Thursday 21 April 2022

§§§ 🇨🇦 Rondeau Park, Ontario and area - Part 2

Some more pics of this area but want to start with a gem of a B&B where we stayed. Fantastic in every detail.  BYE THE BAY Bed and Breakfast stands out as one of the best places I’ve every stayed.  











Just a sampler … 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😁





Vintage 1894 school house










Monday 18 April 2022

§§§ 🇨🇦 Rondeau Provincial Park, Ontario - Part One

Let me start by saying these few pictures are like peeking through a door of wonder. So much more! Rondeau I visited in early spring where things are just getting started. Necessitated follow up visit required. A few points about Rondeau:

- A very strong family connection for me.
- Second oldest park in Ontario since 8 Sep 1894
- 8 km long crescentic (now that’s a word!) piece of land jutting into Lake Erie
- Important stopover for migrating birds. 360 species seen and 130 breeding. Includes many rare birds such as 
  Black Tern, Brewer’s Blackbird, Cerulean Warbler and most famously Prothonotary Warbler
- Largest Carolinian forest in Canada. Sassafras, Red Oak and Tulip Trees grow there
- Mixed use park of varying habitats







Yours truly on park bench. Note the famous foot to knee bend tree to the right.









Massive, ancient knarly Willow tree



Blending in - Brown Creeper


Top left to right, Yellow Crowned Kinglet, Yellow-billed Sapsucker (we think), Eastern Bluebird and Great Blue Heron



Snowdrops



Breeding pair Mute Swans near park entrance



One of oldest cabins in the park



Early frog out sunning 

Friday 15 April 2022

§§§ 🇨🇦 Midland, Ontario April 2022

Finally managed a trip! This time to Midland, Ontario situated on the southern end of Georgian Bay. A wonderful town with some notable landmarks and parks.

Tiny marsh 




Phragmites  (invasive)




Pussy toes


Harbinger of spring - Song Sparrow


Midland Harbour, Georgian Bay










Starling and it’s eye home 



Actually upside down reflection of Grackle at dock



Nature :


Eastern Phoebe


Chipmunk


Early Crocus




Black squirrel which is actually a melanistic version of the Eastern Gray Squirrel. I thought these were different but the locals, less so.






Spring migration



And it wouldn’t be complete without a “face in a tree”

🇹🇭🇹🇭🇹🇭 JW Bangkok, Thailand - March 7, 2024 - Lumpini Park and a little bit more

 Well, my last full day in Thailand and a warm one at 37C so a short trip to Lumpini Park. A great 2 month trip filled with lots of relaxati...