Venus, the Evening Star for Skywatch Friday

Last weekend we enjoyed watching our two little grandsons who were very excited when their Grampy David pointed out Venus, the Evening Star to them.They had a good view of it standing on their front doorstep.And better yet their DaDa was able to take some very good pictures of the planet. These two little guys[aged 3 and 5] know all about the planets and the Solar System. They're probably standing on their step right now watching it tonight!And I was right! Here are my two little grandsons tonight watching Venus from their home in the belle province de Quebec." There it is, its Venus"
Thanks to guest photographer Davis for the great pictures"!Merci Davis!"
Happy Skywatch Friday to all. My appreciative thanks to Sandy, Klaus, Ivar, Wren and Fishing Guyand Louise for hosting Sky Watch Friday

Sunset and Silhouettes for Skywatch Friday

Happy skywatch Friday to all. My appreciative thanks to Sandy, Klaus, Ivar, Wren and Fishing Guyand Louise for hosting Sky Watch Friday

natural sepia colours of late fall for sepia scenes

It is my opinion that some of the most beautiful photos portraying sepia hues are those taken in late fall when the green has disappeared from the grassy and reedy vegetation surrounding lakes and ponds and rivers. The setting shown here at Centennial Park at Point Claire, Quebec illustrates my point with the beautiful tall grasses and reeds. These photos were taken on a beautiful sunny day when our family went for an outdoor picnic in the park this November.

Sepia Scenes is a meme hosted by Mary/the Teach and it offers the opportunity to share with others; beautiful scenes in sepia tones.Just click on the badge on the side bar to view what others have posted in sepia for today.

R is for r Rain for ABC WEDNESDAYand Watery Wednesday

R is for rain and we have had too much of it this past summer and and spring, but then it could be snow :-( and we don't want that yet!]as the seasons change and the temperatures get lower and I'm not psychologically ready for winter yet.
to view other R word or perhaps to contribute your own photo please go to http://abcwednesdayround3.blogspot.com/

Rain is also about water and,The theme of Watery Wednesday is water; for a wonderful variety of watery scenes from other bloggers around the world, just click on its name.

'Do not signs' to observe for Ruby Tuesday

Although the messages shown on the signs above appears to be quite obvious, many visitors to the park where they were located behaved otherwise. One family stood right beside the duck sign while feeding the ducks found there. I found both of these signs to be rather attractive and understandable and translateable .
To check out other postings on Ruby Tuesday just click on the Ruby logo on the side bar. My appreciative thanks to Mary/the teach for hosting this meme.

RR sign for mellow yellow Monday

Although our weather at this time of year is often unpredictable and we have our snow tires on our car in preparation for winter driving we chose to travel to Montreal by train on Via Rail. I have always loved trains and I find the Via rail sign very attractive and colourful and 'Canadian' displaying a red maple leaf as part of its design.

Happy Monday to all To view a wonderful variety of yellow-themed photos from other bloggers around the world, just click on the link below

Morning Reflections

Upon enterring the city of Montreal, Quebec by train, I love seeing the morning light reflected on the windows of many of the city's buildings. It was at 8 a.m. E.S.T. when this picture was taken.

Weekend Reflections of Mallards

We have been vising with family all week in Quebec. Last weekend we saw a flock of Mallards at a park in Pointe Claireand I caught these reflections on the beautiful, still water there.Wishing everyone a good weekend.

AMackeral sky for Skywatch Friday

Thesr wavy clouds remind me of marcelled hair, a close to the head wavy hair style from the 20's, but I think they are also called mackeral skies. they are not today's sky though as we are expecting our first winter storm of the season, s nor'easter,wind, lots of precipitation is forecast for the day.
Happy skywatch Friday to all. My appreciative thanks to Sandy, Klaus, Ivar, Wren and Fishing Guyand Louise for hosting Sky Watch Friday

A "looking out my window video' #1W-b nuthatch

#1 White-breasted Nuthatch

Not a Crow, But A Hawk or maybe an eagle!

Not A Crow, But A Hawk!

At A distsnce I knew it wasn't a crow. It was too big for crow. I took my first picture from my car, then got out and walked further down on the shoulder of the road to get closer.When closer I could see a few markings on its breast and the hook in its beak, and I then knew I was looking at a hawk. This is the first hawk |I have seen for months! I think it is a* Red-tailed Hawk*editing note: In the comments Bill S. suggests that this might possibly be a juvenile Eagle. I woul agree to that consderation. Thank you Bill.
i think i might have interrupted lunch for as it started to leave I could see the shape of something hanging from its claw.
My best photo was my last one as its beautiful curved wingspan was shown as it was leaving. What a beautiful sighting this was! Another lucky day. I love the half moon shape of its wings!

Ruffed Grouse

I have been searching for a Ruffed Grouse these past few weeks and have had no luck finding so I have gone back to some of my previous posts for photos and repost them here.

