While the train trip north of Sault Ste. Marie to Agawa Canyon is very scenic with many opportunities for photos as is the highway 17 north that follows the lakeshore of Superior. But I'm afraid that for you Yanks this area is a No-No at this time. Because of the "Virus" the border between our common border is closed tight at the moment for all except essential travelers. And sight-seeing I'm afraid does not fit that description. The closure date was just extended to the 21st of September and considering what is going on in the USA with the virus I cannot see it opening at all til sometime in 2021 or until youse guys get it under control somewhat.
Sad but true but the 80% of the citizens of Canada at the present time do not want the border to open.
So, the UP is where you will be and there are many many excellent places along all the Great Lakes that will satisfy your cravings.

LittleRed (Ron)

And a Pink Carnation. Should never allow and old man to sit on his deck at dusk with a camera.

LittleRed (Ron)

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Smile😂😂😂

This to me kinda sums it up without the use of words.
Our prayers are with all the hoggers at this trying time. Stay safe and healthy.

LittleRed (Ron) and family

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Who gives a crap when or how many times it was posted. Am sitting on my deck with a cup of Jav and it brought the first smile 😊 for today even though I’ve seen it before.. That’s all that really matters, isn’t it. So thanks “second poster” for starting my day off on the right foot.

LittleRed (Ron)

You sir have the ability of making something simple into a beautiful work of art. All your camera lens touches is gold in my opinion.

LittleRed (Ron)

Again I wish to thank all that (Dr J, DreamerJack, JRiepe, Blair Shaw Jr., blacks2, Hereford, Indrajeet Singh, reguli, JeffDavidson, Earnest Botello, raymondh, photophile, Vince68, Bubalola, merrytexan, water falls) for stopping by and commenting. Thank you loads. However it’s sad ( for me that is) to report that my blue gang somehow picked up one more character tonight. It appears there’s possibly 9 or 10 now. Hard to do an accurate count as they never stop moving.
Just ordered another 40lb bag of sunflower seeds with the hope it will take me to the end of August.
All youse fine folks out there stay safe and healthy.

LittleRed (Ron)

First I would like to thank all whom looked in at my backyard friends (NMGal, Vector, MadMikeOne, lxu532, kpmac, jdtonkinson). Your kind comments are appreciated.

LittleRed (Ron)

PS - Quick update. Shouldn't have complained about the family of 5. This morning they showed up and brought 4 of their buddies. So the yard was pure havoc with 9 of the beasts feasting on my seeds. Gotta learn to keep my mouth shut.

First a 200 pound Black Bear took down 2 of my feeding stations, then a fat Coon took down another. 4 Squirrels (2 red, 2 grey) are now trying my patience. Then mom and dad Blue Jay have the habit of bringing their 3 young whipper-snappers to drive me over the hill. They hit my feeders like a blue tornado and cause havoc amongst my other backyard friends. I didn't think that 5 birds (2 adults and 3 kids) could completely empty my feeders in such a short period of time. I snapped a few pics to illustrate exactly what I have to contend with. I also included one of my special friends whom keeps the grubs out of my lawn for me.

LittleRed (Ron)

(All kidding aside, I love to just watch the antics that these brazen youngsters go through. Into the yard like a whirlwind and within 10 minutes out the same way along with a helluva pile of seeds. Ah, to be young again)

Looks Innocent Right? HA

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Another Innocent Pose (Don't Believe That)

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Can Feed Itself, But Still Likes Begging From Mom and Dad

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What I See When The Seed Runs Out

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Loves Either Grubs Or Ants (Yahoo)

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Another year just turned over for me and for my better half's hers is fast approaching. So this year we decided to pool our gifts and buy just one item for both of us that we will be able to benefit from. However this purchase has not only covered our birthdays but also our anniversary, Christmas and any others for a few years in the future. We splurged and purchased a Canon 100-400 II lens. Both myself and my wifes hobby is nature photography and this sure will come in handy. But the purchase price of a bit over $3000 meant that we will have to forget about any other toys for an extended period of time. Right now both of us use extensively a 300 Canon f4 prime with a great amount of success, but the extra reach of this lens will be a great bonus.
Since we are literally locked down to some extent at the present time I only had the opportunity to try this lens out from my back deck and from what I have seen it surely is a winner. I tried a variety of modes at a variety of distances and for the most part all is more than just OK in my book. I've attached a few pics that illustrates what I am babbling about. Please not that all these are basically SOC with just cropping, some fairly sever. I used an program called Photopad to download all the pics and did no enhancing. This set of pics illustrates what the limits this lens is capable of going from 6 to 40,000 feet with little problem. Like I said I like what I see and we are looking forward to get out in the field and seeing just how good this lens can be.

