22 October, 2026
Huron Natural Area, Kitchener, ON
Given the unusually warm fall, asters are blooming in profusion even in late October.
This stand of Frost Aster (Symphyotrichum pilosum) caught my attention and admiration.
American Red Squirrel (Tamiasciurus hudsonicus) is surely as adorable a little rodent as one might imagine.
If rats looked as cute we would love them all!
Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocpous pileatus) is not a bird I see often, so any encounter is exciting. This is not an especially good picture, but it is all I was able to manage.
24 October, 2026
Huron Natural Area, Kitchener, ON
Huron Natural Area is an park I do not know well, and I am trying to become familiar with it. Hence my reason for visiting again just two days later.
Autumn Meadowhawks (Sympetrum vicinum) were present in large numbers. I don't know how many I saw but it was certainly scores.
Everywhere I looked Common Milkweed (Asclepias syriaca) was dispersing its seeds on the wind.
Is there anything quite as peaceful as a pair of Mallards (Anas platyrynchos) dabbling in a pool?
I have seen remarkably few fungi this fall, so a couple of Shaggy Manes (Coprinus comatus) was very agreeable.
25 October, 2026
RIM Park, Waterloo, ON
An American Robin (Turdus migratorius) was happy to join them.
We were immensely excited to discover a new species for us. May I present the bewitching Narrow-winged Tree Cricket (Oecanthus niveus)?
No family of trees is more associated with Canada than maples, and they are very dear to my heart. In the fall the colour of their leaves is legendary, and it was uplifting to see this gorgeous Silver Maple (Acer saccharinum) at the end of our walk.
Long live Canada. Vive le Canada.
The true north strong and free.
Pleated woodpeckers are common around our home, and i love hearing their raucous call when flying. I enjoyed your photos today!
ReplyDelete*pileated. Stupid autocorrect, sorry!
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteWonderful moments...and your new banner is perfect! YAM xx
They are wonderful! And I love your new header, David.
ReplyDeleteThe red squirrel is very cute, David. It look very different than "mine" . Yes, maples are so beautiful right now. I like the color of them.
ReplyDeleteHugs and kisses, Marit
I like the idea of returning to Huron Natural Area only two days later simply because you want to become more familiar with it. I think we often discover much more about a place when we visit it repeatedly instead of always looking for somewhere new. Even within two days there can be something different waiting for us.
ReplyDeleteAnd your visits certainly rewarded you. I smiled at your comment about the red squirrel. You may be right that rats would have a much better reputation if they had managed to look quite this charming!
The Narrow-winged Tree Cricket must have been an especially satisfying discovery. Finding a species you have never seen before adds a little extra excitement to any walk, particularly in a place you are only beginning to explore.
I also enjoyed the quieter autumn details: milkweed seeds drifting away on the wind, the pair of Mallards and those unexpected Shaggy Manes. They show that a nature walk doesn't always need a spectacular rarity to be worthwhile.
And what better way to finish than with that magnificent Silver Maple. After all the smaller discoveries along the way, it seems to stand there like a grand Canadian finale.
Vive le Canada indeed!
Warm greetings
I observe beautiful birds, interesting insects, and plants. Asclepias - a truly unusual plant - grows here in the Kupa River valley as well; I often saw them at this stage when walking along the banks of our beautiful, blue-green river in the autumn.
ReplyDeleteDobrý den, Davide,
ReplyDeletez fotografií je opravdu vidět, že podzimní dny jsou teplé, to se ptáčci nebo jiní živočichové rádi předvádějí. Příkladem je krásně vyfocená veverka, bývají neposedné a tahle je jako snímek do učebnice.
Zaujal mě brkoslav cedrový, k nám na zimu zalétá brkoslav severní a bývá tu do března. Jsou to pěkní ptáci a živí se hlavně jeřabinami.
Davide, vybral jste si zajímavé povolání, které se jistě stalo i koníčkem.
Zdravím z České republiky do Kanady! Hanka
Bohemian Waxwings are also here in the winter, although mostly farther north.
DeleteFall is winding down here. More and more bare trees. We hear the pileated woodpecker now and again but rarely get to see it.
ReplyDeleteI hear it mor than I see it, and see evidence of its work all over.
DeleteSo many wonderful photos. The way the sunlight lands on a lot of them is really brilliant.
ReplyDeletePlenty to see when you take the time to look. Lovely photo of the squirrel.
ReplyDeleteIndeed!
