Author: frametoframe

Bob Hilscher has spent years traveling the globe as a photo journalist for a major Canadian News outlet. During those years, he has seen the globe through both a camera lens, and when possible through his own eyes. Those combined images and experiences have given him a better understanding of the world’s cultures, countries, and people. His travels continue, and in the coming days, he will look to share both his images, and his experiences on this blog. Jean has spent years being a mother to her children and working and taking photo’s in her gardens, and the surrounding countryside. It is there that she honed her award winning photographic skills, which she now puts to good use in her travels around the world. In the coming days, she will begin to share her perspective on the world.

Snowberry Clearwing Moth enjoys Fragrant Phlox

snowberry-clearwing-moth-oxtongue-lake-ontario-10

Our sighting of this stunning Snowberry Clearwing moth in Ontario, Canada had us making a mad dash to the house to grab our cameras to photograph this stunning insect as it flitted from flower to flower. Read more

Whimbrels Along Lake Ontario Shoreline

whimbrels along lake ontario, scarborough, ontario

It was late spring and because of the warm temperature, we opted to bike from Scarborough to the Lake Ontario shoreline in Ontario, Canada.  At the first rocky breakwater east of Highland Creek Trail, we spotted 5 whimbrels grouped on some large flat slabs of concrete. Read more

A Brown Thrasher Hunts for Bugs at Carden Alvar, Ontario

brown thrasher holding bugs at carden alvar, cameron ranch, kawartha lakes, ontario

The day in June that we chose for our visit to the Carden Alvar, in Ontario, Canada, was a steamy one. Our first stop was at Cameron Ranch, where friends had photographed beautiful expanses of Indian Paintbrush wildflowers only a couple of days earlier. The flowers were past their prime, but we came face-to-face with this brown thrasher as it sat on a fence post with freshly caught insects. Read more

A Great Blue Heron plays to the camera at Milliken Park

great blue heron, milliken park, toronto, ontario, pic 12

Patience is a virtue, and often when Bob and I are birdwatching, time is of the essence so patience goes out the window.  On one “quick” visit to Milliken Park in Toronto, to check the progress of the recently-hatched Trumpeter Swan cygnets, what actually stole my attention was this Great Blue Heron.  Bob left me to my stakeout while he enjoyed the company of the 2-week old cygnets. Read more

Black Bear With Her Three Young Cubs at Carden Alvar

black bear mom standup at cameron alvar, ontario, 2

Bob and I have learned so much through different groups on Facebook, and one of the areas that was brought to our attention was the Carden Alvar here in Ontario.  Our second visit in mid-June was a bit late and too hot for much activity where migrating birds were concerned, but our list of sightings was still long and included this female Black Bear and her three cubs. Read more

Dog-day Cicadas Mating In The Heat Of Summer

mating cicadas in toronto, ontario

On a sultry summer day here in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, I went out to the garden to tend to some chores.  Imagine my surprise, as I bent to the task of deadheading my Gaillardia, when something clipped the side of my head.  Seconds later, I noticed a pair of Dog-Day Cicadas mating where they lay on the pavement of the street. Read more

Our Stay At A Vineyard Retreat In Tuscany

laneway to the Cottage at Il Colombaio di Cencio, Gaiole, Chianti, Tuscany, Italy, 10

Bob’s and my sense of adventure was high the day we set off from Rome into the rural region of Tuscany.  After picking up our rental vehicle at the airport, beneath damp, grey skies, we negotiated the ring road out of Rome and soon found ourselves scooting along narrow country roads that would lead us to our farmhouse retreat at a winery near Gaiole. Read more

Mink Frogs Along The Mizzy Lake Trail

Mink frog sittting on a log in a wetlands along the Mizzy Lake Trail in Algonquin Park, Ontario

Along the back half of the Mizzy Lake Trail in Algonquin Provincial Park, if you hike in a counterclockwise direction as suggested, you will eventually arrive at Dizzy Lake.   That is where Bob and I found dozens of frogs including several Mink Frogs.  It was late in the afternoon when we crossed that particular section of wetland adjacent to the lake, and a good many frogs seemed to be contentedly basking in the sunshine while soaking in the water. Read more

Piping Plover Chicks at Darlington Provincial Park

Piping Plover at darlington provincial park, ontario

What a thrill to learn that, this year, not one but two pairs of Piping Plovers have nested on the beach at Darlington Provincial Park here in Ontario.  This is really noteworthy for three reasons. Read more