Tag: Nature

Baltimore Orioles In My Toronto Backyard

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baltimore oriole, male, toronto, ontario

Bob and I have become somewhat more skilled at spotting songbirds owing to increased diligence, and marginally better at identifying those birds that we do see.  On one recent day, we made a field trip to Rosetta McClain Gardens in Scarborough where we saw a pair of Baltimore Orioles (Icterus galbula) as well as some other migrating birds.  Baltimore Orioles are very easy to spot and identify and always thrilling to observe.  Upon our return home, we were surprised to find a pair of these colourful birds in our own backyard. Read more

The Victorian Walled Garden at Kylemore Abbey, Ireland

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An image of the Walled Victorian Gardens at Kylemore Abbey in County Galway, Ireland.

The grandeur of Kylemore Abbey extends well beyond the opulence of the original Castle to the expansive Victorian Walled Garden that rises from the heretofore boggy moorland in County Galway, Ireland.  It is a magnificent example of what can be achieved when creative engineering is combined with tenacity and inspiration. Read more

Eastern Bluebirds Near Cambridge In Ontario

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An image of an eastern bluebird male along brant waterloo road near Cambridge, Ontario. Photography by Frame To Frame - Bob and Jean.

Bob and I took a drive down towards Cambridge to see if we could locate any of the Sandhill Cranes reported to be nesting in the area of Grass Lake.  Our first observation over the marshy lake revealed nothing to us of the Cranes’ whereabouts, but a fellow birdwatcher pointed us a little further down the dirt road where Eastern Bluebirds were preparing to nest.   They were going to have to stand in for the Cranes until a little while later. Read more

Our Visit To Cong Abbey Ruins In Ireland

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An image of the gravestones and walls at the Royal Abbey of Cong in Cong, County Mayo, Ireland. Photography by Frame To Frame - Bob and Jean

It was a glorious sunny afternoon when Bob and I set off to discover Cong Abbey Ruins, which lies close to the main street of Cong in County Mayo.  The impressive ruins of the Augustinian Abbey stood proud against a bright blue sky while Bob and I immersed ourselves in the intriguing past of this important historic site. Read more

X-Cross Skiing At Lake Louise

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pipestone ski trail winter - banff national park 4

On our second day of X-country skiing at Banff National Park, in Alberta, Canada, Bob and I had decided on the Pipestone Trail system and were planning on tackling a trail of moderate difficulty for our second ski of the season.  The extreme conditions forced us to opt for one of the easy trails instead. Read more

The Poulnabrone Dolmen In Ireland

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An image of the Poulnabrone Dolmen on the Burren in County Clare in Ireland. Photography by Frame To Frame - Bob and Jean.

After our initial exploration of The Burren, Bob and I continued to the peak of the limestone plateau in order to locate Poulnabrone Dolmen.  There, 8 kilometres (5 miles) south of Ballyvaughan in County Clare, it rises majestically and sits conspicuously in the middle of a field.  Poulnabrone Dolmen, and many others, still stand today as stone sentinels at the gates of our civilization’s history, history that is laid bare on The Burren. Read more

Walking The Burren In County Clare, Ireland

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exposed limestone bedrock in the burren - burren national park - ireland

After leaving the Cliffs of Moher, Bob and I still had quite a distance to cover since we would be hanging our hats that night at Ashford Castle in the village of Cong.  One area we wanted to investigate on the way was The Burren, a uniquely fascinating bit of landscape near the village of Ballyvaughan.  The stark, mournful terrain of that region is the result of little soil cover and sweeping expanses of exposed Limestone Pavement. Read more

Ice Climbing In Johnston Canyon At Banff

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ice climbing in johnston canyon - banff 5

While visiting Banff National Park, in Alberta, Canada, Bob and I learned of a hiking trail at Johnston Canyon that promised views of frozen waterfalls after traversing the length of a deep river gorge beneath sheer canyon walls.  We knew the experience would be right up our alley.  What we did not anticipate was finding a group of ice climbers actively ice climbing the frozen waters of the Upper Falls. Read more

Magical Ice Skating On Ward’s Island Lagoon in Toronto

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putting on skates at lagoon skating rink - ward's island - toronto

One of our objectives when visiting Ward’s Island was to go ice skating on Lake Ontario!  We had heard from a friend, a long-time resident on the Toronto Islands, that, over the years, rare opportunities had arisen when people could actually skate around sections of Toronto Harbour and perhaps, more dependably, on the ice of the frozen lagoons.  Those occasions have been few and far between. Read more

Snowy Owl With Kill On The Ice At Frenchman’s Bay

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Snowy owl on the ice with kill at Frenchmans Bay in Pickering, Ontario, Canada

One winter Bob and I caught sight of this Snowy Owl with a fresh kill out on the ice at Frenchman’s Bay, on edge of Lake Ontario in Ontario, Canada. Read more