Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Brooding Skies And Groundhogs

It was time for a new header for autumn. My choice was taken last year near the Alexandra Bridge, looking towards Parliament Hill.

Today I have some odds and ends. I was heading home one day in mid-August and saw this oncoming storm to the west.


A few minutes later, close to home, I photographed this arch which stands at the entrance into the heart of the Chinatown neighbourhood.


On another day I was sitting for a few minutes, checking my mobile, and this pigeon circled around and then hopped up onto the ledge where I was sitting, curious as to what I was doing (or more likely if I had anything edible on me).


Late that same day, I was coming back from Lebreton Flats after photographing in the area. This groundhog was near the firefighters memorial.


August was quite unsettled here. Late one afternoon I was passing through the Glebe neighbourhood and photographed these two shots a few streets apart, with looming storms in the west.


In early September I was out in Westboro and passed by All Saints. They have a labyrinth out front that I hadn't noticed before.


A few days later I stopped on Plaza Bridge to photograph the Ottawa Locks, where the Rideau Canal descends to meet the Ottawa River, between Parliament Hill and the Chateau Laurier. It was one of those brooding, cool days with low hanging clouds- low enough that the highest of the Gatineau Hills off in the distance were hidden.


And to close things out, I went over to Gatineau to visit the Museum of History a couple of weeks ago, and passed by this groundhog happily munching away in a park near the Portage Bridge.

30 comments:

  1. Love the little labyrinth. Oh, but the tulips brought more joy than the autumn trees. But that´s life.

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  2. You've chosen a wonderful new header, William.
    Great shots of the sky this time and I like the photo of that Chinese arch.
    What a nice surprise to see some animals here.

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  3. Better make sure to have a little cracked corn in your pocket for the friendly pigeon. But get ready for his buddies to come!

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  4. Hello,

    Your new header is beautiful, love all the fall trees and colors. I have a groundhog in my yard, it is a fat critter. Take care, enjoy your day!

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  5. I have never seen a groundhog, but he seems to resemble marmots that I have seen in the Alps.

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  6. ...our sky looks similar today. A walk in the park here can be a walk in a minefield of groundhog holes!

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  7. Excellent series of shots William, you certainly caught some turbulent skies.. and a cute wee groundhog 💛

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  8. P.s. Your new header shot is a stunning autumn image 🍁

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  9. I love your new header picture, and I enjoyed the trip you took me on as well. :-)

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  10. Love the entryway to Chinatown. I've seen a similar one in Victoria. You captured some nice pics of the cute little critters.

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  11. I’d be thrilled to see groundhogs.

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  12. The Chinatown gate and the labyrinth are my favorites.

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  13. @Francisco: thank you.

    @Iris: it was past time for a change.

    @Jan: the groundhogs were more skittish than the pigeon was.

    @David: that's true!

    @Eileen: thank you!

    @Rosemary: pretty similar, yes.

    @Tom: one must watch their step!

    @Grace: two of them, at that.

    @DJan: thank you!

    @Susie: I do see the Arch each day, but it's been more than a year since I photographed it.

    @RedPat: not unless it's crossing interprovincial bridges!

    @Red: thanks!

    @Marie: they're neat animals.

    @Kate: thank you.

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  14. I've never seen a groundhog in person before. Beautiful new header, William.

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  15. Nice collection of photos. A couple of groundhogs live down the road from my house. I see them run across the street sometimes when I'm walking.

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  16. A fabulous new header photograph, and a good selection of photographs in your post too.

    All the best Jan

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  17. Great selection of odds and ends. And, that new header is beautiful.

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  18. Love the header photo.
    That pigeon does look quite hopeful that you might have a snack for it.
    The third last photograph is really spectacular.
    And the groundhogs are bigger than I had thought, quite cute little critters.

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  19. Totally interesting post. I like the new header. We don't have groundhogs out here. Some critters that resemble one though. So we are safe from any Spring predictions--LOL.
    I like that Labyrinth--very pretty too
    MB

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  20. Beautiful street captures and lovely header.

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  21. That's an elaborately constructed labyrinth. (Does that make it an elaborinth?)

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  22. Lovely to visit a new place through your photos. While in New York in July, I saw an animal that I thought was a gigantic squirrel. It was actually a ground hog. I come from a place where they aren't common(or even around) and I had never seen one before.

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  23. I love the groundhog, we haven't seen our Fred in weeks!
    Great shots. I'd not been to Chinatown, I guess.

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  24. @Bill: they are neat critters to watch.

    @Happyone: I enjoy seeing them.

    @Jan: thank you!

    @Revrunner: perhaps. I've been by that church on a number of occasions, and this was the first time I noticed the labyrinth. Today it's coated under leaves.

    @Sharon: thank you.

    @Gemel: pigeons will be pigeons.

    @MB: marmots, I expect.

    @Magiceye: thank you!

    @Linda: perhaps!

    @Margaret: it doesn't surprise me that they'd be there. All they need is a good patch of grass, and they've got it made.

    @Jennifer: it won't be long before they're hibernating.

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  25. The Chinatown gate is quite impressive. And I would love to walk that labyrinth.

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