This morning I took a walk through a tiny little nature reserve very close to my house. Half of it is wooded and the other half is a field. The woods are right along the shores of Lake Ontario, and are a protected bit of private land. It's a haven for birdwatchers and for anyone looking for wildflowers (such as me!). I was first greeted with the beautiful Baltimore Oriole as he sang his sharp clear song as we stepped into the woods. They sound quite similar to the American Robin, but with a louder and clearer note. These woods are beautiful because they are just left to evolve on their own. The only work that is done is to maintain the pathways by clearing them of fallen trees etc. There are quite a few tall white pines in the forest, along with the stumps from logging days. Lots of heavy vines cover some of the trees making it very attractive for nesting birds.
I'm not so good at identifying wildflowers, so there are a few here for which I don't know the name. Also, even though there seem to be wildflowers blooming everywhere at the moment ... very little is blooming here. I've taken photos of the plants I saw today, but many of them weren't in flower just yet. I did find this great website for Ontario Wildflowers if you're interested. Lots of photos and descriptions to help identify plants. I should point out also that you were forbidden from leaving the path in this sensitive area, so I couldn't get right up to some of the plants. I actually used a zoom lens to get in close enough to show you (not the best for close ups!).
I'm just going to let the pictures do the talking now. I hope you enjoy them! I'm linking up today with Soma of Whims and Fancies and her Wandering Camera.
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| Baltimore Oriole |
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| May Apples |
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| the tiny May Apple |
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| unknown |
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| ferns |
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| Rufous-sided Towhee |
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| Dogtooth Violet |
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| ferns |
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| ferns |
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| and more ferns! |
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| unknown |
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| an old puffball? |
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| May Apples |
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| Red Trilliums! |
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| Red-winged Blackbird |
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| Marsh Marigolds |
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| Cardinal |
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| White Trilliums ... Ontario's Provincial Flower |
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| White Trillium still in bud |
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| Chickadee-dee-dee |
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| Sign as you enter the field |
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| Sign as you enter the woods |
The oriole is such a beautiful bird, we don't have them here and I'd never seen one until we visited my sister in Oklahoma. I was amazed at its colors.
ReplyDeleteWe do have cardinals, loads of them. My husband can identify many birds by their song, I'm hopeless, the best I can do is identify the woodpecker by his drilling.
Great shots Wendy!! Beautiful photos. It reminds me of my Dad as he's an avid bird watcher and knows so much about which birds are which and their calls. As well as all the woodsy plants and things (he's a big berry picker too). ;)
ReplyDeletethanks for sharing! xoxo
I've enjoyed taking a walk with you my friend. You have birds and plants there that we don't have here. I always loved seeing the Trillium in NC in the Spring. They are such beautiful plants with dainty flowers. Enjoy your evening! Hugs, Diane
ReplyDeleteThat was lovely...your bird photographs are beautiful...
ReplyDeleteTook my mind off the fire for a while...
Cheers!
Linda :o)
O, I haven't seen an oriole for awhile. Such beautiful birds. It's so nice to see the flowers blooming and the ferns coming up. Great pics.
ReplyDeleteOh, how I love seeing cardinals! My dear Grandma Betty {she lived in Southampton, Ontario} loved cardinals so when I see them I think of her :) Sadly, we don't get them here in the Rocky Mountains.
ReplyDeleteYour photos were a delight to look at - I so enjoy seeing the wildlife :) Have a wonderful weekend. Hugs!
I enjoyed this so very very much, great photos,, wonderful woods,,
ReplyDeleteOoo, nice red cardinals - and red trilliums (I have never seen those!). love the white trilliums too. Lovely photos of Spring; I love the way green plants burst forth so quickly after the winter snows, a phenomenon we never see in tropical climates.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful series of photos from the woods.
ReplyDeleteGreat series of photos - love the birds tucked away in the trees.
ReplyDeleteHello Wendy, this preserve looks like my kind of place to visit and walk. The birds are awesome, love the oriole and towhee. The spring plants and flowers are pretty. I do not think I have ever seen red trillium. I have seen the May Apples and the ferns are pretty. Great post and wonderful series of photos. Thanks for sharing your walk. Happy Friday, enjoy your weekend!
ReplyDeleteI loved this walk! Beautiful flowers and birds! We are blessed with cardinals in our neighborhood, I love them!
ReplyDeleteI loved this walk! Beautiful flowers and birds! We are blessed with cardinals in our neighborhood, I love them!
ReplyDeleteWonderfully captured! love the shot of flying cardinal.
ReplyDeletehave a great weekend..
Your photos captured the essence of woodlands so beautifully!! Such a beautiful place, I am happy to hear that it is protected! I really enjoyed the walk, Wendy. I am learning to identify the wildflowers too. There is a lot of information on the web. I will take a look a the Ontario Wildflowers website. Thank you so much for sharing the photos on Wandering Camera!
ReplyDelete-Soma
I have really enjoyed looking at your lovely photo's Wendy both in this post and the last I like to enlarge them and I can almost imagine I'm there so beautiful. Have a lovely weekend, :) xx
ReplyDeleteLovely to go wandering with you! You have so many great places to go walking and exploring. Hope you are having a good weekend! xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a great place to wander. Such beautiful flowers and birds. And, that adorable little chipmunk, too cute!
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed this post very much - what a beautiful spot. Some great photos and thank you for including the shots of the two signs at the end; I found them very interesting.
ReplyDeleteLovely photos of life emerging from the forest floor. And the cardinal - so bright and beautiful!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful pictures :)
ReplyDelete