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In a quiet area of the wood between two main paths.
~ A-Cappella by Petra Haden - King Crimson - The Sheltering Sky ~
The first slushfall of the season hit Sand Patch overnight, and enough of it lingers today to make an early winter scene. This is train M332-14, featuring eight units on the head end, eastbound near Mance.
We have red kites flying over our house most days, and this afternoon I decided to have a go at taking an image of one. I have aimed my camera at them before, but not had a recognisable result. Today I used continuous auto focusing and tracking using the hi speed facility, and after some post processing managed to capture one. I am now encouraged to try again.
I love everything about common milkweed, especially when a single blossom opens among a cluster of closed buds. Photographed in the La Crosse River Marsh.
I went out early in the morning, looking for large wildlife to photograph. In June, grizzly bear is the primary target, but I'll gladly settle for moose, elk or wolf.
It was another of those frustrating days, where you see fresh bear scat everywhere but no bears. A solitary elk crossing the road, too far in the distance for photos and a moose that was just teasing me but I knew I would have to be lucky to get a photo.
I had stopped a couple hundred meters from the moose and was down in the ditch, hoping that he would keep moving in my direction. Alas, he trotted off into the trees and although I took some photos, none was worth keeping. I just sat there thinking what a frustrating morning it had been.
Then I looked over and saw this young red squirrel on the ground, enjoying a snack. I am sure that out here, in the middle of nowhere, this squirrel had never seen a human before. I did this nonchalant thing that works with some animals, where you look the other way but leisurely creep towards them. Surprisingly, she didn't run away, even as I laid in the grass just a couple of meters away and slowly swung the camera her way.
We spent a few minutes together, so the morning wasn't wasted after all. I wonder what story the squirrel told when she went back to the trees.
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A threefer! One flower and two bees.
Tall Globe-thistle: European species of globe thistle in the family Asteraceae. It is native to central and eastern Europe from Germany and Italy east into Russia. The species has escaped cultivation and become established in the wild in scattered locations in eastern Canada and the northern United States.
It is the largest of all globe thistles, a branching perennial herb up to 150 cm (60 inches or 5 feet) tall. One plant can produces several flower heads, each with a very nearly spherical array of white or pale blue disc florets but no ray florets.
Brown-belted Bumble Bee (lower centre): It is native to much of the United States except for the Southwest, and to the southernmost regions of several of the provinces of Canada. This bumblebee can occupy many kinds of habitat, including meadows, wetlands, agricultural fields, and urban areas, even densely populated cities.
Western Honey Bee (upper right): One of the first domesticated insects, and the primary species maintained by beekeepers to this day for both its honey production and pollination activities. With human assistance, the western honey bee now occupies every continent except Antarctica. (Wikipedia)
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We visited the Ornamental Gardens, part of Ottawa's Experimental Farm a couple of weeks ago. These thistle flowers were just alive with bees and other pollinators. I was lucky to capture this flower head with two different bee species.
Ornamental Gardens, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. July 2025.
First light in the Lyman greenhouses just touching the trays of tulips. This is Tulipa x 'Double Maureen,' a gorgeous, double white tulip with green accents.
First Fridays in the North Village Arts District along Walnut Street in downtown Columbia Missouri by Notley Hawkins Photography. Taken with a Canon EOS 5D Mark III camera with a Canon EF24-105mm f/4L IS USM lens at ƒ/14.0 with a 25 second exposure at ISO 100. Processed with Adobe Lightroom 6.4.
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©Notley Hawkins
Excitement on the croft today as my neighbour Andy got his first lamb.Proud mum staying close by for protection
First time attempting to grow some of my own veggies. I'm delighted when I saw this beauty emerge. How does a tomato even grow, let alone turn from green to yellow? Seems rather miraculous to me. Can't wait to taste it with the purple basil and other herbs!
There are three Naga Bridges in Phanom Rung, and this is the first one you encounter in the Hindu temple.
What is called Naga Bridge is a cruciform stone platform open to four directions with railings shaped like serpents. Each Naga is carved like a five-headed cobra.
Candy in the deep sea of sunflowers....
in the sunlight coming from beyond the surface of this green ocean, a pretty cool place to run and hide!
A beach without footprints... You have to leave early for that..
Erster am Strand !
Ein Strand ohne Fußspuren ... Dafür muß man früh los ...
I took this, along with some others, in low light this morning. Trying to get the hang of flight shots. Very high ISO, but the focus appeared to work pretty well. Really liking the increased speed of locking on!
I am out with my camera in my pj's and heavy coat grateful for this beautiful morning.
“Wake at dawn with a winged heart and be grateful for another day of loving.” ~ Kahlil Gibran