Thursday, June 12, 2014

A View Of The Lush Vermilon Forest.

I put this shot in because it's the only way to travel the River comfortably, but also the canoe, at least to me, looks like a restored cedar strip, a work of art. I'd give my eye teeth to own that beauty, but I'm not certain that I could now sit it. The weather was good last week and the forest reflects earlier rain and some sun as you'll see. In fact everything is moving ahead in leaps and bounds. This is a long post so use the slide show.


Butterfly

Same butterfly showing the outside wings. It's a Painted Lady
This whole section shows the forest blooms. Opposite are Choke Cherries, blooming at the same time as the Pin Cherries, an unusual occurrence.

A post to:I'd Rather Be Birding,Our World Tuesday and WBW.
Pin Cherries

Star Flowers

Wild Strawberries

Pin Cherries

Pin Cherries

Choke Cherries

High Bush Cranberries

Canada Mayflower growing along the forest floor.

And herein lies a story. These are fiddleheads becoming fern fronds. They are a main dish along the eastern shore of the US and Canada. They are rich in fatty acids. They're usually served with a hollandise sauce.
This photo is just to give you some idea of the size of the Berry trees.
Every year I'm fortunate enough to see and photograph a snapping turtle. These shots are from two years ago. She's laying her eggs in the sand at the edge of the pond. She's well over 25 inches long and is therefore over 25 years old. They live to 70.
Same Turtle. Notice that her shell is not large enough to withdraw into. On land she will attack and her neck is long and rotates. She doesn't attack in the water, where she feels safe.
You cannot move these guys by the shell, or you will break her back. You move them by using a plank or paddle.
I got these shots last year in a large wetland. They're reproducing, not bad for a couple of 70+.
This is a small one about 10 inches long that I saw this year.
Ontario has nine species of turtle. All but one is at risk,with poaching and lose of habitat ranking high in the causes.
This is a Mourning Warbler that decided to pose for me.





Red Winged Blackbird.


Male Tree Swallow




I was lucky enough to run into another group of Cedar Waxwings.












Buddies

Enough of this. Let's eat now.

65 comments:

  1. Mourning Warbler, Cedar Waxwings, my pick of the birds, and totally lovable, Bobbi. Gary, a super series of photos, flowers galore, and birds so enjoying sunshine and warmer days, as you both are too. Fond greetings, Jean.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Beautiful series of birds and flowering trees, also enjoyed your turtle series,

    ReplyDelete
  3. Hi Gary Yes that first shot with its reflection is stunning and what a wonderful collection of great butterfly, Turtle, flower and birds shots. Have a good weekend.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Your posts are always interesting and this time you showed me what "fiddleheads" are - I've read about them quite often. Love the look of that canoe!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Well Gary, what a beautiful scenery, you certainly know how to do it, excellent photos.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Wonderful, great photos, an extravagantly nature and interesting turtles.

    ReplyDelete
  7. What a wonderful set of images, Gary. That first one, however, really gets my imagination stirring. Like you, I dream of spending a few days on the river in a craft like this - as long as the sun was shining!

    So pleased that I've found you again. I see that, as well as Boom (give him a hug from me) there's now a Bobbi in your life. Do I take it that it's Bobbi in the last image!

    ReplyDelete
  8. Oh, Gary! I'm glad I found you again after my rough year of on-again-off-again last year! I had missed this gorgeous place and it's amazing creatures! Beautiful photos! I enjoyed this very much!

    ReplyDelete
  9. I agree, your posts are always beautiful and informative.. Thank you for posting about snappers.. People fear them and don't know how to handle them...if you really really have a need to. We have them here and I find baby snappers from time to time.. very cute...Michelle

    ReplyDelete
  10. Beautiful series of nature shots, Gary♡♡♡
    Sending you lots of Love and Hugs from Japan, xoxo Miyako*

    ReplyDelete
  11. So glad I found this page through Anni's 'Bird D'Pot', Gary! I tried to settle in Toronto a few years ago and was unsuccessful after giving it a few months. That time will always haunt me as a lost opportunity, as Ontario (and Canada in general) is a beautiful place, and I wish I had explored the wilderness more while I was there. But I'll follow your blog now and live vicariously! With this post, I really enjoyed learning about the Snapping Turtles and had no idea they could suffer so much from handling.

    I keep a similar nature blog with a wide-ranging focus on the wildlife of Brisbane, Australia, that you're welcome to check out!

    I look forward to more posts! Christian :)

    ReplyDelete
  12. What a wonderful tour! We've been helping critters across the roads. The snappers are in terrible danger. I have sent a couple across the way!
    Great photos!
    Rich greens, lovely canoe.
    (ツ) from Cottage Country Ontario , ON, Canada!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Where is my kibbles and bits?!!!

    Gary, as always a real treasure here. I know one thing, I could easily live here when the birds are so glorious and so abundant!!

    Thanks for linking up this weekend at the Bird D'Pot!! All the birders appreciate your participation.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wonderful photos! I love the waxwings, all the flowers and the turtles.

    ReplyDelete
  15. A number of beautiful photos Gary. I was particularly interested to see and read all about Snapping Turtles.

    ReplyDelete
  16. A number of beautiful photos Gary. I was particularly interested to see and read all about Snapping Turtles.

    ReplyDelete
  17. A wonderful selection of nature. The Mourning Warbler is beautiful.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Wow so many great photos from birds, butterflies, flowers and that interesting turtle. Thanks for sharing!
    Hope your cute dog got his treats...

    ReplyDelete
  19. I can see why you'd rather be Birdin ... lovely captures of our dear feathered friends and that quaint turtle.
    Hoping your week gies well.

