The weather has been good so far this week, if somewhat cool. It has been about 4 C in the morning, but that's good hiking weather so I've been all over, and this post is an amalgamation of photos, except for the birds where I really concentrated on the Cedar Waxwings. REMEMBER CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO ENLARGE AND WATCH THE SLIDE SHOW.
The scenes are one of the west bank wetlands using the reflection to capture the sky.
This one puts the sky back in.
We're really fortunate to have both the Cedar and the Bohemian Waxwings. The Cedars are now arriving in numbers as the berries ripen.
They're starting to become playful and even pose for the camera.
This one is in his formal pose and looking very handsome.
This is the start of the courtship ritual which is normally carried out with berries. Instead he's using an insect.
Here he has the insect and is sidling up real nice and close.
They've shared it now.
And are now going to admire one another.
There's a lot of Red-winged Blackbirds in the wetlands. All the ones in this sequence are males.
This Raven also posed for me.
This Robin always seems to be waiting as I'm leaving for home.
White Admiral
White Admiral.
Skipper.
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail.
Canadian Tiger Swallowtail.
Wood Satyr.
Monarch
Monarch
Unknown Demoiselle.
And of course, a Red Squirrel.
The Blue Flags are up in all the wetlands now. Yes they're a wild Iris.
What's so astounding is their vivid colour. Below is Cow Vetch.
 |
| Cow Vetch |
Wild Daisy with spider webs.
The forgetmenots are still growing along the banks of the River and the wetlands. They're about the size of the finger nail on your smallest finger.
Spreading Dog bane. These flowers are as small as the forgetmenots. I checked on the web. These plants are not poisonous to dogs.
Spreading Dog bane.
Wild Asters. This is Daisy Fleabane as pointed out by Caroline. It is a wild Aster.
Bladder Campions.
Bush Honeysuckle.
Devil's Paintbrush.
Red Clover with an ant.
Tansy.
A Post to
SWF,
Camera Critters and
Scenic Sunday.
that white admiral is very striking! love the blue reflections in the first few shots. very nice set.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful post today! I so love those Cedar Waxwings. They are magnificent!
ReplyDeleteGreat series of beautiful photos.
ReplyDeleteLove all of them.
Thanks for sharing.
Wish you a wonderful weekend.
Mette
Beautiful, so beautiful.
ReplyDeleteOnce again you provided us with stunning pictures. You are making me very jealous with the butterfly photos. Hopefully, I'll be getting some butterfly pics in the near future.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful images, nice variety.
ReplyDeleteWonderful captures as always, Gary! Such lovely blue skies and all the birds and butterflies do look happy! Have a great weekend!
ReplyDeleteSylvia
So many details in your post, - I do like that!
ReplyDeleteStunning reflections and gorgeous wildlife shots. How I'd love to visit your area someday, it's so lush and so completely different from what I see every day...
ReplyDeleteLots of great shots of varying design.
ReplyDeleteLiked all the pictures but fell most of nature.
Ottar
Such smooth glassy water to capture those lovely reflections!
ReplyDeleteI've never seen a white admiral butterfly so many thanks for finding and sharing this one.
the water is so peaceful, so calm. i really enjoyed the flora of the place.
ReplyDeleteMy sky is here
so much to enjoy. :)
ReplyDeleteGary, You are at 4degrees and here we are at 47degrees...difficult to even step out:)I love the reflection shots...beautiful.Great post.Have a graet weekend!
ReplyDeleteShantana
fantastic shots! really wonderful :)
ReplyDeleteGreat wildflowers and butterflies. But the waxwings pix are my favorites. We saw that courtship ritual one year only in the holly tree in our backyard in Oregon....really what got me interested in birds. Lovely series, the whole thing. Still traveling -- I'll come back later and catch up your posts I missed.
ReplyDeleteGreat series of shots. You've been colder than us!
ReplyDeleteWow, Gary-- this post has everything! The wacwing beh
ReplyDeleteWe used to get loads of Cedar Waxwings in our crab apple trees when I was growing up, we actually confused them with female cardinals the first time we saw them!
