View From The Top

These views were taken from the top of Mount Mackay overlooking Thunder Bay in Ontario. You can see that the weather on the day was quite changeable. As Summer ended and autumn began it was quite wild as we looked out across to Pie Island and the Sleeping Giant and Lake Superior. As the heavy cloud came across and the hail fell it was time to head back down the mountain but away from the top we quickly warmed up and could enjoy the beautiful greenery of the forest trail.

Some Woodland and Garden Birds

So I won't make any claims about the quality of these shots, and apart from saying they were taken handheld using my large telephoto lens on a cold morning I won't make any excuses about them either.

I love the challenge of photographing wildlife and would love to spend much more time out searching for the perfect shot. The first 6 shots were taken as I was heading back to my car after standing on the edge of a lagoon photographing a family of beavers and the woodpecker shots were captured after taking  a wrong turn at the start of a hike at Mount Mackay.

At the time I took these pictures I tried top identify the different birds but a few months have passed since then and I have largely forgotten.

The first two shots are of a Black-throated Green Warbler, the last two are of a beautiful Downy Woodpecker and the one before the woodpecker is a Black-capped Chickadee.

The other two species however I couldn't identify, I figure they might be varieties of sparrow or warbler but after a long time scanning through different images online I still couldn't definitively say what they are. Whatever they are along with the other shots they are a nice selection of some of Canada's  wonderful wildlife.

The Sun and The Moon

I took these shots across the lake early one morning as the sun was rising behind the Sleeping Giant. There was a chill in the air but there was barely a breeze so there was hardly a ripple on the lake.

I love the golden light in these shots it was a perfect start to the day.

As the day begins night ends and as I was watching the sunrise the moon was still high in the sky behind me.  It seems so odd with such a contrast between the golden sky over the lake and the cool blue cloudless sky over Mission Marsh

Amazing Kakabeka Falls

Here are two views of the amazing waterfall at Kakabeka. It is a sight that has some really good memories for me. The last time we visited I had watched a juvenile bald eagle take flight from the forest across the river and then we sat watching a majestic adult eagle as it perched in a tree 20 metres away.

This year when we went back as well as watching and listening as the water thundered over the falls and through the gorge on its way to Fort William and Thunder Bay I watched another Eagle fishing along the river and then went for a delicious lunch at The Eddy a really great diner that I would heartily recommend and that I will definitely go back to.

Oh What A Beautiful Morning!

So these three images of the Sleeping Giant were captured on two different mornings and from two different vantage points during my recent stay in Thunder Bay.

The first was on a rather overcast morning shot from the along the waterfront near the marina. The ship on the horizon looks huge in comparison to the giant and the low cloud in the distance resembles a plume of smoke adding to the atmosphere of this image.

The second and third views are from the boardwalk at Mission Marsh Conservation Area at sunrise. As you can see it was a beautiful golden morning with colours changing rapidly as the sun rose higher in the sky.

The Original Chipster

I was going to go back to posting pictures of fungi again today since I have so many but I decided instead to share a couple of shots a cute little chipmunk.

We had walked to the highest point at the end of the finger point trail, there were some fantastic views out across the lake which made the effort of the climb worth it. Pausing for a snack before heading back down we were visited by this young fella, who was quite timid at first but after a few minutes he approached a little closer so we got a better view.

Pigeon Bay

By the time we reached this point we had already hiked to the middle falls on Pigeon River and then heading in the other direction on the Finger Point Trail it was time to stop and relax before the final stretch to the top. 

It was a good spot to stop and enjoy the view across Pigeon Bay towards boundary island and the USA and of course build a cool stone stack...

Pigeon River

Today I am sharing two views of Pigeon River from slightly different perspectives but both shots taken from just above the falls. As I said in my blog the other day (click here) this river forms the natural border between Canada (Ontario on the right) and the USA (Minnesota on the left). Although the river is quite wide and fast flowing it is probably possible when the river is low like this to wade across from one country to the other although you would have to negotiate some quite dense forest on either side. Unless of course you crossed near the falls and used the hiking trails on either side of the river.

I have seen some photos today however that show the falls after heavy rain and the water level is several feet higher and the volume of water rushing over the falls has dramatically increased. The spot where I was standing to shoot these images is now under water and there is dense spray at the bottom of the falls. The scene is far less tranquil than in these pictures and is a reminder of the powerful forces in nature that have shaped the landscape for millions of years.

Camouflage

Ok so I know grasshoppers are not the most attractive creatures but they are pretty incredible, especially up close. They also have really effective camouflage. 

Take the first image, this chat was sat on some pebbles, basking in the sun. I imagine it was able to absorb a lot of heat because the stones it was on were quite hot but it is the camouflage that is most impressive. I don't know whether this is its normal colouring or whether it possesses some chameleon like colour change bio-technology.

I prefer the colours of the second hopper as it is a little easier for me to see. What I like about this second image however is the detail. Sadly because converting the image for the blog affects the resolution it isn't as sharp but it is still pretty good.

Industrial Landscape

I imagine that a photograph of a grain elevator might not be such an interesting image for everyone but I rather like this shot.

Thunder Bay is on the north shore of Lake Superior and has been an important trading post for centuries as trade goods are brought from the remote parts of western Canada and then shipped across the Great Lakes and exported around the world, from fur, timber, Iron and Silver and of course grain from the great prairies.