DeleteI enjoyed seeing all the photos in your post, but I have fallen in love with the perfectly round, fat little cardinal in your blog banner!
ReplyDeletePileated woodpeckers are elusive in my area, so they are always fun to spot. I like that squirrel!
ReplyDeleteI'm with you about those red squirrels. They are not only cute but are pretty clever too. But it might be a good thing rats aren't that cute.:) Enjoy these last few days of October. hugs-Erika
ReplyDeleteoh what a beautiful photo of the squirrel and I love the woodpacker and the robin Vive le Canada It is indeed a great country in many aspects. I saw last week the documentary 500 days in the wild Loved it
ReplyDeleteThanks for the lovely walk. I'm looking forward to those flocks of Cedar Waxwings making their way south.
ReplyDeleteLove that squirrel photo.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if red squirrels can also be found in Indonesia. We have some beautiful squirrel species here in Kalimantan too. Greetings from Indonesia!
ReplyDeleteWell don't I love your headed photo of the Northern Cardinal, it's a beautiful photo.
ReplyDeleteMay Canada always be strong and free David.
Nice photos of everything and that American Red Squirrel is a sweetie. Excellent photo of it too.
Hello David,
ReplyDeleteThis is a wonderful series of photos.
The squirrel is my favorite, I love squirrels.
Wishing you a lovely Thursday.
All the best, Irma
That squirrel is indeed very cute, David! We have two resident squirrels in our garden. It's fun watching them run up and down the tree :) Beautiful photos! Have a wonderful day!
ReplyDeleteWe set off on a little walk at a nearby state park last weekend, and we were astonished at all the wildlife we saw. I should report back.
ReplyDeletePlease do. I hope you took pictures.
DeleteNature has so much charm! That squirrel caught my fancy particularly, entirely different from what we have around here.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing what you find. The Shaggy Manes are some of my favorite mushrooms to find!
ReplyDeleteJotain tuttua kuvissa oli, mutta suurin osa jälleen eläimistä, linnuista, kasveista, kaikesta on vierasta - oli siis mieluisaa tutustua siihen, mitä esittelet. Luonnossa on paljon ja kaikkea, lisäksi vielä kaunista. Kiitos kauniista kuvista David.
ReplyDeleteDavid, it is always a pleasure to stop by your blog to see what beautiful photos in nature you are sharing. Never disappointed. I love asters and that red squirrel is cute! I've been seeing lots of fungi in all different unusual shapes!
ReplyDeleteLovely pictures David !
ReplyDeleteI miss squirrels...None in my area...
Vive le Canada ! Et son peuple !
Un Bravo a son premier ministre M. Carney pour sa force de caractère.
Bises
Anna
Great photos. That squirrel is so cute.
ReplyDeleteAnd it will happen again, David.
ReplyDeleteBecause when maintenance is neglected, systems aren’t updated, and people who lack the proper professional qualifications end up in positions of responsibility, it’s easy for things like this to occur.
And if politicians focused more on solving the real problems we face—of which there are many—instead of spending all day on Twitter, Spain wouldn’t be in this state and would be doing better. Gracias.
Naturaleza que es y un gusto pasearla. Preciosas todas las fotos.
Buen jueves.
Un abrazo.
Hi David..Isn't Fall a wonderful time of year?? My favorite. Love your red squirrel...All of ours are grey..I have never seen a Pileated Woodpecker..We have mostly Downy's..We have a lot less fungi as well..It's been a beautiful but very dry fall...Have a nice weekend..Hugs!!
ReplyDeleteFall really is terrific, Missy. But this year the ongoing warm weather is nuts! I just came in and it is 22.5° C today.
DeleteHi David, cute and indead adorable squirrel! Beautiful landscapes and I love the waxwing and the American Robin❤️ lovely yellow leave.... of Canada
ReplyDeleteAll the best and big hug Maria
Wonderful, there’s also a forestaster there, just like in my garden! I admire the diverse birdlife you have there. Canada is almost a dream country for me, incredibly big and with amazing nature! All the best to You!
ReplyDeleteGood people, too! Come and visit.
DeleteThe picture of your squirrel is for an award!!.....Abrazotes, Marcela
ReplyDeleteThe red squirrel does look very cute in the photographs.
ReplyDeleteNice to see the American Robin, which is larger than our Eurasian Robin.
All the best Jan
The squirrel is indeed cute. Our red maples don’t look great this year; they started to turn red and then went to brown and dropped their leaves. I guess they’re tired of droughts. On the other hand, we have spectacular yellows at all the higher elevations.