ReplyDeleteYou have a plethora of beautiful flora, fauna, sky and water reflection photos here! I especially like the the Bohemian Waxwing's courtship ritual--so cute! You have a good knowledge of wildflowers' names...I'm impressed.
ReplyDeleteLovely reflections of the sky in those first few shots!
ReplyDeleteThese are all wonderful shots. The reflections in the first shots are fantastic and always great to see the birds.
ReplyDeleteThat's a very beautiful series!
ReplyDeleteThanks for birds, flowers an the squirrel :-)
ReplyDeleteIt's always a pleasure to look at your pictures. I like to see the similaritys and the differences between my surroundings and yours.
Have a nice day.
Mormor Norway
Great series of photos! All so beautiful!
ReplyDeleteMy favourite shot this week is the first one of the redwing!! Just incredible!!
ReplyDeleteWonderful clear capture .. I'm amazed at the clarity of your butterfly pics. I'm wondering Garry how you pronounce Vermilon? is the stress on the Ver or the mil ... each time I see the name I try to get a sense of how it would sound.
ReplyDeleteAmazing variety. Love the waxwings!
ReplyDeleteSuch delightful pictures you've captured!
ReplyDeleteLove the wetlands, - they are such a treasure of surprises.
ReplyDeletelovely shots of nature
ReplyDeleteI love the reflection from the pond. Very pretty place to hike. :)
ReplyDeleteYou must have quick fingers to capture the butterflies. Nicely taken!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Alexander
Alex's World! - http://www.kakinan.com/alex
I love the reflection from the pond. Very beautiful place to hike. :)
ReplyDeleteYou have quick fingers to capture the butterflies :) Very nicely taken!
Have a wonderful weekend.
Alexander
Alex's World! - http://www.kakinan.com/alex
always delightful scenes and an abundance of nature's bounty; your posts are always winning ones Gary
ReplyDeleteWhat a variety all very charming.
ReplyDeleteI like all you beautiful pictures very much ! Thank you!
ReplyDeleteHi there - the iris are great.
ReplyDeleteAnd (as ever) I am amazed by how much you find on your trips.
Stewart M
PS: the popular vote seems to be going for the second image in my blog rather than your choice - but I like them both!
Familiar flowers of back home in the Adirondacks, fun to see. Your blue flag are much deeper blue than the ones I have here in the Black Hills of SD, beautiful. BTW, New England asters bloom in the fall, what you have there is one of the fleabanes, I think. I have them in my yard, too.
ReplyDeleteYou're right. I think what threw me was the mauve tinge.They're a Daisy Fleabane.
DeleteWonderfully bright colours in these gorgeous shots!
ReplyDeleteSuch a magical place. Your reflections are gorgeous and the Blue Flags are lovely!
ReplyDeleteLove the Waxwings and you've got some stunning butterflies over there.
ReplyDeleteThese are all amazing. Wonderful photos. Lots of the same thing in our wetland, too!
ReplyDeleteI spotted a White Admiral this past week.
So many bugs so little time!
The White Admirals are fairly rare do you find that?
DeleteBeautiful photos as always. The waxwings are beautiful birds.
ReplyDeleteYou got me when I read the title "the courting habits of cedar waxwings".!! Then I saw the redwing black birds and the beautiful blue iris, the lovely butterflies and I'm wowowed by all the wonderful color!
ReplyDeleteWhat a beautiful collection of flora and fauna! Love that variety of colors, and especially the courting pics.
ReplyDeleteI caught it again this week.
Deletebeautiful collection pictures, beautiful scenery, magnificent birds both known and unknown, nice flowers and nice butterflies.
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed all but my favorite is the image size 5.
Ottar
What's nice about that area is, there is generally a breeze which chases off the mosquitoes.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for your visit and kind words.
ReplyDeleteFascinating to learn about courtship with an insect. You did well to capture that interaction!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures, as I went through them I kept thinking that's my favorite, no that's my favorite; they are all wonderful, thanks for sharing!
ReplyDelete