Autumn

I have been silent but very busy observing the changing seasons. On Sept 23, the first day into Autumn, I visited Scout Valley above Orillia. Al of Saskatoon had sent me photos from his Autumn walk and I felt
challenged to "move"! (Al gave me a course on digital photography 10 years ago) "Mouse-over" will give you my titles to the photos - can you dream up alternative titles?

There is a lookout off Old Barrie Road and that is my start:

Next I walked down the trail off to my right:

Lots to see - too much perhaps.

green darners:

Meadowhawks:

I have since gone onto the water in my kayak - but I will leave that to another day. I wish everyone good health to enjoy the weather as it comes - wob

Kingfisher

Back in May I tried to photograph kingfishers from the kajak. Yesterday I was out again trying my "luck:

 An update to the following:
http://www.nature.com/news/science-advice-1.15760?WT.mc_id=EMI_NATURE_1409_SCIADVICESUBALERT_PORFOLIO

I have been doing public out-reach programs for more than 22 years. I have tried to inform young and old about what I do, why I do it, and about the excitement of astronomy and research. However, this morning I realized how fortunate I have been, and how ill.prepared I am for dealing with some catastrophic astronomical events.

http://www.nature.com/polopoly_fs/1.15774!/menu/main/topColumns/topLeftColumn/pdf/512360a.pdf
(with examples from Iceland, USA, and Germany)

and

http://www.globalscienceadvice.org/

Better educated scientist and better educated politicians are required - and a better educated general public can help.

All sides might read:

http://www.globalscienceadvice.org/media/