#Connect2Nature Even Mallards get the Zoomies. Taken on a lakeside walk this morning. #Nature #Birds #Ducks #Photography

#Connect2Nature Always good to have a friend, even if their ear tufts poke you in the eye. These Eastern Screech Owls showing off the two colour morphs. I'm getting so much mileage from my visit to the Canadian Raptor Conservancy last December. #Nature #Birds #Owls #Raptors #Photography

#Connect2Nature There are several birds that have mastered the 'stare', but I think I would give top honours to the Great Blue Heron. Photo from my archives, taken on a hike near Oakville, ON. #Nature #Birds #Photography

#Connect2Nature After hiking the trails in Manuel Antonio park for the day, we came back to the hotel disappointed that while we saw amazing wildlife, the sloths were not visible... Until we spotted this one back at the hotel. #Nature #CostaRica #Photography

#Connect2Nature Capuchin monkeys are very common in Manuel Antonio Park in Costa Rica. This little one had just finished eating a banana, and was making sure not to miss anything. Taken on a 2019 trip. #Nature #Primates #CostaRica #Travel #Photography

#Connect2Nature These colourful Land Crabs were abundant along the pathway through Manuel Antonio Park in Cost Rica. Most people were looking up for sloths and howler monkeys and missing the little gems on the ground. Photo taken on a 2019 visit. #Nature #Crabs #CostaRica #Photography

#Connect2Nature A photo from a 2019 trip to Cost Rica. My bird buddies can help identify them. They remind me of Bob Marley's song. "Don't worry. About a thing. Cause every little thing gonna be alright." That was my theme song at the start of the healing journey I am now on. #Nature #Birds

#Connect2Nature Blue Jay of happiness. No blue birds were available. Got a new computer and am going back through some older shots making sure everything works. Taken on my favourite trails of the Royal Botanical Gardens. #Nature #Birds #Photography

#Connect2Nature Vigilent. Always watching. Focussed. The intensity in the eyes of this Great Horned Owl is fascinating. Photo taken at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy last Dec. #Nature #Birds #Raptors #Photography

#Connect2Nature Had a visitor while we sat out on the deck this morning. It was on the prowl for grubs. Reminds me of a T-shirt I saw years ago... Eat a bug first thing in the morning, and your day will only get better from there! Have an awsome Tuesday. Stay cool. Excuse the quality... old phone.

#Connect2Nature Another one of my 2nd pass edits of the shots I took at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy last Dec. This male Snowy Owl's eyes were captivating. #Nature #Birds #Raptors #Photography

#Connect2Nature Great therapy in my healing journey to revist some older shots that didn't make the cut at first. I took this shot last December at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy. It was an overcast day, and the grey sky accentuates the beak and eyes. #Nature #Raptors #Birds #Photography

#Connect2Nature Glad to have captured this shot of a Harris Hawk with its tranluscent nictitating membrane (third eyelid) closed. Gives a bit of eeriness to the shot. Taken at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy last December. #Nature #Birds #Raptors #Photography

#Connect2Nature Good morning! Thank you so much for remarkable the outpouring of support for my previous post about my Leukemia diagnosis. In Juravinski Hospital for the next month or so for treatment. See the Alt text for full description. I am at peace.

Going through some personal challenges these days. I'm reposting this shot from the cloister of Muckross Abbey (Ring of Kerry) in Ireland showing light eminating from a doorway. It gives me hope that today's events are not forever. #History #Peace #Photography

#Connect2Nature Fierce. Big Bird in a Little Body. This may be a cute little bird, but it is a very competent hunter. I was able to meet her at Royal Canadian Falconry in Haliburton, Ontario last year. #Nature #Birds #Photography

#Connect2Nature Some owls can look cute and dwerpy, but Great Horned Owls always look like they are in charge. They see everything. This shot from my December visit to the Canadian Raptor Conservancy. #Nature #Birds #Raptors #Photography

#Connect3Nature Happy #CanadaDay! Even thought it's warm here, I thought I'd resurrect a photo of one of my favourite birds that should be back in this area in about 6 months time. This Snowy Owl photo taken at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy. #Nature #Birds #Photography

#Connect2Nature Revisiting some of the shots I took at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy last Dec. This Red Tailed Hawk showed off its magnificence. This was part of the birds in flight session. I am still delighted with my experience there. #Nature #Birds #Photography

#Connect2Nature At a cottage with friends. Sam, the large dog was evicted from his bed by Mini, a very small dog with a big attitude.

