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Van Waffle

Writer, Naturalist, Photographer

Category: nature

Birding by ear: rose-breasted grosbeak

Posted on May 11, 2014May 12, 2014 by Van Waffle

Opening the back door this morning, I heard a rose-breasted grosbeak squeak at me from the neighbour’s tree. He sat long enough for…

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A pressed ash leaf

Posted on November 7, 2013November 6, 2013 by Van Waffle

This summer I noticed some unexpected trees deep in the woods, high on a ridge near the cottage. Compound leaves like these are…

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Woollybear

Posted on September 26, 2013September 25, 2013 by Van Waffle

Woollybear caterpillars are a common sight this time of year. Danny and I keep finding them on our walks, which we have been…

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Autumnal insect music

Posted on September 24, 2013September 23, 2013 by Van Waffle

Most of the wildflowers are past. All but a few butterflies and dragonflies have disappeared. But as the softening golden light of September…

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Common wood nymph, Cercyonis pegala

Posted on August 8, 2013August 7, 2013 by Van Waffle

On a Sunday morning photo ramble through the conservation area, I encountered this demure but lovely butterfly. It is Cercyonis pegala, the common…

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Not so demure lady’s slipper

Posted on June 27, 2013June 26, 2013 by Van Waffle

Cypripedium acaule is one of the treasures of our cottage property. This not-so-discrete lady shows her stuff every spring, but usually in early…

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Highlights from my 2013 Breeding Bird Survey

Posted on June 26, 2013June 25, 2013 by Van Waffle

On Sunday morning I ran my annual route for the international Breeding Bird Survey. It is one of my favourite events of the…

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How to celebrate Summer Solstice

Posted on June 21, 2013June 20, 2013 by Van Waffle

The longest day of the year has inspired rituals and celebrations for as long as our ancestors turned their eyes to the sky…

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Loss of habitat in Guelph’s west end

Posted on June 20, 2013June 19, 2013 by Van Waffle

  This guest post by Mike Lepage is adapted by permission from a recent note to the Wellington County birding email hotline. I…

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Barn swallows abundant but in decline

Posted on June 8, 2013June 8, 2013 by Van Waffle

On a recent trip to the country, I was delighted to get a close look at some barn swallows at Reroot Organic Farm….

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Van on Flickr

  • Fundament of origin IV
  • Waiting for the thaw
  • Sunset over Singing Sands, Bruce Peninsula National Park
  • Two-Spirit celebrants at Toronto Pride 2006
  • Fundament of origin III
  • Fundament of origin II
  • Travel advisory
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Genius Loci: The Spirit of a Place is a Flickr group curated by Van with 250 members and growing, exploring how places influence our lives.

Genius Loci

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