loon – Sunset Winds Photography

It has been frigid, and I really haven’t had the urge to brave the cold to take some new photos. So instead of dwelling on the wintery situation, I’ve decided to remind you of summer.

A portion of almost every summer of life has been spent in the Parry Sound area/cottage country in Ontario. I have been lucky enough to have had a family cottage and relatives in the area. My summers, therefore, have always involved listening to loons, watching the sun set on the lake, being amazed at the ability of pine, cedar and spruce trees to grow on bare rock, fishing, roasting marshmallows at a camp fire, and most importantly catching frogs and the occasional snake.

Here are a few photos that bring me right back to my summers “up north” and make me feel warm on the inside while my outside shivers. BRRRRR!

If it isn’t already evident, I really enjoy taking pictures of birds. In them I see all the beauty of nature. Birds represent the health of an ecosystem, and the general health of the planet, and I think it’s important to pay attention to them. Often we see a bird fly by without noticing what kind of bird it is, or what the bird is up to. My boyfriend said that until he met me he didn’t realise just how many bird species you can see in one day, just by taking a moment to observe them. My hope in posting photos of birds is that you’ll take the time to notice what’s flying around you the next time you sit in the back yard, and to appreciate their beauty and personalities!

The photos of the cardinals were a lucky break. Normally cardinals are extremely shy (although they aren’t very good at hiding, for obvious reasons). This time we stumbled upon a male who was trying very hard to get a girlfriend!

The loons are a fairly common bird up in cottage country, but seeing a group of males together isn’t as common. You’ll usually see a male and female and baby, or just the lone loon that has come to represent Canada’s north.

If you’re interested in learning more about birds, and the different species you see I’d recommend buying a copy of The Crossley ID Guide. No, this isn’t a sponsored post, I just really love this book. The plates are photos rather than the usual paintings you see in bird books. The birds are shown in all their different colourations depending on gender and season. This book is much larger and heavier than your average bird book, but you won’t have ANY problem identifying a bird.