Ruffed Grouse

This Ruffed Grouse, known also as a Partridge, was sitting on a log under our High Bush Cranberry tree yesterday afternoon. This is the time of year when I often check along roadside birch trees on sunny days hoping to catch a glimpse of one feeding in the trees; for that method has most often been my sighting experience. Being able to photograph this Grouse from my living room window was a pleasant surprise.
An earlier photo (November 2002) of a Ruffed Grouse illustrates how well its colours allow it to blend into a fall landscape.

Ruffed Grouse

Tuesday, December 16, 2008

Ruffed Grouse

Another road side find on the weekend was this Ruffed Grouse. I saw it sitting in a driveway when driving by so I stopped further down the road and turned. Before driving back up the road I rolled down my car window and got my camera ready for I know from experience these birds can sometimes take of in a hurry - like a shot! This one looked at me a bit suspiciously but then just ambled along slowly picking up gravel as it went along. Grouse will eat gravel to help them in digesting their food. My most frequent sightings of this bird is often at the beginning of a side road or driveways where gravel can be found.Ruffed Grouse/Partridge photo November 2003

November in Bird Alley

A nice surprise this morning was a pair of Purple Finch, a male and a female. Its been a while since this species has been feeding in Bird Alley. Today was our lucky day for seeing them here.
Handsome Gray Squirrel is a regular these days. It loves peanuts!

Perfectly designed, the peanut feeder and the sharp pointed beak of the White-breasted Nuthatch for feeding in small holes. The nuthatch has become a frequent daily feeder now and we have also seen s Red-breasted Nuthatch here also.

Wishing a Happy hallowwe'n to All

Thr Ghost pumpkin wishes that you :
Have a happy and safe celebration!. We usually have about 120 trick or treaters. The trick is not to eat too much candy!

A Spruce Grouse found!

Today was a lucky day for me.the first time ever that I have taken pictures of a Spruce Grouse.
I have been hoping to find a Ruffed Grouse, the species that I am most familiar with. But when I saw the black an white colourpatterning on this grouse I saw this morning I knew it wasn't a Ruffed Grouse:. the red cpmb above its eye was a dead give away that this was something different! It was quite a handsome looking bird! I had driven past it at first when I saw it walking on the gravel shoulder at Three Tree Creek. So when I spied it I drove on and turned and then came back to it. The sun was in my eyes so I got out of my car and walked up to it. These grouse do not frighten away easily.Being quite close allowed me to get a good picture of its rufus tipped tail feathers. This colour feature helped me to id this bird as an adult male taigia Spruce Grouse.What fun it was to find something a bit different to add to my collection of bird photos.

White-tailed Deer

Its deer hunting season in New Brunswick. I saw this young male yesterday standing alone at the edge of a clearing.I was able to drive very close to it and shoot it with my camera before it turned around and with its signature WHITE TAIL UP IT FLED AND DISAPPEARED INTO THE WOODS. DON'T Be TOO FRIENDLY AND CURIOUS DEAR DEER!

American Robin and other birdspecies in Bird Alley

The variety of species are starting to increase in Bird Alley. the colours of this Robin Red Breast blended in well with the colour of the leaves in our ornamental crabapple today. This afternoon two look alike birds, a black-capped Chickadee and a White-breasted Nuthatch were feeding side by side at the peanut feederThe numbers of Mourning Doves are increasing daily and a couple of Grackles are proving to be very elusive with their availability for photo shots. Sparrows are represented by a few Song Sparrows and sometimes a Chipping Sparrow is seen . And of course Blue Jays are daily visitors,:As is Gray Squirrel also and Hairy Woodpecker.Each day I am drawn to my window to watch the birds and they are spectatular beautiful little creatures to watch and enjoy.A male Hairy Woodpecker with a mouthful of peanuts
Song Sparrow above and a handsome Black-capped Chickadee below

Found another ring-billed gull with orange wing tags

On |October 8th. I had found a ring-billed gull with orange flour scent tags on its wings. You can see the post Iwroteabout it at: http://naturetales.blogspot.com/2009/10/ring-billed-gull-with-tags.html. Yesterday(Oct .26th.) was the first I had been back to the Carleton Park location and hoped I might see another tagged gull and I did! # 455. Ishall have to make Carleton Park a regular stop for the next while.Above is a view of Fredericton from Carleton |Park. The park is on the north side of the Saint john River.A gull's view of Fredericton.

Geese in the sky for skywatch Friday

The formation these Canada Geese is lacking in its usualbeautiful organized ;V' formation.something must have surprised them for as we drove down the highway, they rose in mass creating a tumbling sort of formation in the sky Happy skywatch Friday to all. My appreciative thanks to Sandy, Klaus, Ivar, Wren and Fishing Guyand Louise for hosting Sky Watch Friday

Autumn Gold for Mellow Yellow Monday

A golden photo memory from Autumn 2003.
Happy Monday to all To view a wonderful variety of yellow-themed photos from other bloggers around the world, just click on the link below