Perusing the 500+ photos in my archives from three years ago, in June, 2015 brought back wonderful memories. As usual, I searched for favorite memes: Skies, reflections, fences, all kinds of critters, and those photos which speak for themselves about places and seasons.
We started the month in our Florida home. June brings on the rainy season which also means the threat of hurricanes, but many mornings begin beautifully, even if a deluge is expected by afternoon. Sure enough, on June 1, as we headed back home from our early morning walk, clouds were already gathering over the ocean to the east:
Fledgling Green Herons had attested to a successful breeding season in the rookery:
Their interactions were amicable:
A Halloween Pennant dragonfly even seemed to have a friendly face:
A Brown Basilisk peered up from the grass...
...as did a Raccoon:
A Marsh Rabbit rejoiced in having eluded the Bobcats (so far):
We're only up to June 2nd and have a surfeit of creatures, so I will skip ahead. It's hard to ignore this Northern Cardinal on June 5th...
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...or this White Peacock on June 8th:
A Golden Sunrise on June 11th celebrated our Golden Wedding Anniversary (Plus 5):
Mary Lou and I set out on our Anniversary trip only three days later. We will ride the Rocky Mountaineer railroad train through the Canadian Rockies from Vancouver, British Columbia to Banff, Alberta.
Vancouver Harbor (sorry, I meant to say Harbour):
Our first sighting of big game was this herd of Bighorn Sheep along the rail line:
The delightful train crew would serve our private car through three days of travel:
So many wonderful sights! The sky over Thompson River Valley:
Thompson River, which I rendered here as an oil painting (click to enlarge):
The rapids in Kicking Horse River:
Fantastic Emerald Lake:
On the final leg between Kamloops to Banff, gorgeous mountains..,
...and impossibly blue lakes:
Freight train (and its reflection) coming our way!
Bow Falls:
The river above Bow Falls (another oil painting edit):
Our objective-- three nights at the Fairmont Chateau at Lake Louise:
Finally (not bored yet?),,, The view of Lake Louise at sunrise, from our hotel room:
Lake Louise, its waters milky with glacier dust:
C'est moi (Oh, to be eighty again!):
I prepared this in advance and may miss my next Thursday morning post due to medical issues.
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Linking to Misty's CAMERA CRITTERS,
Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,
Linking to SKYWATCH FRIDAY by Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy
Linking to WEEKEND REFLECTIONS by James
Linking to BirdD'Pot by Anni
Linking to Our World Tuesday by Lady Fi
Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday by Stewart
Linking to Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) by NC Sue
Linking to ALL SEASONS by Jesh
Linking to Fences Around the World by Gosia
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Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display
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Upon returning to Florida this past week we were greeted by Alberto, a sub-tropical storm, which produced several days of heavy rain and wind. Unable to venture out into the local wetlands, my only photo opportunities have been in my back yard. Although I miss our morning walks, I do enjoy the quiet respite.
Egyptian Geese under overcast sky:
A Tricolored Heron hurries along the shoreline:
Our Illinois family visited us the first week of April, and we spent several nights at Sanibel Island on the southern Gulf coast. We have been so busy with travel that I just got around to reviewing the photos from that trip. Instead of the usual DSLR, I carried my new compact Olympic MSC ED-M Mk2 mirrorless camera. Having not mastered all its settings, my results were uneven, particularly in low light, so do not blame it on the camera.
We stopped at Audubon Society's Corkscrew Swamp on the way. Near the boardwalk, a Roseate Spoonbill posed nicely as it preened:
Nearby, a Great Egret cast a nice reflection:
I liked the way the light played upon the foliage and water at Corkscrew Swamp, a nice background for this Double-crested Cormorant:
One of the numerous White-eyed Vireos along the boardwalk:
At Sanibel, views of the Gulf of Mexico from our condo's screened porch:
Long-legged waders stole the show. Next to the fishing pier, Snowy Egrets seemed so expressive as they foraged along the beach:
A Reddish Egret's beauty was enhanced in the low light:
We drove several times along the wildlife loop at Ding Darling National Wildlife Preserve. At a small pond in the Bailey's Woods area, a Black-necked Stilt scratched an itch:
Blue-winged Teal:
Marsh Rabbit:
Little Blue Heron:
An iPhone panorama of the Coral Creek estuary from the trail:
A Reddish Egret dances on a mudflat:
Two Reddish Egrets interacting:
Osprey chick in a nest along the road:
Brown Anole displaying:
At Lighthouse Point, two lovey Eurasian Collard-Doves:
Sanibel Lighthouse:
Sanibel beach exactly at sunrise:
A Willet was cooperative as the light increased:
= = = = = = = = = = = = = = =
Linking to Misty's CAMERA CRITTERS,
Linking to Eileen's SATURDAY'S CRITTERS,
Linking to SKYWATCH FRIDAY by Yogi, Sylvia and Sandy
Linking to WEEKEND REFLECTIONS by James
Linking to BirdD'Pot by Anni
Linking to Our World Tuesday by Lady Fi
Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday by Stewart
Linking to Wordless Wednesday (on Tuesday) by NC Sue
Linking to ALL SEASONS by Jesh
Linking to Fences Around the World by Gosia
________________________________________________
Please visit the links to all these memes to see some excellent photos on display
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