Bill Reid Photography

AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER

Posted on January 10, 2015 by bilyreid

AMERICAN THREE-TOED WOODPECKER

A specialist of the northern boreal forest, this handsome fellow has found the recent cold snap to his liking and made a home for himself here in the Ottawa area these past few weeks. Let’s hope he stays for the winter!! His rare local appearance obviates an 8 hour winter drive north to Timmins where they can be found much more predictably.

Digital photography is all about chasing better images to replace earlier, inferior ones. Below is my previous best photo of a Three-toed which resulted from a chance, bone-chilling encounter in Algonquin park several years ago. A good”identity” shot, I can now safely relegate it to the digital dustbin.

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RETURN OF THE SNOWIES

Posted on December 14, 2014 by bilyreid

Looks like another bumper year for a Snowy Owl irruption is underway.

SNOWY OWL, STRIX NYCTEA, JOHN JAMES AUDUBON

Page from the world’s most expensive book, “Birds of America”, by John James Audubon, 1840. I took this picture freehand from an original copy in London’s Natural History Museum under extremely difficult low light conditions without the use of flash through layers of protective glass. Not too shabby a result if I do say so myself!!!

(NB. Make sure to click the image to load a new web page and then click again to maximize and use the side and bottom navigation bars to examine the loving stroke work by one of the world’s greatest naturalist artists in detail. Humbling!!!)

SNOWY OWL IN FLIGHT

An early Christmas present, I took this picture yesterday.

Dedicated to the memory of Rick Poulin, a birding buddy, who passed away far too young on Saturday and now shares eternity with John James Audubon. They’ll have plenty to talk about. Rest in peace.

Posted in BIRD PHOTOGRAPHY, HISTORICAL | Comments Off

THE LAST SPIKE

Posted on December 12, 2014 by bilyreid

LAST SPIKE MONUMENT, CRAIGELLACHIE, BRITISH COLUMBIA

During my recent visit to BC, I had the chance to revisit the historic Last Spike Monument celebrating the completion of the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885.

If you’re patient enough to wait for a passing train and give the engineer a friendly wave he’ll give you a spine-tingling whistle blast.

DONALD SMITH, “THE LAST SPIKE”

Donald Smith, the Lord Strathcona, driving the last spike in what is one of the most historic moments in Canadian history. Donald who emigrated to Canada as a lowly employee of the Hudson Bay Company and would labour as such in obscurity for 30 years in Labrador, became HBC’s largest shareholder and one of the world’s richest men. He pledged his personal wealth to complete the CPR when the project became nationally bankrupt. First Chairman of the Bank of Montreal, he would go on to found the Anglo-Iranian Oil Company, the forerunner of today’s British Petroleum. Late in life he would use his influence as Canadian High Commissioner in London to promote British emigration to western Canada.

Imagine trying to get environmental and aboriginal approval for such a nation building project in today’s Canada. Virtually impossible!!! Thank god for the Victorians!!

Big shout out to my host Leta who went out of her way to make the visit happen!!

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BIRDS OF A FEATHER

Posted on December 3, 2014 by bilyreid

Standby for a major announcement!!

My new photobook, “BIRDS OF A FEATHER” is now available at my publisher’s website. The first 15 pages of the total 132 can be previewed here. Remember to expand the player to full screen for maximum viewing pleasure.

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WAR OF 1812 MEMORIAL – PARLIAMENT HILL

Posted on November 23, 2014 by bilyreid

“TRIUMPH THROUGH DIVERSITY”

The monument was designed by Toronto artist Adrienne Alison.

The monument was unveiled on the 200th anniversary of the last battle of the war in Canada…..the battle of Malcolm’s Mills.

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LEUCISTIC ROBIN

Posted on November 22, 2014 by bilyreid

LEUCISTIC ROBIN

Leucism, or leukism, is an abnormal plumage condition caused by a genetic mutation that prevents pigment, particularly melanin from being properly deposited on a bird’s feathers. As a result, the birds do not have the normal, classic plumage colors listed in field guides, and instead the plumage have several color changes.