Connect2Nature 🇨🇦

A Harris Hawk with its translucent nictitating membrane closed.

#Connect2Nature
Glad to have captured this shot of a Harris Hawk with its tranluscent nictitating membrane (third eyelid) closed. Gives a bit of eeriness to the shot.

Taken at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy last December.

#Nature #Birds #Raptors #Photography

The lookout over Harbour, Hamilton, Ontario Good morning! Thank you so much for remarkable the outpouring of support for my previous post about my Leukemia diagnosis. In Juravinski Hospital for the next month or so for treatment. They let me take a short walk this morning before the testing starts up again. Sitting on a bench overlooking Hamilton Harbour and more importantly, the Royal Botanical Gardens area where I spend so much time on the trails. A great spot for prayer, meditation, and to soak up this quiet moment. I am at peace.

#Connect2Nature
Good morning! Thank you so much for remarkable the outpouring of support for my previous post about my Leukemia diagnosis.

In Juravinski Hospital for the next month or so for treatment. See the Alt text for full description.

I am at peace.

I agree, but my current situation is on top of all the events of late. Thanks for commenting, it is appreciated.

Thanks so much. Truly appreciated.

A photo from the interior the cloister of Muckross Abbey in Ireland showing light eminating from a doorway.

Going through some personal challenges these days. I'm reposting this shot from the cloister of Muckross Abbey (Ring of Kerry) in Ireland showing light eminating from a doorway. It gives me hope that today's events are not forever.

#History #Peace #Photography

A close up portrait of an American Kestral.

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Fierce. Big Bird in a Little Body.

This may be a cute little bird, but it is a very competent hunter. I was able to meet her at Royal Canadian Falconry in Haliburton, Ontario last year.

#Nature #Birds #Photography

A Great Horned Owl on a branch.

#Connect2Nature
Some owls can look cute and dwerpy, but Great Horned Owls always look like they are in charge. They see everything.

This shot from my December visit to the Canadian Raptor Conservancy.

#Nature #Birds #Raptors #Photography

A Snowy Owl against a winter's scape.

#Connect3Nature
Happy #CanadaDay!
Even thought it's warm here, I thought I'd resurrect a photo of one of my favourite birds that should be back in this area in about 6 months time.

This Snowy Owl photo taken at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy.

#Nature #Birds #Photography

I'm envious. Best of luck for your shoot.

A Red Tailed Hawk with its wings extended perched on a post.

#Connect2Nature
Revisiting some of the shots I took at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy last Dec. This Red Tailed Hawk showed off its magnificence.

This was part of the birds in flight session. I am still delighted with my experience there.

#Nature #Birds #Photography

A large dog pushed off his bed by a little Chihuahua.

#Connect2Nature
At a cottage with friends. Sam, the large dog was evicted from his bed by Mini, a very small dog with a big attitude.

A daisy with rain drops

#Connect2Nature

A little joy on a rainy hike in the woods of #Muskoka, Ontario

Thanks! Glad I could bring some joy into other people's day!

Thanks for the kind words...

A mature female Orangutan in profile using a stick to fish out bugs.

#Connect2Nature
The best part of not being a commercial photographer is that you can post what you like without worrying about the critics.

This is one of my favourite shots of Puppe, the matriarch of the Orangutan troop at the Toronto Zoo. I love the textures in the shot.

#Wildlife #Nature

Thank you for those kind words. They are some of my favourite creatures.

Portrait of a Western Lowland Gorilla.

#Connect2Nature
Me, when I look at the buffet table and try to figure out how much salad I need to avoid to still have room for dessert. Buffet eating is an exact science.

Photo of this endangered Western Lowland Gorilla taken at the Toronto Zoo.

#Nature #Endangered #Apes #Photography

Sumatran Tiger at the Toronto Zoo playing with a barrel.

#Connect2Nature
I rarely include man made objects in my photos, even when I take them at a zoo. In this case, the Sumatran Tiger at the Toronto Zoo was having a barrel of fun (pun intended).

Cats will be cats.

Now if we only had a big box.

#Nature #Wildlife #Photography

African Grey Necked Crowned Crane on a large driftwood log.

#Connect2Nature
This is Huckleberry. An African Grey-Necked Crowned Crane in residence at the Toronto Zoo.
He could always be counted on to strut his stuff for the camera, but now that he has a mate, I don't think we'll be seeing it as much.

#Nature #Birds #Photography

A Western Lowland Gorilla picking its nose.

#Connect2Nature
Take your kids to the zoo! It will be very educational they said...

This Western Lowland Gorilla practicing for its drivers test - the section on what you do when waiting at a light.

Photo taken at the Toronto Zoo

#Nature #Endangered #Apes #Photography

Baltimore Oriole in flight.

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Orioles Away! Had a brief encounter with a Baltimore Oriole during a hike. He didn't stay around long to chat.

#Nature #Birds #Photography

A trellis covered in Wisteria and Roses.

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Wisteria and roses on my workshop in full spendor. This is a great time of year.
I built this trellis a couple of years ago to give the vine a place to grow otherwise invade mys workshop eaves and soffit.
The Hydrangea (lower left) is about to add its blossoms to the mix.
#Garden

Side view of a crow flying with its wings extended downward

#Connect2Nature

As a photographer you shoot a lot of duds especially when you are starting out. You do occasionally get certain shots that keep you in the game while you learn and the % of duds is reduced (but never zero).

I took this photo in 2014 and its still one of my favs.
#Birds

A backlit shadowy profile of a Western Lowland Gorilla

#Connect2Nature
I love playinjg with the light in post processing. I had great back lighting on this Western Lowland Gorilla at the Toronto Zoo, and it lent itself to a Film-Noire treatment.

It also shows the beauty and magnificence of this endangered species.

#GreatApes #Nature #Photography

A small turtle poking its head out of the water.

#Connect2Nature
This wee turtle popped its head out of the water long enough to look at the old fellow with the camera. If you zoom in, you can see me in its eye.

Taken in Naples Florida during a trip last winter.

#Nature #Reptiles #Photography

Close up portrait of a Sumatran Tiger

#Connect2Nature
The joy of telephoto lenses is the ability to get up close without getting up close and get shots like this.

This was shot at the Toronto Zoo through the (dirty) glass of the enclosure and the tiger in her den about 7m (20 feet) away.

Cropped and sharpened in post processing.

A black and white profile view of a polar bear against a dark background.

#Connect2Nature
This is obviously one of my Zoo shots (Toronto Zoo). It would be foolhardy to be this close in the wild. If you talk to Northerners,they will tell you that Polar Bears are as likely to hunt humans as any other prey.
They are magnificant creatures, but dangerous.

#Nature #Photography

A belted kingfisher sitting on a post.

#Connect2Nature
Today I learned the meaning of the word Halcyon - a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful. It's also associated with a myth where a King & Queen became Kingfishers & brought calm weather.

I can attest that this Belted Kingfisher brought me calm.

#Birds

An Allium or Ornamental Onion in bloom.

#Connect2Nature
One of my favourite early summer blooms - the Allium (Ornamental Onion) resplendent in its beauty.

Spotted in the Royal Botanical Gardens. The ones in my garden haven't bloomed yet.

#Nature #Flowers #Phototography

Thanks Susan. Photography and Nature's beauty is a form of therapy to counter the rage making mandate of social media and news today. It helps focus on things that are worth fighting for based on fact and not get diverted. Time in nature provides that grounding.