What's It All About, eh?

Cape Breton evokes deep memories and strong emotions for me as well as a deep appreciation for the beauty of my adopted island. My hopes are that you too might find the photos evocative - maybe a view you've not enjoyed before, or an 'Oh I've been there', or if from away that you may be encouraged to visit this fair isle so that you might come to love and breathe Cape Breton as I do. One word about place names that I use - some are completely local usage while others are from maps of Cape Breton that I've purchased over the years. I frequently post travel and other photos that are of interest to me - and hopefully you.

On the right hand side bar find my take on Single Malt whiskey - from how to best enjoy this noble drink to reviews (in a most non-professional manner) of ones that I have tried and liked - or not. Also musings, mine and others, on life in general.

Photographs are roughly 98%+ my own and copy-righted. For the occasional photo that is borrowed, credit is given where possible - recently I have started posting unusual net photographs that seem unique. Feel free to borrow any of my photos for non-commercial use, otherwise contact me. Starting late in 2013 I have tried to be consistent in identifying my photographs using ©smck on all out of camera photos I personally captured - (I often do minor computer changes such as 'crop' or 'shadow' etc but usually nothing major), and using
©norvellhimself on all photos that I have played around with in case it might not be obvious. Lately I have dropped the ©smck and have watermarked them with the blog name.

COMMENTS are appreciated as feedback is the driving energy of blogging - And if you like this site please pass it along to a friend. Thanks!

NOTE: TO ENLARGE PHOTO, CLICK ON SAME - If using Firefox also click f11 - photos will fill the screen ...... ----------------------------------- ......TRANSLATION BUTTON AT TOP OF LEFT COLUMN!

The Lesser Scaup - Aythya affinis




The Lesser Scaup is a gorgeous bird quite distinctive especially with its’ bluish bill.  Sometimes birds are, for me, difficult to identify and I have found that having several different bird books is really helpful. 


Ducks are among the best known of what biologists call ‘precocial birds’.  That is they come from the egg with eyes wide open, covered with a suit of natal down for insulation and ready for action, such as leaping from a high wooded nest at one day old and then following the mother to the water and as young as three days are diving and catching minnows– as opposed to ‘altricial birds’ which hatch naked, blind and helpless and are supported in nest for days by the parents.
 

About 0.4 Second








I had set my camera on a burst mode of 12 shots per second as I walked softly - to the human ear - to the edge of the bank expecting the duck to throw itself aloft, but instead it flipped into a dive, whether elusive or fishing I could not tell but I luckily captured these four photos in a little less than 0.4 second.  I believe it was the Lesser Scaup - which see next post.

SURREALISM


Surrounded By Her Suitors


Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarnsis

Once thought to be the most common gull in North America, Audubon called it "the great American gull."  However today for sheer breadth of distribution that appellation is now claimed by the Herring Gull, having become so ubiquitous that it is what most people mean when they mention a 'sea gull',
The black ring around the bill is definitive in identifying this Ring-bill.   He flew right up almost within an arms-length of me, landed on the piling and then gave me a saucy once-over as I laughingly took his photograph.  I was actually more interested in the upstream mergansers but they were wary as always, swimming away even though at a good distance as I was walking toward them - and in fact suddenly taking wing and became gone.