The day started  rather ominously when I saw a pair of Turkey Vultures perched in a tree overlooking the Community Cemetery.  I took a  photo of the whole scene from St Amants’ “hill” but I won’t post it.  Instead here is a photo of one wet ugly bird:

[In all of the photos that follow, it is interesting to click on the photo so see the nature of the droplets on the subject of the photo.  All of the photos were were taken with the Leica 100-400 mm lens except for the half dozen near the end, which were taken with the Olympus 60 mm Macro]

 

Thing got much better as we looked at blossoms and things in the rain.

 

Including this Red Maple blossom …

This willow changing into a catkin …

This Nasturtium showing translucent petals as they get wet (similar to trilliums)…

Spherical lens showing the parallel veination, typical of this (monocotyledon) leaf.

Most leaves with those little hairs seem to be hydrophobic, like this early strawberry.

and these pussytoes …

and moss, when seen up close …

Trout lilies, and many other plants sense rain (and darkness) and promptly close up their blossoms.

These Pixie Cups don’t hold water, though.

Very small droplets on the flowers of this Wild Columbine …

Elderberry getting a soaking …

Small droplets here too …

Another, different, maple …

 

Amazing where these droplets are hanging here:

A more mature wild hazelnut bloom…

British Soldiers seem to absorb the water …

A spectacular (to me at  least)  view of a Brit Soldier …

And here, finally,  is a  Photo of the Special Event that I mentioned in my last post …

A very small family.  Hopefully these goslings will make it to maturity.

And on that familial note … Happy Mothers’ Day!

 

 

 

Fauna and flora are awakening from their winter sleeps …

Bruno was seen near the road half a km away and ambled into the bush, where he kept a wary eye on the camera in the car for over 40 minutes, outstaying the camera’s operator:

Grackle is looking for morsels in the morning light:

Early Saxifrage observed with the very long lens from the car:

Again, with the long lens, this Northern Flicker is busy digging for grubs in some shore grass:

The photographer is noticed and the birdie poses to first show its mustache in profile …

 

… and then frontally:

Many painted turtles are basking in the warm sunshine:

Dutchman’s Breeches at Key River …

… in context with Blue Cohosh:

 

First Snapping Turtle of the season crossing road at pond between Pakesley and Grundy Lake PP.

It looked as though it had just come out of its wintery mud…

 

March Marigolds are starting to bloom in the sun …

… as are  exposed violets…

… and Pale Corydalis, first of the season seen in bloom:

Monet’s Water Lilies are lifting among a waterbug and a fly alighting on the water.

Ontario’s flower just before blooming:

This fellow  exhibited the same behaviour as the Spring Bear.  It went into “negligee mode” from a long way away.  Maybe it was modest because of its scruffy springtime look (as it sheds its winter fur coat in pieces).

Often first confused with blueberry, Leatherleaf lives in the bogs and is one of the first bog dwellers to bloom.

Back-lit “blossom” of Larix laricina:

Every once in a while I check with Andy Fyon, author of the very helpful Andy’s Northern Ontario Wildflowers.

Recently he has been roaming around Southeastern Ontario photographing spring action and maintaining an interesting and informative journal on his facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/andy.fyon

He is an excellent photographer and in addition to his personal knowledge has a vast network of colleagues who really know their stuff.  Highly recommended.

We had some May showers yesterday which made for some interesting photos.  We also had a very important event take place which I’ll tell you about in the next posting!