Say Cheese

Here in Southern Ontario, we see plenty of Canada Geese.  We watch them fly north in the Spring and fly south in the Fall.  That distinctive Vee formation pointing South always makes us sad.  It’s the end of summer and our feathered friends are leaving for warmer climes. 

Same thing with the Monarch Butterfly.  Before they fly to Mexico for the winter, they flutter all over the place.  The first time I noticed them gathering was driving along the Gardner Expressway.  At first I thought that someone was burning something and large flakes were floating around.  Then I realized they were Monarch Butterflies getting ready for their big journey to Mexico.  Isn’t Nature wonderful?

Back to the Canada Goose.  Last May I was in James Gardens one Sunday morning.  After parking my car and getting my gear out of the trunk, I was alerted by that distinctive honking the geese do.  This one seemed different somehow.  Louder.  Almost alarming.  I followed the sound.  It became louder the closer I got to the Humber River.  I looked and looked and finally raised my head to look in the trees and there he was, high on one of the limbs, making the world’s greatest racket.

I have no idea what was troubling him.  Was he looking for a mate or his mate?  I’ll never know but since I had never seen or heard of a Canada Goose in a tree, I took his picture - first with my 17-55mm lens and then with my 70-300mm lens for a better close-up.  Here they are.