Red-Tailed Hawk Hunting in Whitby

This is surely the most photographed hawk in Durham, because its not every day that you find one who doesn't care that he's hunting with a human audience.  He definitely has a preference for Eastern Grey Squirrels.

Profile of a Killer (said the poor squirrel, minutes before his unfortunate demise)

Thinking about his next move

Not the face that a squirrel wants to see in a tree

Waiting for the pounce

Majestic beauty

Another poor squirrel down

It's not visible in this photo, but he has another squirrel in his talons

Kawarthas - Great Blue Heron

I've been wanting to photography a Great Blue Heron in a nice marsh setting and finally got my wish. Janice and I discovered this cooperative heron down the road from her cottage.

Town of Ajax Wildlife Meadow

On most summer weekends the west end of the Ajax waterfront hosts hundreds of people, who enjoy family BBQs, fishing, sports and all that the park has to offer.  With enhancements to the park in recent years and the frequent community events, there is always something to do and it gets pretty busy.

For me though, it is the (quiet) east side of the waterfront where I prefer to spend time on busy

weekends.  The town has done a great job in letting the waterfront go back to nature and the Wildlife Meadow is absolutely beautiful.   It has inspired me to learn more about Ontario wildflowers.

Here are a few photos taken this past weekend (and hopefully one day I will be able to identify all of them!).

Mating Monarchs - hopefully this will start a rebound in their numbers.

Wild for Wild Turkeys

The wild turkey population is thriving in Durham Region!

It is hard to believe that in the early 1900s, numbers had dwindled to the point where in the 40s a turkey reintroduction program was created.  It was definitely successful.  In my travels I see almost as many turkeys as I do geese these days it seems.  There are hundreds in south Durham Region alone.

So much so that I was getting into my car at my local grocery store five minutes from my house, and a small flock of five walked past me on the sidewalk!  Quite out of their range, which is normally close to farmers fields.  It was Thanksgiving weekend so I suggested they move along quickly!

Here are a few of my wild turkey encounters over the last few months.

Durham Backroads - Coyote Pup!

I found him in a relaxed but observant pose, near the high grass by a Durham backroad.  From a distance I thought he was a large cat, but as I approached I realize he was a coyote pup.

Likely Mom and Dad were in the background somewhere, but I never saw them.  It was nice to see him looking so healthy.

The Adventures of Uncle Buck

It's been a while since I've been inspired to post, but I had to share this.

A few times I've witnessed deer and wild turkeys hanging out together.  Not just eating in the same field, but actually there together, in a very casual, comfortable way.  It reminds me of friends hanging out in a coffee shop.   I've never been able to capture it...until now!

The first time I saw this was in an area in Durham where a wild sighting is always guaranteed, and as I was driving down the road I saw what I can describe as a large huddle of critters -- a combination of deer and wild turkey and they appeared to be doing nothing but hanging out.  Not deer with deer, and turkey with turkey, but intermingled.  They didn't appear to be eating.  I couldn't figure out what the attraction was.  I figured they might be plotting the demise of the area's coyotes (I can just see the Acme anvil teetering at the top of a large pine now.).

There were ten deer and close to thirty turkeys that time.  I tried to get a photo but my lens was too big and they were too close, and I couldn't capture the moment.

I figured that had to be a one-time thing.

But then I saw it again.  Not quite the same numbers, but the same sort of comfortable camaraderie that I'd witnessed the first time.  And this time, no camera at all.

But finally, I have been able to document this friendship between the two species!

I was on the same road today, hoping to see a fawn that has been photographed in the area.  As I was heading toward the area, I saw a deer on the side of the road, not crossing but clearly peaking out at me.  I figured the fawn was by the deer's side in the high grass so I waited in my car at a distance.

Slowly something smaller emerged right next to the deer.  At last, the elusive fawn!   I aimed my camera; focused; but when I had a closer look through the lens, I thought "it's dark brown and pointy!"

