2012 in Photographic Retrospect (Part 1) at The Vermilon River.

 I started out to review my files to make some prints for my frames that I change every so often. I got the idea then that I might do this retrospective on 2012. The photos are ones that I like, new sightings, and changes in my photo habits: for instance, I took up shooting scenery, which led me to the peculiar lighting of the area. Some of them have been published before, others not. The photos also show the diversity of the Vermilon River forest. Canada has very different areas and terrains, many of which are wilderness areas. In that sense we are blessed. After all real wilderness is limited. A wilderness area is not a park where the infrastructure is the equivalent of any urban centre. (My definition), and the delivery of the area is modeled on Disneyland. Opposite: Black-Throated Green Warbler.

I was going to talk about wind chill and ambient temperature, as well as wildfire. But Google is already warning me of space problems. I also think I'll need a part 2 to this post. So click any photo, and enjoy the slideshow. A post to WBW,Our World Tuesday and Id Rather Be Birding.

Indigo Bunting.

Canadian Swallowtail. I also took up shooting insects which are amazing in numbers, and identification difficulties.

Cedar Waxwing

 Chickadees are not rare, but are prime camera subjects. As well they're an indicator of other birds.

 Wild Chicory. Photographing wild flowers opened up another field.

 Chipmunks are ground squirrels which I found out because a visitor asked me about the relationship berween chipmunks and red squirrels.

Great Blue Heron

Female Purple Finch

Fleabane

Gold Sky

Female Red Winged Blackbird.

Immature Yellow Rumped Warbler.

 The Vermilon Forest is a breeding area for some nine warbler species, so you get non-breeding plumage as well as immature plumage, and the resplendent breeding plumage, as well as gender differences. Opposite: Yellow Rumped Warbler.

  Immature Male Red Winged Blackbird changing into his adult plumage.

Oven Bird,a Warbler.

Piper

Frosty Rapids

Red Squirrel In Black Spruce.

Ruffled Grouse

Song Sparrow

Tree Sparrow

 Female Snapping Turtle who will shortly lay her eggs.

Common Buckeye.

Unknown

Sun Rising over a werland

White Throat.

White Throat feeding young. I couldn't id the young until I got this photo.

 Leucistic Purple Finch.

Black and White Warbler

  The little Black Bear that cleaned out my favorite blueberry patch.

Indigo Bunting

Male Northern Harrier

Leucistic Purple Finch.

Evening Grosbeck

Male Redstart

Misty wetland

River Otter

 Tundra.

Midland Red Turtles in wetland

Common Buckeye a little out of his area.

Yellow Warbler

Female Redstart

Cedar Waxwing

Chipmunk with food

Yellow Rump Warbler

Ruffled Grouse.

Male or Juvie Northern Harrier in flight.

Red-eyed Vireo

Male Redstart

Wild sunflowers

Female Ruby Throat

Immature Yellow throat

Northern Harrier in flight

Close up

Female Ruby throat.

Canada Thistle

Father and Son Harriers

Female Northern Harrier

Fox Sparrow.

Great Blue In flight.

Same

River Otter

Monarch on devil's paintbrush

Huey

Dewey

Reproducing Snapping Turtles.

A new werland

Louie

Pine Sisken

Bohemian Waxwing

Wood ducks in flight

Great blue.

Mourning Cloak Butterfly

N Harrie

Frolicing Otter.

Female Redstart