document my father’s music in the hours I might have wasted on early mornings, while drinking my coffee. I listen to Chris de Burgh music on Youtube as background, while reading Al Purdy poetry. His words make me weep at times. I would have posted that on Facebook.
I imagine filling in that small space…I don’t even remember what the prompt was? Say something about yourself…or what you are doing…what came to be known as a status update.
I would probably post a link to this post. As a way of weening myself from the process, I thought to update my status here…what would I say?
July 5, 2016 A dark cloud fell upon me when, from no where, a friend invited me to go chase dark clouds. He parked his car across the street and magically appeared when I needed a friend.
July 6, 2016 My hair was dirty, so I didn’t join my girlfriends for a night of listening to live music. I didn’t paint at Rumble House, again. I read Al Purdy poetry and used a sock as a place-saver.
July 7, 2016 I feel sad that I’m seeing the changes in the pond, all on my own, and that no one else sees exactly what I see. Mr. and Mrs. Sparrow are trying to raise another family in the neighbour’s vent. I relent and put seed in the feeder that I had pulled out of service because of the growing population of voles. But, now, with the children’s incessant cry for sustenance, I give in.
July 10, 2016 What does it mean that I have 13 hits on my blog from Macau SAR China, today? Some times these connections, through writing, just surprise me.
Yesterday’s photographs…documentation of train graffiti, imagining that the artist would want to know where his art had traveled.
I like that the red-winged black bird made it into this shot…
It’s been wonderful to see the great Cormorants coming through. They are closer to the river…this, a lone female.
Mama Savannah Sparrow watching out for her young sprout…
Youngster…sitting a short distance from Mom…about half her size.
My partner in crime.
A herd of 20 geese, four adults and the rest, progeny, slip into the water as Max and I tippy toe through the goose poo.
Last evening, before my pond walk with Max, I headed west and south to the Ann and Sandy Cross Conservation Area. We will be taking our grade threes on a field trip to the location and in order to be fully prepared, a session is required for all instructors. I attended with friends and colleagues, Jenn and Emily. Lots of laughs and beautiful sunshine were shared. Having a brand new camera meant that my head was sometimes out of range once we were outdoors. But certainly I learned a lot about the conservation area from Maureen, the presenting educator, while we were inside. (I have to say that the three yellow finches at the feeder located right outside the classroom were a little bit of a distraction.) From their website, this.
The land is spectacular and the approach that is taken in regards the sustaining the ecosystems is, by my standard, fabulous. What a beautiful start to Thursday evening!
Cookies, juice, friendship and nature…it never gets better than that!
From the Conservation Area, I swung home and picked up Max. The sun was beginning to set and the birds seemed to be very active at Frank’s Flats. I played a little with my camera and while they certainly aren’t perfectly focused, I will never forget my encounter with the male Black-crowned Night Heron and his mate. Beautiful call…huge wing span…and a circle on the blue sky before alighting onto the brush below. I also had a visit with the osprey…trying to capture the front of the male, but shooting into sunshine.
This far away. Mrs. kept low in the nest at the neighbouring platform….but, as I drove past on 22X, I saw her tending her eggs and sorting things out.
Mrs. eye-balling me.
Max-man, my forever-friend…smelling like a post-winter pond….but, very very happy.