This shot was taken from the marina and shows a view of one of the remaining grain elevators and one of the grain ships being loaded. The pontoon in the foreground is a protective barrier for the expensive boats in the lagoon and a popular perch for the seagulls that live and fish along the shore.

Across The Bay

So I haven't been posting quite as regularly over the past two weeks and that is because I have been out in Ontario along the north shore of Lake Superior. The purpose of the trip was to spend time with old friends in Thunder Bay but of course I never leave my camera behind and so I have captured loads of varied images. There is a real mix of wild Landscapes and Industrial Landscapes, a few random street photos and then an abundance of Wildlife and Nature pictures. With our trip leading into the start of autumn I got lots of shots of the autumn woodlands with the wonderful colours of the changing leaves up high and the myriad of different fungi on the forest floor. I have so much that I want to share.

I know now that my favourite pictures from the trip are of a beautiful red fox and I know that when I get round to sharing them you will be blown away by them just as I was with the experience. Then there are the beavers that were another unforgettable highlight of the trip but you will have to wait for those too, be sure to look out for them in the days ahead.

For today however I wanted to start off with some of the first photographs I took on the first full day of the trip. I went down to the water front in Thunder Bay. I have a number of good shots from my last visit but although the landscape is still the same the changing light and the different moods of the lake means that every day gives opportunities for new images of the same scenes.

I really like this wooden lighthouse at the end of the break water which protects Thunder Bay's marina. When the light catches it right in the early morning or in the evening it glows.
In these shots the small yacht is using the lighthouse as a marker to ensure it stays safe within the breakwater. 

I like the sky in both images, in the first it reminds me a little of the swirl patterns that can be achieved by dropping coloured inks or dyes onto water and using a stick or other implement to create abstract patterns, but I think the sky in the second image is even better with the lines of cloud leading the eye towards the horizon. The waves of cloud in some way mirroring the surface of the lake.

The Forest

So the first of today's pictures is looking out across the forest from a vantage point above Wolf River, you can just make out part of the river as it flows towards Wolf Lake. although the sky was fairly overcast (heavy rain followed not long after) the colours of the forest stand out as they announce the start of autumn.

With the changing season there is also a profusion of fungi along the forest floor and so the second image showcases a couple of different species growing next to a decaying stump.

I have photographed lots of different fungi during my trip so far and will be posting more in the near future.

Cheeky Chipmunk

This little chap was a regular visitor to our camp but always kept a respectful distance because of Sammy and Dash the two dogs who completed our camping party. He was always on the move too making it incredibly difficult to get a clear shot. On our last day however half of our party had returned to the city taking the dogs with them and so the chipmunk and the red squirrels that had previously been wary suddenly lost all fear and came to join us near the camp fire picking through the vegetation for tasty snacks.

I guess for the locals seeing a chipmunk, even up close like this can be an everyday occurrence but for a tourist like me it was completely magical.

Stay Positive

I am not sure what was going through the artists mind when he painted this mural, and the moose is looking extremely chilled but I like the sentiment "Stay Positive".

There is a lot happening in the world around us that gives us reason to be worried but those that know me know that I tend to see the glass half full and so I am sharing this image with the message, regardless of what is going on "Stay Positive"

Supersized Street Art

Over the last few days my blog has been of various fungi and today I have taken things out of the forest into the city for this really cool street art.

In Toronto there are some really good examples of grand scale art and over the next couple of days I will share a few different shots from around the city.

Kakabeka Falls

I had seen photos of the falls here before but I wasn't really prepared for the scale of this natural wonder. It was a lovely hot day and the spray from the falls was really refreshing as I took in the wonderous site. 

The Old Post Office

This fantastic old house used to be the post office for Silver Islet. It is in a great location with views over the lake, it has lots of character and charm and would make an excellent fixer upper. It also makes a good subject for photos.

Juvenile Loon

Here in the UK these birds would be called Divers but in Canada they are Loons. They are quite beautiful when fully grown and just cute as downy chicks like this one. They have the most haunting cry which can be heard from miles away.

I was out on the lake in the canoe when we came across an adult and this juvenile and as we paddled closer so that I could get a clear shot the adult bird tried its hardest to distract us and lure us away from its chick. We got as close as we dared without being too close and then we allowed ourselves to be lured away by the adult. I couldn't get a proper shot of the adult bird though because it was constantly on the move and kept diving below the surface and popping up in a different spot and then when it was satisfied that we were no longer a threat to its young it flew back to where the young bird was swimming and they paddled off together. Although it was slightly frustrating and I couldn't get all of the shots I wanted I was really impressed to see such good parenting.

What's In Store?

I was told that this store was quite something, full of character and charm and certainly from the outside it lived up to expectations here in the ghost town of Silver Islet. 

Sadly on the two occasions I visited it was closed and shuttered and so I wasn't able to go inside and get the full experience.

It was a really photogenic building and I have posted a number of different views since and each one evokes memories of my visits and is a link to the history of this interesting place.

Good Morning Grebe

When I first saw this bird I thought it was a juvenile Loon, but looking at the pictures I am pretty sure it is not a Loon but I haven't been able to accurately identify it.

I have called today's post Good Morning Grebe because it was a very good morning and I think the bird is a variety of grebe although I may be wrong. I would really appreciate it if anyone could say for sure what type of bird it is because I don't like not knowing what I post. 

I do however like the way the early morning sun lights up the birds face and gives it a gleam in its eye and I like the reflection, because I always like reflections.