Connect2Nature 🇨🇦

A bare tree on a wintery beach.

#Connect2Nature Winter has arrived here on the shore of Lake Ontario, Canada.

This is one of my favourite trees near where I live.

A Mallard Drake in winter plumage.

#Connect2Nature A handsome Mallard Drake wondering why so many people are getting excited about Blue Jays when his winter plumage is so striking.

Taken on the Hendrie Valley trails at the Royal Botanical Gardens in Burlington, Ontario.

#Birds @#Nature #GoJays

#Connect2Nature It's Autumn here in Ontario... the leaves are spectacular and their reflection provides a great background for this very common Mallard swimming amongst the reeds.

I go to this place to ground myself in what's important and to channel my energy into my healing journey.

#Birds

#connect2nature
Blue Jays are anything but quiet. I hear them announce their arrival before I see them.
The baseball kind of Blue Jay doesn't worry about announcing themselves. It takes 0.0005 milliseconds to identify a Jays fan and after last night, there's even more of them.
#GoJays

Great job!

A mallard duck 'zooming' through the water.

#Connect2Nature
Even Mallards get the Zoomies. Taken on a lakeside walk this morning.

#Nature #Birds #Ducks #Photography

Two Eastern Screech Owls on a stump, displaying the red and grey colouring.

#Connect2Nature
Always good to have a friend, even if their ear tufts poke you in the eye.

These Eastern Screech Owls showing off the two colour morphs. I'm getting so much mileage from my visit to the Canadian Raptor Conservancy last December.

#Nature #Birds #Owls #Raptors #Photography

A Great Blue Heron against a dark background.

#Connect2Nature
There are several birds that have mastered the 'stare', but I think I would give top honours to the Great Blue Heron.

Photo from my archives, taken on a hike near Oakville, ON.

#Nature #Birds #Photography

A 3-Toed Sloth hanging on a branch in Costa Rica.

#Connect2Nature
After hiking the trails in Manuel Antonio park for the day, we came back to the hotel disappointed that while we saw amazing wildlife, the sloths were not visible...
Until we spotted this one back at the hotel.
#Nature #CostaRica #Photography

A Capuchin Monkey licking its hand after eating a banana.

#Connect2Nature
Capuchin monkeys are very common in Manuel Antonio Park in Costa Rica. This little one had just finished eating a banana, and was making sure not to miss anything.

Taken on a 2019 trip.

#Nature #Primates #CostaRica #Travel #Photography

Thanks... Plowing through this battle. Working on photos is great for the healing process.

Land Crab in Costa Rica.

#Connect2Nature
These colourful Land Crabs were abundant along the pathway through Manuel Antonio Park in Cost Rica. Most people were looking up for sloths and howler monkeys and missing the little gems on the ground.

Photo taken on a 2019 visit.

#Nature #Crabs #CostaRica #Photography

Three little birds in Costa Rica.

#Connect2Nature
A photo from a 2019 trip to Cost Rica. My bird buddies can help identify them.

They remind me of Bob Marley's song. "Don't worry. About a thing. Cause every little thing gonna be alright."

That was my theme song at the start of the healing journey I am now on.

#Nature #Birds

Blue Jay sitting on a branch

#Connect2Nature
Blue Jay of happiness. No blue birds were available.

Got a new computer and am going back through some older shots making sure everything works.

Taken on my favourite trails of the Royal Botanical Gardens.

#Nature #Birds #Photography

Close up of a Great Hornd Owl.

#Connect2Nature
Vigilent. Always watching. Focussed.

The intensity in the eyes of this Great Horned Owl is fascinating.

Photo taken at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy last Dec.

#Nature #Birds #Raptors #Photography

A skunk foraging in a backyard.

#Connect2Nature
Had a visitor while we sat out on the deck this morning. It was on the prowl for grubs. Reminds me of a T-shirt I saw years ago...
Eat a bug first thing in the morning, and your day will only get better from there!
Have an awsome Tuesday. Stay cool.

Excuse the quality... old phone.

The eye of a snowy owl.

#Connect2Nature
Another one of my 2nd pass edits of the shots I took at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy last Dec.

This male Snowy Owl's eyes were captivating.

#Nature #Birds #Raptors #Photography

Thanks Melanie!

Close up of a bald eagle against a white background.

#Connect2Nature
Great therapy in my healing journey to revist some older shots that didn't make the cut at first.

I took this shot last December at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy. It was an overcast day, and the grey sky accentuates the beak and eyes.

#Nature #Raptors #Birds #Photography

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.

#Connect2Nature
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.