I have been slowly getting caught up of being almost a year behind in some of my outings. Having a deadline for portraits makes me push through, but I have trouble setting deadlines for my nature work. I realized that I had not had the chance to look through that file of photos. Her post reminded me, so I went and took a look.
SLM original post here.
It was a perfect day.
Serena and I drove up to the Bruce Peninsula. We talked and talked, and laughed and laughed, we stopped and said Hello to Willie (Wiarton Willie that is). We drove up to the Dyers Bay Area. I had found some really cool backroads while bird banding on the Bruce and I was dying to share them with her.
We ran into birds and critters and creatures at every turn. We were prepared, and we were both outfitted in bug jackets the entire time, and thank goodness since they were quite thick at times.
On the drive in to spot where I had seen the cranes before we ran into a snapping turtle. I think she was heading for the gravel to lay eggs.
On that same road there was some great wild irises, there colours all the more vibrant since they weren't seen in someones garden.
As well as some beautiful reticulated irises.
I hear a strange insect sound, and went searching for what was making it, it took me a while to realize that I was looking for the wrong type of animal. I was looking on the ground and in the grass for an insect and what was making the noise was a Grasshopper Sparrow. A first for me. They sound just like a grasshopper, hence the name, although I think they eat grasshoppers as well. Either way, I love seeing a new species of bird for the first time. (New to me anyway lol)
An Eastern Phoebe, not my first time for this bird, but the first time I was able to get a decent photo of him.
And then we had made it to the cranes. They were still right where I had seen them last time. It was great to see so many together at once.
We got geared up in sunscreen and bug gear and headed across the fields, just to see what we could see. After getting back from a good workout hike, we look out in the field and see..................a bear. Where the heck did he come from? Was he in the field the whole time, did we think he was a rock? What a sneak, and a little trickster. There was no time for him to have come from the woods many yards away. He must have been sleeping the whole time. Definitely opened my eyes. I think I need to add Bear Spray to the camera bag - just in case I trip over him next time.
Adored the colours on this Common Grackle.
We saw many swallow tail butterflies, there were moving in large groups and so beautiful.
Serena capturing the details. Very wet and very steep.
An amazing day with an amazing friend came to an end with a gorgeous sunset on Georgian Bay. Life doesn't get any better. It was a perfect day.
