1-M_22_0098 Summer is just around the proverbial corner. I apologize for not creating a blog for a long time, but I have excuses which I will not bore you with. I've been photographing around home this spring, searching for images worthy of posting, but...

I might refer to myself as a nature photographer. What does this mean? I like to photograph landscapes, either the grand landscape (which is not prevalent around my area) or the intimate landscape. I do look for macro images, those very close-ups also. I also love travelling, thus travel landscapes, street photography, and people encounters are part of my portfolio. I do photograph people, friends on special occasions, if my arm gets twisted. This certainly is not my forté.

This brings me to the topic of this blog. My great interest is in nature photography, but the aspect of that which gives me the greatest joy and exhilaration is wildlife photography. That may partly be due to the fact that wildlife is so elusive and can most easily be approached in more exotic locations than where I live. The mountain national parks are on that list, but not exclusively so.

Here follows a selection of wildlife images that I have taken this year. I hope you enjoy these photos.

2-W_22_0002 I begin with this photo of a Bald Eagle taken in the North Okanagan Valley.

3-W_22_0005White-tailed deer This photo of a white-tailed deer was taken this spring in Kalamalka Lake Provincial Park near where we spent the winter. 

4-W_22_0031 This Hoary Marmot I photographed near Vernon, in Kikuli Bay Provincial Park, just south of Vernon, BC.

5-W_22_0046 On our journey home this April, we spent time in Banff National Park, where I photographed this Bighorn Sheep ewe.

6-W_22_0070Grizzly Bear In Banff we were lucky to see this Grizzly Bear.

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My next wildlife sighting were close to home. In Lily Creek Conservation Area of Sudbury I photographed this male Red-winged Blackbird in its mating plumage, calling females.

8-W_22_0101 I was alerted by a photographer friend to this Raven's nest close to home.

9-W_22_0114 These Herring Gulls were on a small rocky islet in the North Channel at Blind River.

10_D7A4686 These last two photos were taken in my yard. This is an American Toad.

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This Luna Moth I found in our flower garden.

I learned of two fox dens, one at Blind River and one on Birch Island. But I had no luck with these. After spending a considerable time waiting for any sign of the fox kits, I concluded that the foxes had moved their young from the birthing den, so no photos.

Wildlife is elusive and often unpredictable, but sometimes I do get lucky. One must be patient.