    ReplyDelete
  20. What lush forest and gorgeous bird shots!

    ReplyDelete
  21. Gorgeous flowers and birds pictures, Gary! The last photo had me laugh :)

    ReplyDelete
  22. Wonderful compositions, pretty flowers! Great colors! creative and stunning photos in the wild!

    ReplyDelete
  23. Such wonderful photos of a beautiful place to live! I love the old wood canoes. They are works of art. Interesting notes about the snapping turtles.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Wonderful photography series of what 'nature creates' ~ Love your dog photo ~ thanks, ^_^

    artmusedog and carol (A Creative Harbor)

    ReplyDelete
  25. You got some marvelous pictures! Cedar Waxwings are so gorgeous. They visit Norway too!

    Eva Jorunn

    ReplyDelete
  26. Love the turtle ! whe had once one living in our garden it loved strawberries !

    ReplyDelete
  27. When very young, I couldn't wait for the hot summer days going up to the mountains and hunting [and eating] the wild strawberries!! That Mourning Warbler...we are supposed to have them this far south during migration, but I've yet to see one....color me green with envy. And yes that canoe IS truly a work of art!! With you as my guide and the fine Bobbi....I would love to go on a trip of a lifetime on the river!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Another interesting and informative post Garry.

    ReplyDelete
  29. Love the turtle photos! Looks like a lot of nice flowers and wildlift in your neck of the woods. Great photos.

    ReplyDelete
  30. love the canoe and all those waxwings. :)

    ReplyDelete
  31. Gorgeous flowers and the birds are all lovely.. One of my favorites is the Mourning Warbler. Have a happy week!

    ReplyDelete
  32. sweet bobbi! loved the warbler and the waxwings. the snappers are prehistoric beings!

    ReplyDelete
  33. Wonderful seeing the butterflies, turtles and birds. Beautiful place!

    ReplyDelete
  34. Lush and so full of life. I love seeing wildlife when I'm hiking.

    ReplyDelete
  35. As always your post is full of so many wonderful images!

    ReplyDelete
  36. A wonderful beginning to the season Gary! We have a lot of the same blooms down here in the forest. Lovely bird captures, a gorgeous butterfly and a neat turtle. We sold out cedar strip a few years ago :( I can no longer paddle comfortably with the spasticity from the Multiple Sclerosis.
    Bobbi has the sweetest little pink speckled nose!

    ReplyDelete
  37. What a strange turtle! Excellent photos.

    ReplyDelete
  38. What a beautiful selection of photos.

    ReplyDelete
  39. The Mourning Warbler was my fav but I also love Tree Swallows...something about their tails that gets me going...that snapper was a big one...we had one down in VA that I tried to steer back up the mountain one year because she was digging to lay eggs under my fence...silly old woman!...:)JP

    ReplyDelete
  40. We have edible ferns in our part of the globe too. I just love the canoe on the very peaceful-looking water.

    ReplyDelete
  41. A wonderful post Gary... Stunning images.

    ReplyDelete
  42. I love the wild life you show. Imagine being able to reproduce at 70+ !

    ReplyDelete
  43. One photo more beautiful than the next. And who new about fiddleheads? Not me!

    ReplyDelete
  44. Amazing shots of the Mourning Warbler! I've never seen one before.

    ReplyDelete
  45. That is a great looking boat - and so much nicer to paddle than the plastic or (even more so) metal ones. Always warm to the touch.

    Cheers - Stewart M - Melbourne

    ReplyDelete
  46. Hi Gary-- love your waxwing photos, and the red-winged blackbird in flight is wonderful! I think your pooch has the right idea.

    ReplyDelete
  47. It's always exciting to see your photos. No exceptions here. Great series and text!

    Ottar

    ReplyDelete
  48. Love your collection of photos here. I especially love the snapping turtles, male mourning warbler and cedar waxwings. The last photo of Bobbi with the description is cute too. :)

    ReplyDelete
  49. What a great stash of nature shots. Love those waxwings and the beautiful canoe has me itching to go out in it. Nice to see your friend growing too.

    ReplyDelete
  50. I saw a just hatched baby snapping turtle a couple weeks ago. But didn't have my camera. Darn. Wonderful images.

    ReplyDelete
  51. so many wonderful slides to see Gary; I think my favourite this time was that beautiful golden Mourning Warbler

    ReplyDelete
  52. The boat is a beauty! So are the pin cherries, and I am amazed by every butterfly I see. Wish I had the skill to photograph them! Have a wonderful week!. Thanks for connecting:)

    ReplyDelete
  53. Gary, you certainly have an eye for hidden gems in the forest. I didn't know that turtles had such long tails!
    Thanks for the beautiful photos.
    Wil, ABCW Team

    ReplyDelete
  54. Nice photos, beautiful flowers, are delicious, full of delicate nature!

    ReplyDelete
  55. Beautiful flowers, and I love the turtle!

    ReplyDelete
  56. Beautiful shot of the canoe - and I agree it is very desirable! I love your shots of the posing morning warbler, and the info about the turtles is very interesting - thank you.

    ReplyDelete
  57. And you made a beautiful post. I always love your photo's and learn a lot from it.

    ReplyDelete
  58. A wonderful series of stunning photos with full of information. Thanks for sharing and commenting on my blog.
    Have a wonderful day. Yoshi

    ReplyDelete
  59. Splendid nature photos and thank you for letting us know how to move a snapping turtle safely. Great info in this post. Thanks so much!

    ReplyDelete
  60. Gary... what a visual treat. I enjoyed each and everyone of your photos!

    ReplyDelete
  61. A charming series of captures Gary. Thank you for sharing.

    ReplyDelete