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Woodpecker on a log in the river
Woodpecker on a log
Sea of Stars
One Saturday morning, right after the rains, the sun came out. I had my eye on a female hooded merganser across the marsh, her head catching the light beautifully, but the real story was happening nearby. A mallard was making an absolute ruckus, water exploding in every direction. I swung my camera toward the chaos and took some shots. When I adjusted the exposure later, the droplets looked just like stars in a night sky. I chose the frame where the duck has finally settled, but the water hasn't.
Female Red Wing Black Bird
Blackbird flying.
Gothic Arch
Wings arched and widely displayed, a dark and gothic looking double-crested cormorant dries its impressive wingspan. Cormorants dry their wings to eliminate water from their unique, porous feathers, which do not have the thick, oily waterproofing found in other water birds. This lack of waterproofing enables them to become waterlogged and less buoyant, and when wings become soaked, cormorants must dry them to regain the ability to fly efficiently.
Between The Treads
Standing at 17cm to 21cm long the Northern Saw Whet Owl is Ontario's small owl in the province which also means they rely on cover in the daytime to not only rest but to ensure their safety from bigger animals and birds. I knew I wanted to photograph the Saw Whet through a small opening to have a feel of safety at sunset getting ready for the hunt at night.
Golden Morning Glance
To this day I will always remember my first encounter with a harbor seal. A hike to get to the sea shore seeing from a distance 3 seals on a rock. When I got to the sandy beach area it was so peaceful and calm watching seal heads pop out of the water being curious as to what I was doing. This shot was taken a bit after the sun rose on a cloudy day with the seal looking over the wave really showing how curious they are.
Just Weaselling Around
The Pine Marten is a very solitary and agile predator as they spend a good portion of their time traveling through the trees of the boreal forest hunting for small mammals and birds. Pine Marten are also part of the weasel family which was important to show in the photograph. I believe showing the tree with the pine marten climbing looking around was the best way to display their behaviour and yes they are cute but also not one to mess with as they can take down prey the same size as them or sometimes even larger.
Barred Owl Watching Over
One of my favorite owls is the barred owl mainly for their unique call and large dark eyes. They are also the biggest pain for me to capture, in particularly this one. I’ve spent many hours in the field waiting for this barred owl to be perched on an open branch and finally just before spring came along thick snow started to fall in the area and this barred owl made me work to photograph him as I climbed up a steep hill trying to find a good opening and without flushing him out getting there patiently for that shot. This was such an awarding shot for me.
Colour Truly Shines
One of the most colourful and beautiful ducks in the world is the Wood Duck. It was crucial for me to photograph the wood duck in a warm scene to complement their contrasty colours in a calm pond to really get a feel for the scene.
Wraith Of The Great Grey Owl
This shot I have been planning for 3 years! I knew I wanted to get a more intense and powerful feel to this image. I really wanted to show that side of the Great Grey Owl where the head was slightly tilted to show how ruthless and powerful they are to survive in the boreal forests.
The Phantoms Moment of Peace
The Great Grey Owl is one of the most beautiful and majestic owls you can encounter, and this year I had the incredible privilege of crossing paths with one. When I first arrived, it was perched perfectly on a weathered dead tree in a quiet creek bed. Surrounded by fresh snow the scene felt almost surreal, calm, silent, and unforgettable.
