Treat to Visit Halls Rd. and Lynde Shores Again

Our old area, we miss it, but decided on a treat visit there last weekend around Sept 7th. We did a big long 3 hr hike beginning at Halls Rd., along the shores of Lake Ontario, into Lynde Shores, then back to Halls. There was a new wide open path being constructed through the farm field that cut from Cranberry Marsh area back over to Halls Rd. so that was awesome to discover. We were not keen on going back the way we came since the shoreline was quite skanky and we got hit by Cormorant shite a couple times, there being a lot more of them, and them not being so quick to take off, as well as some help from the windy day that it was.

We enjoyed seeing tons of humming birds but alas no successful photos again for me, had a nice conversation with another couple at the Cranberry Marsh lookout, letting them know of the other conservation areas in the Durham Region, as they were from Richmond Hill, and saw lots of cool Egret sights, etc. A Wood Duck flew by, as well as there being a lot of hawk activity. Not sure if we saw Coopers or Sharp Shins but Northern Harriers for sure.

There were also quite a few Monarch butterflies around, as well as other types of butterflies, tons of jewel weed, hence the 5 humming bird sightings were had, and in general just lots of cool interesting nature sights as usual. The deer made an appearance a couple times, one young one still sporting white spots was running through the farm field as we crossed through on the new path.

On the road that goes through Cranberry Marsh, we spotted the wild turkeys with about 14 babies and we gave them some of the left over bird seed we had from feeding the chickadees.

All in all, our favourite area did not fall short of providing another enjoyable hiking and sight seeing experience.

Solo Exhibition - Sue Foerster - Richmond Hill Mill Pond Gallery

My very talented and unique, genuine artist friend Sue Foerster has a solo show at the Richmond Hill Mill Pond Gallery Saturday Sept 13th and Sunday Sept 14th.

If you are at all in the area be sure to make a stop at The Mill Pond Gallery. Not only is the gallery awesome and welcoming, as well as an enjoyable atmosphere ful of enthusiastic creative people, the quaint area of The Mill Pond right across the street is a joy to see as well as photograph in.

Sue Foerster - Guerrero

Latest Progress on Figure Drawing

Slow going but this is the latest progressive on my large pencil on illustration board figurative piece that I am working on. Working on the background presently, and see some curving straight edge issues which will need correction.

Have Never Seen So Many Birds!

We decided to take a walk down to Birkdale Ravine, near our condo, Sunday. I had a hunch that we may see some Hummingbirds. We had seen them the weekend before near the little community ctre garden and I missed getting a picture. Beautiful little creatures and very fast! Well, we did spot them and again and I still could not get a shot lol! Great to see them though. I mistook the thing for a big dragonfly at first.

Not to mention, there were so many birds that my eye didn't know Where to look. I for one have Never seen so many birds flitting back and forth, and such a huge mix, all in one spot. We weren't far past the beginning of the path, at a fork, and the trees on both sides were teaming with birds. There were tons of warblers, some juvi chestnut sided ones, a black and white warbler, a juvi cedar waxwing, yellow finches, tons of juvi robins, cardinals, fly catchers galore, flickers, and of course the elusive humming bird. They hung for quite a while and eventually they dispersed. It was quite amazing, and noisy lol! We even saw an Osprey as we left the park.

A wasps nest, though beautifully textured, given my recent 2+ week lasting sting area, was a disconcerting sight.

On the walk back through the parking lot near the community centre, quite a cute and humorous sight ran across in front of us - a squirrel with a trio of acorns still on the branch lol!

Not the world's most fantastic images, but they captured some of the birds we saw.