Missing Canada

It's now nine months since my return from a 2-month house sit in the Comox Valley

on Vancouver Island in the province of British Columbia in Canada.

The experience has left an indelible imprint on my heart. While being very grateful for having had the opportunity to enjoy the island and its beauty on not one, or two, but three occasions,

it continues to beckon (especially at this time of the year when they are heading into Winter and here in South Australia we are bearing up under temperatures in the high 30sC!).

Until my next visit in the middle of 2018, sorting, reviewing and preparing a photobook of that last trip will feed my yearning to be there!

If you've not travelled to that part of the world, perhaps the following shots will give you a taste of life in the land of the maple leaf ......

A juvenile bald eagle

Just one section of the Vancouver Island Ranges

Just a rural barn

A place for contemplation at Lazo Beach

The rugged shoreline along the ocean side of Goose Spit

A magnificent mature Bald Eagle

Englishman River Falls

This scene takes my breath away every time I see it - Vancouver city is dwarfed by the spectacular Rocky Mountains

This young deer was grazing in my friend's back garden

Don't think the owner will be taking the boat out any time soon!

The place to buy fresh fish and prawns

Great meals, inviting ambience and fabulous views from this pub!

An American Robin

Well, that might suffice for today - hope you enjoyed the journey.

Linking up with Our World Tuesday and

Outdoor Wednesday with grateful thanks to the hosts of both sites.

More snow

I couldn't help getting carried away taking shots of my snow-laden surrounds on Vancouver Island in March this year (it being a rarity in Adelaide, South Australia - my usual place of residence).

 

 The entrance to Salish Park

 Taken through the window but it still conveys, I believe, a sense of the magical atmosphere at night

 

 

 

 

This reminded me of an Alpine scene!

 Linking up with Susan at Outdoor Wednesday

Autumn

 

 

 

It's wonderful to see evidence of Autumn's arrival around Adelaide's suburban streets -

especially after lots of rain which releases all those earthly fragrances!

 

Linking up with Outdoor Wednesday

Diverse scenery

One excursion took me to Tara Bulga National Park in south-eastern Victoria.

Following are images of some of the scenery en route

 

I drove through forests of Radiata Pine and Hardwood 

In the park itself was this sturdy suspension bridge

 

 

and a canopy of tree ferns throughout the walk

 

 

Although I could hear the calls of various birds throughout this 1.5 hour walk,

they kept themselves hidden.  Had hoped to spot a Lyrebird but, after hearing a rustle in the vegetation as I approached, all I managed to capture was it's tail !

 

Linking up with fellow bloggers at Outdoor Wednesday

Laughing Kookaburra

 

After spending several hours working on the latest photobook of my travels,

and feeling in need of some fresh air and exercise, I grabbed the Nikon

and headed off to a local suburban green belt.

 

It was a glorious afternoon, with temperatures in the low 20Cs and barely a breath of wind

(as can be seen by the still water in the reflection shots above and below)

 

 

As the creek gently meanders its way through the vegetation - sunlit in patches

and shaded in others, one could easily believe that the hustle and bustle of suburbia

is far distant. However, at the top of that left hand bank runs a busy road

carrying traffic through Adelaide's north-eastern suburbs.

(This is the same area as shown in my header)

 Imagine my surprise and delight when this gorgeous Laughing Kookaburra flew

in to land on a branch just a few metres ahead of me . . . .

Although he was not "laughing" (a beautiful and uplifting sound I've experienced on other occasions), his presence was nevertheless captivating.

. . . SO glad I dragged myself away from the computer & desk !!!

 

Joining in the fun with Wild Bird Wednesday



Outdoor Wednesday and

Weekend Reflections

(with many thanks to the respective hosts)

 

Colourful guests

Since I've not been out much with my Nikon P510 of late, these images have come out of the archives and were taken in the back yard of my previous home.

 

The birds are Eastern Rosellas and - in case I'd missed noticing - the blooming of the two palm trees there was invariably announced by the excited and noisy arrival of these colourful birds (and many bees!)

 

 

Sincerely wishing you all a joy-filled and safe Christmas with your loved ones, in celebration of the real reason for the season.

 

Thank you, too, for the joy you've brought to my life this year in sharing your spectacular photography - I look forward to seeing more in 2016.

 

Special thanks to all the wonderful hosts of numerous themed blog sites, whose dedication enables us to share our images effectively.

 

Linking up with

Our World Tuesday
and
Outdoor Wednesday

Keukenhof surprises

Enroute to the UK last year, I stopped off in the Netherlands for a couple of days and was generously treated to a visit to the Keukenhof Gardens -

a showcase of glorious blooms covering some 30+ hectares (with a few feathered friends and others). Following is a small sample of its offerings -

 

 

A Mandarin Duck

 

 

( For some reason I am unable to enlarge these images within Blogger, but hope you will still be able to get a feel for the environment there!)

 

Linking up with Outdoor Wednesday