Andrew Trundlewagon's photos

An ice-oddity. I was in the woods on the weekend and came across masses of needle ice like this along the banks of small streams. I have not seen ice behave like this before, although it is a known phenomenon. Apparently, if the soil is saturated with water and the soil temperature is above freezing but the air temperature is below freezing, ice forms at the surface and is pushed up by hydrostatic pressure from the water below (not sure I understand that to be honest) to form these strands or needles of ice. These were about 5 to 7 cm long (roughly two to two and half inches). They remind me of the fibre optic “hairy” lamps that were popular in the 1970s and 80s.

Spray from a rushing stream frozen on a fallen twig

By the edge of a frozen lake, a pinecone fallen on rough ice.

A young buck just taking a stroll. He only has one antler so maybe it has been in the wars, or perhaps he has begun to shed them for regrowth next spring.

A pileated woodpecker working on tree trunck. She is doing a pretty good demolition job.

A pileated woodpecker. This is the female; the male was close by but further into the trees. They mate for life.

This is an old water mill in St Bruno, Quebec. The first mill was built in 1725, and then rebuilt in stone in 1741. The current building is the third mill on the site, dating from the 1760s. In the late nineteenth century the area became popular as a weekend retreat for wealthy businessmen who built several very large homes nearby. The mill was converted into a chapel for their benefit. It is now a Tea Salon (le Salon de The le Vieux Moulin), but it is only open at weekends. As there is no public road access customers have to walk in. Through the winter, most arrive on skis or snowshoes. The soup and hot drinks are very welcome during the cold months with the roaring fireplace keeping the customers warm. carlascanvas.com/2018/10/14/salon-the-mont-saint-bruno

November lake reflections.

A white-breasted nuthatch in the snow

First snow. I don't think the chrysanthemums were psychologically prepared for it; I wasn't.

A rose after a rain shower.

The lawn mower.

A hairy woodpecker, St. Bruno.

A bee sampling the rosemary; late in October, so probably the last bee for many months to come. It is easy to see how well the rosemary flowers are shaped to welcome the incoming traffic.

The weather has been unusually warm lately. Yesterday I saw a butterfly (very unusual for the end of October). The roses are taking full advantage of the warmth. This is a Bonica rose, and it is always the last to continue flowering into the late Fall.

A young deer in the autumn woods, getting ready for its first winter

The Fall colours reflected in lac des Bouleaux (Birch lake), St. Bruno.