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How about a pleasant afternoon hiking 2 km to Lighthouse Picnics, Ferryland, Newfoundland?
Construction was completed on the light in 1871, but was not electrified until 1931. It ceased operation in 1983.
Newfoundland's in the north Atlantic, and weather is often flaky, but it's worth the visit even in the rain. In the case of inclement weather, picnics are held inside the lighthouse.
While we were there, a good-natured Humpback Whale lolled on its side and waved a huge fluke at us for at least 15 minutes. Unfortunately it was out of range for the lens on my camera.
Candadian National Historic Site. This artillery fort was built in the 1890s to protect the coast and Victoria, the capital of British Columbia.
At Raptor Center, North Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada. See previous portrait post of Barn Owl in my Birds album.
Today I had the uncommon good fortune to see inside this lighthouse, which was built in 1912. I climbed 40 feet to the top. It was a very special experience. See Sheringham Point Lighthouse exterior.
Fog envelopes the point. Viewed from top of Sheringham Point Lighthouse, Shirley, British Columbia, Canada.
Another glorious morning at the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Shirley, British Columbia, Canada. To see others in this series, go to my Vancouver Island album.
At Raptor Center, North Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada. The American Kestrel is the smallest falcon in North America.
This was the sight as we crossed the very short bridge over the Gordon River. We quickly found a spot to park and I starting clicking my camera. The bridge accomodated only one car at a time and I took shots in the middle, keeping my eyes and ears open for approaching vehicles. I felt some anxiety because it was at least 60 feet above ground and the railings were not even two feet high. The bridge is casting a shadow on the river in the foreground. View from the other side of this same bridge is my Gordon River2 shot in my Vancouver Island album.
Another lovely, summer morning in southern Vancouver Island on the Strait of Juan de Fuca, Shirley, British Columbia, Canada. The Olympic Mountains, in Washington State, U.S., can be seen below the clouds.
At Raptor Center, North Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada. These gorgeous hawks hunt in groups, similar to wolf behavior. They then share the food. This occurs most frequently in winter, when hunting alone becomes more difficult because available prey are larger. Commonly found in open, dry country. Harris's Hawks have been observed doing "back-standing," where two or three birds stand on each other. This is believed to assist the top bird in seeing prey and in cooling the lower bird(s) when the top one spreads his wings to provide shade.
View from the other side of the bridge when I took the Gordon River1 shot. See Gordon River1 shot in my Vancouver Island album.
Port Renfrew, British Columbia, Canada. Bald Eagles do not attain their white head and tail feathers until they reach sexual maturity in their fourth or fifth year. This one was perched high above Port San Juan, periodically swooping down for a fish. Only one foray was successful, but the fish was quite small. Meanwhile, two mature bald eagles, presumably the parents, were nearby and more successful catching fish.
Per "A History of the Sheringham Point Lighthouse," there have been more than 240 shipwrecks along the Vancouver Island coast since 1803. In 1906, the steamship SS Valencia hit a reef on the southwestern part of the island and sank. Only 37 of the 173 passengers aboard survived. In response to formal inquiries, Canada decided to build 12 more lighthouses in the area, including one at Sheringham Point in 1912. This is a Canadian "Heritage Lighthouse." See Sheringham Point Lighthouse Interior
Another fine day on Georgian Bay, Lake Huron, during our Great Lakes Cruise! We visited the tiny hamlet of Killarney, after first cruising along the coast in a zodiac boat. It's a pity that they spoiled this charming light station by erecting the giant communications tower right next to it !
My 365-2023: #183 of 365
At Raptor Center, North Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada. Native to Africa, the marabou stork is often called the world's ugliest bird. Some males achieve a height of five feet and a weight of 20 lbs. The largest ones can have a wingspan of 12 feet, the greatest of any landbird. The pink gular sac in front helps keep the stork cool. In breeding season, the male inflates the sac to attract females and to ward off rival males.
At Raptor Center, North Cowichan, British Columbia, Canada.
See previous post of flying Turkey Vulture in my Birds album.
This bird got its name from its superficial resemblance to the Wild Turkey. As it has feet more like a chicken than an eagle, it is the only scavenger bird that cannot kill its prey. Its powerful beak, however, can rip through even the toughest cow hide. If a Turkey Vulture is disturbed or pestered, it throws up on whatever is bothering it.
Most birds cannot smell. Not so with the Turkey Vulture, which has one of the most sensitive noses of all animals. It can discern the scent of rotting flesh in concentrations as small as a few parts per billion in the air and up to 6.5 miles away! You can see through its nasal openings, really one large opening, which allows air to flow directly over the olfactory nerves.
A group of perched vultures is called a wake. Kettles are groups of vultures spiraling upward to gain altitude in thermal updrafts.
On our final day in Toronto, we went to the AGO, Art Gallery of Ontario, and the iconic CN Tower. 360 degree views from 1,122 feet in the air. We stayed at the Sheraton, which was a good location for exploring the busiest area of Toronto. It was a hazy day, as the smoke from the wildfires still threatens most of the Great Lakes area and more...
My 365-2023: #190 of 365
Devastating, separate wildfires that began on July 7, 2017 eventually merged into one on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada . This resulted in the largest wildfire in the province's history. Smoke drifted over to Shirley in the southern part of Vancouver Island. For three consecutive nights in early August, the air was dark and smoky and the sun became a flaming, red-orange orb. To see the shot I took on the following evening, click Sunset the Next Night
Looking south, across the Strait of Juan de Fuca, from Sooke, British Columbia, Canada to the snow-peaked Olympic Mountains in Washington State, U.S.