ReplyDeleteThe photographed maple leaf appears to be a model of beauty.
ReplyDeletePiękne migawki z przyrody. Takie urocze i osobiste, jakbym spacerowała z Tobą. Kwiaty, ptaki, owady i ...liść klonu - taki znaczący! Miłego dnia David!
ReplyDeleteWonderful photos, David! That red squirrel is undeniably charming.
ReplyDeleteHi David,
ReplyDeleteThe fall is unusual warm this year. Climate change is the explanation. Despite of this there is still enough to be seen as you show us here. I like especially the squirrel and the colorful birds.
Greetings, Kees
A lovely series and particularly enjoyed seeing the maple leaf and your flag. Long live Canada. Vive le Canada
ReplyDeleteHow fun for you to have a new-ish area to explore and learn about! We've been in Ireland for 12 1/2 years now and have never seen an Irish squirrel! I know they're out there, bt we've never seen one.
ReplyDeleteDear David,
ReplyDeleteI never would have imagined that there were still parks or other natural spaces in your area that you weren't already familiar with! In any case, the Huron Natural Area certainly seems worth a visit—it even gave you the chance to spot a lovely pileated woodpecker and a red squirrel! As for rats: I actually don’t find them all that "un-cute," with those big, round eyes. But, of course, they do have a poor reputation as carriers of disease...
I also enjoyed strolling through RIM Park with you—admiring the birds, seeing the species, you and I hadn't known before, and taking in the sight of those autumnal maple leaves. Oh yes—long live Canada 🍁!
All the best from Austria to you and Miriam 🤗
Traude
https://rostrose.blogspot.com/2026/10/sommerliche-tage-2026-3-der-rest-vom.html
Vive le Canada, d'accord.
ReplyDeleteAutumn walks are the best explorations in terms of color and cooler weather. Maples offer some of the best foliage, my favorite is the red maple also abundant in New England.
ReplyDeleteSehr schöne Herbst Bilder und von den Tieren in der Natur. Ahornbäume gibt es
ReplyDeletebei uns auch sie haben immer schöne Farben im Herbst.
Isn't this fall beautiful? I love seeing the wildflowers still in bloom and the leaves -- those gorgeous leaves -- are still sticking to the trees, for the most part. You had (as always) some fabulous sightings!
ReplyDeleteHello Dawid! Yes, autumn—those days in October—is by no means a time when life in nature fades away; quite the contrary. The activity of squirrels, woodpeckers, and other creatures becomes exceptionally intense. You have a remarkable talent for observing them and capturing these moments in such wonderful photographs. During my own autumn walks, I’ve also encountered many different kinds of birds and insects—creatures that know full well that winter is approaching and that they must gather supplies to survive it.
ReplyDeleteLong live a free and sovereign Canada!
Best regards.
Lovely asters and peaceful mallard. Very fulfilling time at the park. And our beautiful Canada, a shining beacon for the world in standing up to a tyrant.
ReplyDeleteXO
WWW
One does wish to sink into hyperbole, but I think we are a bit of a beacon for the world now. South of the border it seems to be a sinkhole that’s getting deeper.
DeleteThat should say “one does not wish…..”
DeleteWhat a lovely collection of autumn discoveries! The red squirrel is adorable. Not sure about your comment about the rat though - it's their tails that bother me!
ReplyDeleteHello David :)
ReplyDeleteIt is 12.30 and I am waiting for the family to arrive to celebrate Eves birthay, and also Paula's as they each have October birthdays, but this year it wasn't possible to celebrate separately. I enjoyed seeing the Asters, I love any daisy -like flowers, and the Pileted Woodpecker and Ceder Waxwing, birds that I will never see in real time. A lovely American Robin and charming American Red Squirrel shot David, and finally the gold coloured Maple leaf was the perfect way to end your post. Long live Canada my friend.
All the best and thank you for your entertaining comment and the smiles. Hugs and kisses
Sonjia
Hello David, wow do I love that photo of the Red Squirrel. So cute! And the Waxwing is super, and so is the American robin. And so nice to see nature represented in the flag of Canada.
ReplyDeleteWarm regards,
Roos
For some reason your posts have not been appearing on my readers list. Today I come by way of Debra. Always be "The true north strong and free."🍁🇨🇦 One of your many southern neighbors.
ReplyDeleteTodo maravilloso como siempre querido amigo. Gracias y besos. Viva Canadá.
ReplyDelete