LittleRed (Ron)

Fly at 5.9' (1.8M)

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Chipping Sparrow at 18' (5.5M)

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Blue Jay at 30' (9M)

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Downy Woodpecker at 30' (9M)

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Squirrel at 45' (14M) at dusk poor light (4000ISO)

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Airplane Boeing 787 from Poland (LOT) at 39000' (12000M)

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Airplane McDonnell Douglas MD-11F from Germany (Lufthansa Cargo) at 40000' (12100M)

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Sorry it took so long to reply to all of youse. Our server has been down most of the past few days. One of the penalties for living in the "backwoods" of Northeastern Ontario. We might be a city of 80K or so but our local net connection sometimes questionable. But we're now back on line (hopefully for a long time) so it gives me a chance to thank all whom perused my family portraits and for all the kind words. With the goings on right now I will have an ample opportunity to visit with all my "kids" in the back yard.
So again, thanks to all the lookins, your visits were/are deeply appreciated.
All please stay safe and do take care.

LittleRed (Ron)

Fraid it was the camera not me. If I had to depend on my aged eyesite then none of my pics would be even close to be in focus. Anyhows thanks for stopping by an commenting. Tis appreciated.

LittleRed (Ron)

My first kid has fledged and left our nest. Now living 700Km away with her hubby and doing very well in her chosen profession. Since then we have been adopting another group of "kids" every year in our backyard. Every year a new group of yung'uns stay with us from birth to the time for them to head to warmer territories. These are a few pics of just some of these "kids" whom were kind enough to stand still long enough for me to get a fairly good shot of them. There are some that like all kids would not stay still enough to get caught by my camera. By the time I catch up to many of them they will not be kids anymore.

LittleRed (Ron)

Blue Jay - the noisy one of the bunch. Spends most of the day hiding my (his) peanuts

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Brown-headed Cowbird - a Brood Parisitic bird, uses another species to raise its young. This one was being mothered by a Chipping Sparrow

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Downy Woodpecker - the smallest of the woodpeckers. This gentleman is no bigger than a large sparrow

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Northern Cardinal - the first to grace our backyard in a long time. Too cute but a holy terror at the feeders

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Red-winged Blackbird - like the Jay a greedy cuss. The extra black on the face denotes it as a male.

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Song Sparrow - the melodius one in the yard. A pleasure to listen 2 with your morning cup of jav. A bumper crop this year with at least 6 yung'uns staying with us.

I wish to thank all (curmudgeon, docshank, nimbushopper, raymondh, sippyjug, dennis, Dixiegirl, Rich, sundar, merrytexan) whom perused my pics and for the kind comments. All were appreciated by this old man. There is so much one can do with a camera and this is one. I've dabbled a bit in the past with this type of picture taking. But now due to circumstances way beyond my command I have the time to try this and other venues a bit more. Health wise and because of this virus thingy I'm kinda locked down. Many of my favourite haunts are also closed to me at this time. So my principle photo area is my own back yard. But when one looks closely at what he has available there are remarkable and most beautiful items to discover. Thank God for digital I don't know how one could do what I'm now doing back with film (even with a darkroom). But one must get used to this as I'm afraid that this is the "new normal" for me and many in the same boat. But again, thanks to all of you hoggers out there that have taken the time to visit my postings.
You all stay safe and keep the shutters working.

LittleRed (Ron)

I initially posted a few of my attempts at close-up pics on the Gallery but I still had a few more left over of the same type. So I figured I'd drop them off here on this part of the Hog to get some feedback from the real pros who partake of this type of photography.
So let me know what you think and where I could possibly improve in what I've done.

LittleRed (Ron)

Stink/Field Bug on glass table

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Stink/Field Bug on glass table

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Green Bottle Fly on rhubarb leaf

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Green Bottle Fly on Chive blossom

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Margined Calligrapher Fly on Dianthus blossom

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Margined Calligrapher Fly on Dianthus blossom

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Long-legged Fly on rhubarb leaf

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Long-legged Fly on rhubarb leaf

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Orange-legged Furrow Bee on Chive blossom

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