What they lack in originality in naming their only store, they make up for in charm In this tiny hamlet of Silver Islet on Thunder Bay, northern shore of Lake Superior, Ontario. Canada. A rich vein of pure silver was discovered on this small island in 1868 and was shut down by 1883. The former miner's homes are now summer cottages, and only a handful of people actually spend the winter here.
The population of vicious biting bugs far outnumbers the population of human beings here ! I left the island with about 20 bug bites on my face, hands and neck - even after applying insect repellent twice!
During our tour of the 5 Great Lakes, we had a brief visit to Kakabeka Falls on the Kaministiquia River in Thunder Bay on Lake Superior. It is considered the Niagara Falls of the North.
My 365-2023: #176 of 365
Given that this was the height of tourist season in Victoria, keeping the alley clear of other people was a real feat for the photographer. Thankfully, he got his shot and I got mine. Zoom in for the kiss and the dress. This is number two of two. See
Surprise Chinatown (Victoria) Visit from Bride & Groom
We visited The Sea Lion on Lake Superior via Zodiak boat, and the guide took time to be sure we each got interesting pictures taken through the arch.
"As legend has it, the Sea Lion of Silver Islet, also known as Nagochee, was a companion of Nanabijou -the Sleeping Giant. In the tale, Nanabijou mistakenly believes that Nagochee has betrayed him. In his anger, the giant puts a curse on the beast, turning him to rock. Each summer, scores of visitors to Silver Islet and Sleeping Giant Provincial Park make the trek to the spot where the remains of the faithful Nagochee still stands, longingly gazing out across Perry Bay on the world’s largest freshwater lake."
Severe forest fires in numerous parts of British Columbia created smoke-filled days and unseasonably warm summer temperatures on southern Vancouver Island. Smoke turned the setting sun into a brilliant, orange-red color and presented a unique photographic opportunity. I took sunset photos on two, consecutive nights. To see my shot from the night before, click August 2nd Sunset Shot
On our final day in Toronto, we had a zodiac boat tour around the port and the islands that define the inner harbor on a beautiful autumn afternoon. The masts are 165 feet tall, and this fine-looking ship is nearly 100 years old!
According to wikipedia:
The ship was built at Nobiskrug shipyard in Rendsburg, Germany and launched on July 26, 1930, under the name Wilfried. Captain Wilhelm Wilckens was her owner and master, and he operated from the homeport of Hamburg from 1930 until 1960. In 1960 she was purchased by Captain Andreas Kohler Asmussen of Egersund, Denmark. Asmussen renamed the ship Kajama after his two sons and his wife Kaywe, Jan and Maria. In the spring of 1998 Captain Asmussen suffered a fatal cardiac arrest while at the helm. In January 1999 she was purchased by Great Lakes Schooner Company of Toronto, Ontario, Canada and underwent a major overhaul.
We had a fascinating visit to Tablelands, where the mantle of the earth juts up above the crust, one of the very few places on the planet where this has occurred. In 1987, the park was awarded World Heritage Site status by UNESCO because "The park provides a rare example of the process of continental drift, where deep ocean crust and the rocks of the earth's mantle lie exposed."
From Wikipedia: The Tablelands, found between the towns of Trout River and Woody Point in south west of Gros Morne National Park, look more like a barren desert than traditional Newfoundland. This is due to the ultramafic rock – peridotite – which makes up the Tablelands. It is thought to originate in the Earth's mantle and was forced up from the depths during a plate collision several hundred million years ago. Peridotite lacks some of the usual nutrients required to sustain most plant life and has a toxic quality, hence its barren appearance.[5] Peridotite is also high in iron, which accounts for its brownish colour (rusted colour).
Take a look at the satellite view of the map - it's quite dramatic!
In Explore October 9, 2025
During the summer, the sun sets behind a stand of trees, but as Autumn turns to Winter, the sun will set behind Washington's Olympic Peninsula.
Camera in hand for other photos, I was astonished to see this handsome young couple, in their wedding finest, appear at Fan Tan Alley in Chinatown with their professional photographer. They had just tied the knot and were kind enough to allow me to take a few images. It would have been interesting to find out why they decided to have a photo shoot here, but I didn't feel it was appropriate to chat them up while their photographer was waiting and being flexible with me. Zoom in to see the bride's beautiful, lace gown. This is one of two shots. See The Fan Tan Alley Wedding Shot
We spent a few hours wandering across the hillsides of Battle Harbour which is now a summer fishing station, formerly a permanent settlement, located on the Labrador coast in the province of Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada. Battle Harbour was for two centuries the economic and social centre of the southeastern Labrador coast. A Historic Trust maintains the site, and local guides, with their distinctive Newfoundland accent, are available to fill you in on the history of the village. You can even stay overnight in one of the lodges. It certainly was beautiful on a crisp autumn day!
We arrived at the harbor on zodiac boats, and you can see the Viking ship just beyond the hill on the left.
Actually, all the houses on Silver Islet are old; most date back to the time that the silver mine was being worked, from 1868 - 1883. The houses built during that era are now summer homes. Very few people live in this relatively inaccessible (and frozen) hamlet in the winter.
I layered on an image of an old textured wall to give this a more vintage look.