I had a request from a client to reconfigure an existing photo, so I headed over to Ooms Conservation area to grab a clean plate shot for this new composite image. Which took about two minutes. I wasn’t about to turn around and go home, ignoring the beautiful surroundings. So I took a bit of a hike.

Ooms is loaded with these trees that are heavy with brightly covered berries. As I passed by one, I realized it was buzzing with birds, feasting on the berries. At first glance, I thought I was looking at a female cardinal, but a few moments of observing made that clearly wrong. I had to look it up. It’s a cedar waxwing, which I wasn’t previously familiar with.

I also spotted this white throated sparrow hanging out in the tree.

Down near the pond, I was struck by the effect of the light sparkling on the water, leading me on a search for a target that I could put in front of that out of focus sparkle. Which is how I ended up with this.

And finally, as I headed out, I spotted this huge beehive hanging in a tree, agreeably framed by white birch trees.