Presqu’ile…One of My Favourite Places – September 16, 2011

Posted on October 13, 2013 by birdquest2004

I had an opportunity to go to Presqu’ile Provincial Park last Saturday, with some good friends, all of whom enjoy getting out and photographing nature.  While the birds and the weatherman weren’t co-operating, at least for the morning.  The sun and birds started to warm up by noon.

Mike and I left my home at 4:15am and arrived at Presqu’ile’s, Owen Point by 7:15am…lolol….a bit before even the birds or sun showed up.

We had a fairly decent variety of shorebirds Pectoral, Least, Semi-palmated, White-rumped Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstones, Sanderlings and Semi-palmated Plovers.   Also we managed to see the Ibis but at long range….

Ruddy Turnstone

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Semi-palmated Plover

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Least Sandpiper

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There was even mention of a Red Knot being seen but a Merlin kept moving the birds all over the place, so we never did manage to find it.

The biggest surprise subjects were the insects…it seemed they were everywhere Monarchs, Admirals, Caterpillers, Spiders, Praying Mantis’s, Dragonflies and Syrphid’s.  We collectively took over 800 images of these Lovely insects.  Below are just a few…….

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We had a lovely but long day…16 hours, worth every moment….Wish we could have these days year round.  Thanks guys

Ciao for Now.

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Monte Penna, Italy – A Day with Family – September 11, 2011

Posted on October 13, 2013 by birdquest2004

Europe in August can be very frustrating for birds, young have fledged, birds are quiet and in general not a great time for bird photography.

While at my birth town of Cavignaga, Italy, my cousin told me about a lovely climb to the summit of Mount Penna, a mountain (1,735 m) on the border between Liguria and Emilia-Romagna, northern Italy, part of the Ligurian Appennines. It is included in the Natural Regional Park of the Aveto, and overlooks the Val di Taro; the sources of both the Taro and Ceno Rivers are located in Monte Penna’s slope.

I asked  who wanted to go and on August 17th, 8 of us climbed to the top, my cousin Mauro, his brother-in -law, daughter Marika, her boyfriend Massi, Marco, Neda Bernabo and of course, Sue and I .   It took us about an hour of steady climbing up a 45-55 degree slope, I was last of course, lugging 40 pounds of camera equipment can slow you down but I enjoyed every minute of it.  Its funny my 72 year old cousin told me it was a gentle climb, maybe his idea of a joke…

We all made it up and the view was spectacular… Click on the image below and see it full size.

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This image shows a split view from the top and the view from the bottom…

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This bronze casting was carried up to the top by men from the surrounding villages, with the help of a few mules.

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Posted in Scenery, Trips | Leave a comment