From the Earth to the Sky

trip report  This past weekend, Sept. 19, 20 and 21 was the Ontario Field Ornithologists Annual Convention and AGM.  This time the southern Ontario version  was in my home community of Lambton County. the northern version was in Timiskaming at Hilliardton Marsh  I was so excited that it was coming here as we have so many wonderful birding opportunities and excellent birders here.  The Ontario Field Ornithologists are a group of amateur and professional ornithologists (birders) who gather together to provide field trips and webinars on the subject of, you guessed it, birds!  Every year at the AGM they honour a Distinguished Ornithologist, this year it was Doug McCrae, very well deserved!  The meeting also hosts a special guest speaker, and of course the meeting.  I must admit I am more interested in the field trips, as I'm not a late night person, but once a year is doable!  They fed us well Friday night at the Dante Club with yummy burgers an...

 The summer has been coming to an end and though I haven't seen too any dogs on my travels, these 3 are memorable.   Pippa is a lively sweet mixed breed who I met in one of my favourite haunts.  She was so lively that I could only get an 'in action' shot!  Her young owner told us of her story, a rescue from one of the southern states, and that she is now a therapy dog!   She has the softest fur and almost fox like in demeanour. This very sweet and wise senior lab cross girl comes to greet birders when they visit this popular hotspot.  She lives in the house across the way and she is very well looked after, but she is free to enjoy the lake and visit people in her friendly manner.  After we had a nice greeting, she followed me along the shoals and went for a swim! Max is a very handsome mastiff mix who is his person's loyal companion.  His story is sad, but has a happy ending.  He was physically abused and neglected for the first 2 y...