Saturday 12 July 2014

A morning on the Lake Erie shore

Another weekend in Canada and I took the opportunity of visiting Long Point Provincial Park on Lake Erie for a walk along the beach. I only had a wide angle and a 70-200 zoom with me (having left the longer lenses and tripod at home on this trip) but despite the glorious weather and the crowded camping ground in the park, there were very few people on the beach so I got the chance to get up close and personal with a few of the locals.

Long Point beach, Lake Erie, Ontario, Canada

Even though I come here a lot, it's always a little weird to be at a beach like this on a freshwater lake.  The Great Lakes are so large that they have their own tides (albeit small) and at most places you cannot see the other side of the lake.

Caspian Tern, Long Point, Ontario, Canada
Herring Gull (immature), Long Point, Ontario, Canada
Ring-billed Gull, Long Point, Ontario, Canada

I also found this Killdeer walking along the edge of the road through town. I took this shot out of the car window rather than getting out and disturbing the bird too much (it was leading me away from two small chicks hiding in the grass). Killdeer is not a wader we get in Australia so I was happy to see this one close-up.

Killdeer, Long Point, Ontario, Canada

Sunday 6 July 2014

Ducks, Geese and Swans on an Ontario Pond

It's been a while since I've posted because I've been working overseas and interstate for most of the last 8 weeks. I did manage to get out with the camera on a few weekends between work commitments so here's the first go.

I work for a company whose head office is in Kitchener, Ontario in Canada. One of the many delights of Kitchener is Queen Victoria Park that has a human-made lake that attracts a range of birds. An early morning walk I found a few common waterfowl.

Mostly foreigners...

Mallard, Queen Victoria Park, Kitchener, Ontario
Mute Swan, Queen Victoria Park, Kitchener, Ontario

but a few locals...

Canada Goose, Queen Victoria Park, Kitchener, Ontario

The biggest challenge photographing the ducks, geese and swans on the lake is that they are used to being fed (despite the signs all over the place saying "Don't feed the birds") so they are constantly coming towards you when they see you near the water's edge.

A few of the rodent locals added to the entertainment

Grey Squirrel, Queen Victoria Park, Kitchener, Ontario

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