This is what I saw.

First appeared one buck with a turkey mom.  There was a second buck with the other mom behind these two.  And then...the munchkin procession started!

You can see how comfortable they all were, as if this was an everyday occurrence.  My experience with turkey moms is that they are excellent caregivers, and I was amazed that they had no issue whatsoever with these massive deer and their little ones underfoot.

And just when I thought it couldn't get any stranger...

...Uncle Buck stood in the middle of the road while the little ones crossed!  You can't tell from this photo but there were at least 15 babies, possibly more, with these two female turkeys.

Still waiting......there's one more!

Only when the turkey moms got the last of the babies to the other side did the deer cross behind them.

A truly amazing sight to see, and I'm glad that I was finally able to capture what I've witnessed in the past.

I don't know much about the typical relationship between deer and turkey, and maybe this is the result of the terrible loss of land for wildlife in Durham Region, or a common enemy, but whatever the reason, this was very sweet to witness and it makes me wonder what goes on between species in Durham when nobody is there to witness!

An amazing morning I won't soon forget!

(Excuse the photo quality...shot in the drizzle through a dog-nose-printed windshield!)

Wild No More - The Adventures of Little June

I volunteer for a Durham-based organization called Team Chelsea, and part of what we do is help lost and stray pets get back home.

This morning I hit the road early, as we were in the middle of a huge search for a dog named Petey (now legendary), who had been on the run for several weeks.  On my way to the area he'd last been seen in I saw a beautiful white and brown cat lying on the sidewalk, unfortunately deceased.  I got out of my car and approached her to make sure she was gone, and saw that she had been nursing.

At the same time as I made that discovery I heard a voice across the street ask "are you looking for your kitten"?

This is little June, helping me search for a lost dog while we waited for the vet clinic to open.

I turned around and the homeless man who had asked me that question was looking down at the curb. I ran over and saw a tiny grey ball of fuzz.  Thinking for sure that she had also been hit, I reached down between the light post and garbage can to pick her up.  I fully expecting to feel a cold, lifeless little body.

She was cold - but only because she was chilled!  She was very much alive, and gave me a quiet meeeeewww to prove it.

I immediately got Team Chelsea on the phone to walk me through next steps, which included a trip to the vet for a once-over.  Other than ear mites she was in great shape.  We suspect that Mom had been moving her to another location when she was killed.

Next, I took to Facebook to see which of my friends could open their hearts and adopt this sweet kitten.  Within 30 minutes I'd found her a home, with a lady named Patricia who had been looking for a kitten to adopt.

By noon that morning this kitten was rescued off a busy street, had a clean bill of health, and was being handed to her new Mom.

The ladies at the clinic were keeping her company while we were waiting for the exam

In good hands with the Doctor

I found out later that day that the kitten's new human siblings had named her "June" and were in love.  June also had a new cat and dog sibling as well.  The perfect home!

I keep in touch with Patricia and it sounds like "little" June isn't so little anymore.  I am looking forward to seeing her in the near future.

Such a happy ending, and in all the excitement I never got to thank the man who had pointed her out to me.   I wish I'd had that chance, because he unknowingly made such a difference in so many lives.

Team Chelsea:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/165123396868018/

Horsing Around

I had an amazing opportunity to work on my photography skills with three beautiful horses.  I figured I was pretty comfortable photographing dogs, so how hard could photographing horses be?

Hard!

I've learned a lot doing this shoot and hope to have more opportunities to photograph horses. Processing these photos is a pleasure, the animals are so beautiful!

I had been hoping for a photo with all three side by side, but once I got in with them I realized how hard that would be.  This shot took a very long time to get.  I wish I could say it was due to my skill, but it was definitely more patience than skill that got me this shot.

Strike, Thunder and Jethro.

This is one of my favourites.  It is impossible to take a bad photo of Jethro.

Thunder, snacking in the field

Jethro, Strike and Thunder

Beautiful Strike