Rondeau Ric

Conformity Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur Some times there is a reason. Don't get your feathers all ruffled this weekend but do enjoy yourselves.

These things are HUGE!! Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur Until you see one up close you don't realize just how big they are. The trees are 70 to 100 feet tall and this turbine dwarfs them. I don't know if they are really a form of green energy or if they are a hazard to wildlife but the certainly stand out on the landscape.

Eight feet up and I still can't see over the phragmities Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur I was standing on a 8 foot high platform on top of an ATV type vehicle and was trying to film the extent of the phrag cell by holding the video camera up as high as I could. All I got was the top of the phrag plants. Later we estimated this particular cell at appox 7 acres. A small one.

I'm over here. Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur This tree frog is about the size of a fingernail. I was out with the people doing phragmities control and when we stopped to survey an area there were frogs everywhere. I haven't seen them this late in the year before.

a natural redhead Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur Get out and look for something interesting this weekend.

Blue spotted salamader Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur While doing yard work yesterday i uncovered this beauty. It was about 4 inches long. I put him in some leaf litter in a sheltered spot. Hope he makes it through the winter

Natures canvas Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur Walking in the woods at Rondeau I came across a log with fungus growing and leaves all around.

Not a great photo but.. Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur it shows how tall the invasive phragmities is at Rondeau Provincial Park. In areas of the marsh it was over 20 feet tall and so thick the Argo had trouble getting through. There is a control project in progress, unfortunately it is limited by meager funding. It appeared the infested area was expanding faster than the kill off.

Mr. Bluebird is on my.... bird bath? Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur Well any way Everything is satisfactual... even if it is Monday morning. We don't get many bluebirds in our yard but one dropped by yesterday and Anne took this through the Wonderful Wildlife Window. photo by Anne

Where's air traffic control when you need it? Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur Congested skies.

Canadian, eh? Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur Fall has arrived at Rondeau, the leaves are falling and the warblers are heading south. Blustery cold winter weather isn't far away.

Survivor, Rondeau Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur Survivor Rondeau style. The last lady bug on the island

Peregrine Falcon Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur We were at Holiday Beach Conservation Area watching the raptor migration. Three peregrines flew over while we were there. He was wayyy up there. One was eating a blue jay while circling.

Fall in ohio Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur We were at the Midwest Birding Symposium in September at Lakeside Ohio. It is a pretty town/village and one of the residents had done up thier yard in a fall theme. If you're a birder in the midwest you should try to attend. The next symposium is in September 2011. Have a good weekend.

As seen In Ohio USA Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur I know our American cousins don't know a lot about Canada or Canadians but really...

Extreme Mobile Services Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur Some things just go together.

A butterfall Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur I don't know the species but it looked nice in the flowers. They are butterfly in the summer and butterfall in the fall. :-)

If they aren't migrating, some one is in trouble Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur About 200 turkey vultures gathered over Rondeau Park on Friday. They just hung in the sky. I couldn't frame them all without turning them into tiny dots in the sky. They kept appearing and disappearing into the clouds. About 40 in this group. I always walk a little faster when I see this type of thing, just so they know I'm not dinner.

Reflections on a windy and wet Friday Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur October 1 was a pleasant,sunny fall day. Today we have high winds, driving rain and grey clouds. So, I present a few flowers to brighten the day. Not even the woodpeckers are coming into the feeders and the gulls are sitting on the beach. Still a rainy weekend is much better than a sunny Monday. Enjoy your weekend.

Unusual road kill at Rondeau Originally uploaded by ricmcarthur Sushi at Rondeau, probably delivered by an eagle or an osprey. It was gone the following day. Late night snack for a raccoon?