Friday, April 29, 2016

Five on Friday

Joining up with Amy for Five on Friday today. Two weeks ago my husband and I visited a park over in Ajax along the shores of Lake Ontario. Rotary Park has the Waterfront Trail run through it, and there are lots of people using the trail for cycling, rollerblading and walking. We decided to just walk along as I wanted to take some photos.

One

This is the reason I wanted to visit this portion of the park ... this magnificent tree! I don't know what type of tree it is (leaves weren't out), but I have admired the silhouette of this tree for many years.



Someone has planted a lot of crocus bulbs around the base of the tree, and these were all blooming when we visited.




Two

The Waterfront Trail ... this is a really well-maintained trail out our way, paved and designated lanes. It passes a water filtration plant where a strange circle of walls has been erected. I think it would be a bit nicer if there was a garden, or at least some benches or tables within these walls. Rather pointless otherwise.








Three

The lake was very calm and still that day, and it turned out to be the only really warm day we've had this spring so far. It was about 9:00 am when we we visited the park, so the wind and waves hadn't started yet.





Four

I found a few wild flowers blooming under the bushes. I took a few photos and stood up to find another lady waiting her turn to photograph the evidence of spring's arrival. Snowdrops and some blue flowers. I don't know the name of the blue flowers, but if you do, please let me know :)








Five

There were some very old willow trees along the path, and I just loved the texture of their craggy bark. There were most likely a lot of willows in this area years ago, but they seem to be dying off now. I'm sorry that the towns are not replanting them because it's a shame to see such beauties disappear from the waterfront altogether. I know their roots are invasive, but this is all parkland and that shouldn't be a concern.







chopped willow :(

Thanks for stopping by today!

Wendy




Monday, April 25, 2016

Backyard Birds

Things have been a little crazy around here lately, and it's on again, off again with the blog and visiting everyone. I would like to thank everyone for all the comments you've been leaving on my last couple of posts! It's been really nice to see so many of you stopping by and saying such nice things :) I just haven't been able to sit down to reply to everyone. I'm even having trouble visiting everyone, and had hoped to get around a bit this weekend. Didn't happen. I could write out a long drawn-out explanation of what's going on, but I'm not up to it. I did get some nice photos of birds recently. Actually I think these were taken two weeks ago.  Anyway, just wanted to say thanks for stopping in. I've turned comments off this time because I just can't keep up. Enjoy the pics. 




for Patricia at Red Cardinal ;)

female downy woodpecker

woodpeckers look awkward on the ground
crazy hair day (male downy)




pine siskin
watching a hawk
pine siskin (tiny) / house sparrow (chubby)


luv 'em

grackle, puffed up as he 'skrees'


prehistoric saber-toothed squirrel
Junco ... watching a hawk


pine siskin ... watching the same hawk
The little birds watching the hawk were so still. They all stopped eating and lowered themselves down and tipped their heads this way and that. I finally got up from my seat and stepped out from the patio umbrella and saw the hawk way, way up in the sky circling round. He flew away then, and the birds went back to eating.

Also, I have finally got pine siskins coming to my feeder! Happy about that ... unhappily I ran out of birdseeds, and haven't seen them since :(



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