#Connect2Nature A little joy on a rainy hike in the woods of #Muskoka, Ontario

#Connect2Nature The best part of not being a commercial photographer is that you can post what you like without worrying about the critics. This is one of my favourite shots of Puppe, the matriarch of the Orangutan troop at the Toronto Zoo. I love the textures in the shot. #Wildlife #Nature

#Connect2Nature Me, when I look at the buffet table and try to figure out how much salad I need to avoid to still have room for dessert. Buffet eating is an exact science. Photo of this endangered Western Lowland Gorilla taken at the Toronto Zoo. #Nature #Endangered #Apes #Photography

#Connect2Nature I rarely include man made objects in my photos, even when I take them at a zoo. In this case, the Sumatran Tiger at the Toronto Zoo was having a barrel of fun (pun intended). Cats will be cats. Now if we only had a big box. #Nature #Wildlife #Photography

#Connect2Nature This is Huckleberry. An African Grey-Necked Crowned Crane in residence at the Toronto Zoo. He could always be counted on to strut his stuff for the camera, but now that he has a mate, I don't think we'll be seeing it as much. #Nature #Birds #Photography

#Connect2Nature Take your kids to the zoo! It will be very educational they said... This Western Lowland Gorilla practicing for its drivers test - the section on what you do when waiting at a light. Photo taken at the Toronto Zoo #Nature #Endangered #Apes #Photography

#Connect2Nature Orioles Away! Had a brief encounter with a Baltimore Oriole during a hike. He didn't stay around long to chat. #Nature #Birds #Photography

#connect2nature Wisteria and roses on my workshop in full spendor. This is a great time of year. I built this trellis a couple of years ago to give the vine a place to grow otherwise invade mys workshop eaves and soffit. The Hydrangea (lower left) is about to add its blossoms to the mix. #Garden

#Connect2Nature As a photographer you shoot a lot of duds especially when you are starting out. You do occasionally get certain shots that keep you in the game while you learn and the % of duds is reduced (but never zero). I took this photo in 2014 and its still one of my favs. #Birds

#Connect2Nature I love playinjg with the light in post processing. I had great back lighting on this Western Lowland Gorilla at the Toronto Zoo, and it lent itself to a Film-Noire treatment. It also shows the beauty and magnificence of this endangered species. #GreatApes #Nature #Photography

#Connect2Nature This wee turtle popped its head out of the water long enough to look at the old fellow with the camera. If you zoom in, you can see me in its eye. Taken in Naples Florida during a trip last winter. #Nature #Reptiles #Photography

#Connect2Nature The joy of telephoto lenses is the ability to get up close without getting up close and get shots like this. This was shot at the Toronto Zoo through the (dirty) glass of the enclosure and the tiger in her den about 7m (20 feet) away. Cropped and sharpened in post processing.

#Connect2Nature This is obviously one of my Zoo shots (Toronto Zoo). It would be foolhardy to be this close in the wild. If you talk to Northerners,they will tell you that Polar Bears are as likely to hunt humans as any other prey. They are magnificant creatures, but dangerous. #Nature #Photography

#Connect2Nature Today I learned the meaning of the word Halcyon - a period of time in the past that was idyllically happy and peaceful. It's also associated with a myth where a King & Queen became Kingfishers & brought calm weather. I can attest that this Belted Kingfisher brought me calm. #Birds

