Tag: Nature

Northern Whiptail Lizard At The Grand Canyon

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northern whiptail lizard - grand canyon 6

After we left the oasis of Indian Garden, Bob and I wasted no time making headway towards Plateau Point at Grand Canyon National Park. The heat was building, the wind was constant, and the sun was torturous.  Still, we forced ourselves to remain vigilant since other hikers had spotted rattlesnakes on the trail.  It was when we drew near the water refilling station about 3/4 of the way between the two points that we saw a Northern Whiptail Lizard taking advantage of the puddles of spilled water in the shade of the water reservoir. Read more

Australasian Gannets at the Muriwai Gannet Colony

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coastline-at-the-muriwai-gannet-colony-waitakere-new-zealand-pic-2

Bob and I had a long list of sights to see in New Zealand and first up was the gannet colony at Muriwai Regional Park just outside of Auckland. Over 2,000 Australasian Gannets make up the colony at Muriwai, which is one of only three mainland gannet colonies in New Zealand. Read more

The Rising Sturgeon Supermoon

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August’s full Moon in Ontario, Canada has traditionally been called the Sturgeon Moon because the giant sturgeon of the Great Lakes and Lake Champlain were most readily caught during this part of summer.  Earlier this August, on the evening of August 11th, the full moon was closer to the Earth than usual making it appear all that much larger hence it being called the Sturgeon supermoon.

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Exploring the Great Sand Hills in Saskatchewan

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sand dunes, great sand hills ecological reserve, saskatchewan

The first day of summer in Saskatchewan broke rainy and cool with the mercury sitting at 9° Celsius at 10 a.m.  Despite the bleak morning, our spirits were lifted by a candlelit breakfast since the power had been knocked out in Val Marie.  Although we were sad to leave Grasslands National Park, our next destination, Great Sand Hills Ecological Reserve, promised to deliver a unique experience. Read more

Wind-whipped on Green Gardens Trail, Gros Morne National Park

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green gardens trail, gros morne national park, newfoundland

Bob and I had been told that the Green Gardens Trail was one of the most popular hikes in Gros Morne National Park largely because it highlights the contrasting landscapes of the Park.  Although we had already hiked the Gros Morne Mountain Trail and explored the Tablelands, we were keen to see the “green gardens” that stretch to the coast of Newfoundland near Bonne Bay. Read more

A Northern Flicker Brings a Smile To Our Face

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We are hoping that this bathing beauty brings a smile to your face during these Pandemic times, a Northern Flicker at our backyard water fountain.
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Baltimore Checkerspot Butterflies in Ontario, Canada

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baltimore checkerspot butterfly, rouge national urban park, markham, ontario

We were really struck by the beauty of the Baltimore Checkerspot Butterflies that we observed in Toronto. This is a species that we had never seen before. Read more

A Day At Oribi Gorge In South Africa

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image of lehr falls in the oribi gorge in south africa.

farm fields, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa

After leaving Hluhluwe-Imfolozi Park on our way to the Oribi Gorge, Bob and I found that the rural landscape quickly reverted to hillsides covered in a patchwork of cultivated fields.  On the outskirts of larger urban centres, small buildings clustered together in kraals were still common. Read more

Driving The Ecotour Road In Grasslands National Park

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Image of jean sitting at the borderlands lookout, grasslands national park, saskatchewan

On our first full day at Grasslands National Park, after waking up very early and having a hearty breakfast, we took the advice of our hostess and set out to drive the Ecotour Road to the Borderlands Lookout.  It was a relaxing way to start our explorations on the heels of a very long travel day. Read more

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