Saturday, 23 November 2024

Old Brewery Bay - a reposting of a link to an article in Orillia Matters

 The following is not by me. I just found it interesting after being so connected to the bay for the past 3 blogs.


The article  was posted in Orillia Matters on June 21, 2021 under the headline:

Old Brewery Bay rooted in era when Orillia was 'the hardest drinking village in Ontario'

- the distinction between "village" and "city" is important.

Click on the "blue" text to read the article in another window.

WOB

Reflecting on Brewery Bay

Chronologically, the following impressions ought to have been the first blog in this series, instead of my reaction to this animal running up to me.  As stated in my second blog the reason for going over was to look for a gull with interesting behavior. So this was my first "searching" photo:




 

I did record a Mallard-like duck. However, looking across the water did not reveal any more birds:


Now, in viewing the following images, it might be an idea to hang onto something solid. All the images are of water even if your eyes are telling you that it is sky you are looking at:






That last one was to help you appreciate the reflections on Brewery Bay:

(looking North, above, and  North-east below)

And for good measure, lest we forget on whose lands we stand, a view across Lake Couchiching toward Rama:



And then that animal ran toward me.


W O B

Friday, 22 November 2024

I was out looking for Donald's mysterious bird

 Donald described  it as:

"This bird has been swimming about in Brewery Bay for the past two days, and its tail is straight up when it dives. A bit smaller than a seagull. What is it?"

 

I did not see any gull when I first went over yesterday. In fact it wasn't until I was on my way home that I saw this:

 



 This is, I think, a Ring-billed gull, a medium size gull, maybe not quite in adult plumage.

 

Does this qualify as having its tail in the air while diving?




Or -






Maybe from shore even this might be thought of as "tail in the air"?



Anyway, interesting behavior.

And now bath time -


Followed by (h)air drying -



W O B

Thursday, 21 November 2024

Encounter of the 3rd Kind

 Dear Anonymous,

Was it luck? Yes - I was out looking for Donald's mysterious bird. And the scenery was captivating. So I sat down and tried to take it in - maybe a blog someday.

 

When something off to my right caught my eye -



And then the miracle happened  - it ran toward me:



But it was not running well - its hind quarters weren't what I expected.



I have more images and impressions - he also serves who sits and waits?

W O B


Thursday, 14 November 2024

That was a frosty Wednesday!

 It was an interesting outing.



Although the landscape was in sunshine, there was still frost on the ground in the shade.


 

 


 

I was surprised by several butterflies(?) flitting about.


Any idea of the kind?

The pond was open in the centre and icy at the bank.


And I was there -


- a shadow of myself, WOB

Wednesday, 13 November 2024

Pin the "white tail" on the deer

 Friends might know that once a week NATURE posts a photo with a Rock hopper penguin named Leif hidden somewhere in the photo.

So today I went for a hike at one of the Couchiching Conservancy "properties" following the white trail blazes on trees. I was on a hillside facing a little stream flowing from a little pond just south of Monck Rd - I could see it and see and hear traffic. But I could not see any more trail blazes. So I stopped and spent some minutes looking at trees, rather than woods. No luck there. However, I heard the noise ahead of me, across the stream and on the opposite hillside. When what to my wondering eyes should appear! I swear, I didn't steal this from the "Night before Christmas" story - the deer was bounding along, crossed the stream and then stopped about 5m short of me - her next bound would have surprised both of us! Deer on me, so to speak. I spoke not a word, I stood stock still. The deer too. Maybe 2 seconds? And then it bounded off as dry leaves before a hurricane fly! How observant!


The camera was on. I shot from the hip,

And away it, the deer, flew like the down of a thistle:

 


So can you find it? I thought I had missed it. 


So was it luck? Or the Boy Scout" "Be Prepared"? Maybe both - the 1st time I looked at the photos I could not see the deer at all. Now I have it in 2 of the 4 shots I took. If you don't write, I won't reveal where the deer appears.


And to all a better night's sleep - cannot see aurora with this bright Moon:




WOB



Well? Maybe? Hardly ever, a big big "D"!

Tuesday, 12 November 2024

When Autumn leaves leave

 Peter J. Herbst left at the end of Oktober, and the leaves began to fall:






When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky:







It is time for Leif to take cover -


Like the down of  a thistle:


W O B