#Connect2Nature One of my favourite early summer blooms - the Allium (Ornamental Onion) resplendent in its beauty. Spotted in the Royal Botanical Gardens. The ones in my garden haven't bloomed yet. #Nature #Flowers #Phototography

#Connect2Nature I don't check often, but the last time I did I found out that more than 15,000 of you have taken a risk and followed me. I am most grateful for those who appreciate how nature is displayed through my photos. This Peacock at the Toronto Zoo was as proud as I am right now. #Birds

#Connect2Nature It is said the eyes are the window of the soul. There's a lot going on in the mind of this West African Dwarf Crocodile spotted at the Toronto Zoo. I'm guessing much of it is to decide whether I am edible or not. #Nature #Reptiles #Photography

#Connect2Nature Nature is fascinating. One has to wonder how creatures just know how to do things like this small Green Tree Python who has figured out how to balance a long, cylindrical body on a skinny tree branch. This photo taken during a visit to the Toronto Zoo. #Nature #Reptiles #Photography

#Connect2Nature When I mow my lawn, the Robins seem to wait patiently for me to finish so they can start their debugging (or de-worming) session. This particular little bird spotted in a park near my home. #Nature #Birds #Photography

#Connect2Nature Thanks to hundreds of practice shots of seagulls and other birds in flight, I was able to capture this fast little b*gger in flight. This American Kestrel was one of the birds shown during a visit to the Canadian Raptor Conservancy. #Birds #Nature #Photography

#Connect2Nature While Northern Cardinal is their technical name, I like to think of these little birds as Dopamine Boosters, based on the joy they bring when you see one. This photo taken on the trails on one of my favourite hiking trails. #Nature #Birds #Photography

#Connect2Natiure Resurrecting this shot from Aug 2023 of a Harris Hawk I took at Royal Canadian Falconry. This is one of their working bird and our visit has likely inspired future career aspirations for my granddaugher who shares my love of wildlife. #Nature #Birds #Raptors #Photography

#Connect2Nature I purposely make time to get my dose of Vitamin N... (for Nature) that keeps me grounded and puts the craziness of the world in perspective. This one part of my favourite trail is particularly good at sucking the stress out of my soul. The abundance of wildlife is an added bonus.

#Connect2Nature Sometimes I sits and thinks. Sometime, I just sits. I took this shot a while back at the Toronto Zoo. Western Lowland Gorillas are and endangered species as we humans have diminished their habitat as well as loss by disease and hunting - resulting in a 60% decline in the last 25 yrs

#Connect2Nature Nature has a way of grounding your soul and letting you filter out the distractions. There is an abundant joy in watching the creatures in their habitat (and taking the memory with you in your camera). This Male Wood Duck spotted on a recent hike. #Nature #Birds #Photography

#Connect2Nature Me, when I'm sitting quietly enjoying the Nature around me, and a talkative bunch of people-types show up on the trail. This was Charles (RIP) the head of the Western Lowland Troop at the Toronto Zoo. He passed at a ripe old age last year. #Nature #Apes #Photography

#Connect2Nature This is Sophie. my son's dog when she was a puppy. She's a Silver Lab (lighter than the Chocolate variety) and has grown up into a fine adult completely consumed with chasing whatever you might throw. She still stares at you like this until you throw the ball.

#Connect2Nature I have heard that seeing a Kingfisher is a sign of good fortune. This one came and visited for about 20 min on this branch. It was quite far away and my 400mm lens was at its limit, so this isn't as sharp as I like it, but still thrilled with the experience. #Nature #Birds

It's been a year since our trip to Ireland. What a wonderful land and people. If you visit, make sure you visit Trinity College in Dublin and see the Book of Kells exhibit. Most of the ancient books are being removed for preservation, but your book nerd fetish can certainly be adequately fed here.

#Connect2Nature Some creatures are grumpy, some are smiling, and some have mastered that 'look'. the one your wife gives you when you say something you shouldn't have or tell a Dad joke. Getting the 'look' from this Great Grey Owl at the Canadian Raptor Conservancy. #Birds #Nature #Photography