Greg Shchepanek

   Welcome to the New Year And looking back on the old 2025. Exploring the new Fork Lake Trail was a highlight of 2025, not seeing much but it was great exercise going up the staircases in the woods to reach the overlook of the lake most notable fauna of the trail were the squirrels and the Blue Jays. The trail was a new addition to the park and opened in June of 2025. Fork Lake Trail American Red Squirrel ( Tamiasciurus hudsonicus ) Fork Lake Trail, Algonquin Provincial Park, Ontario, Canada. Most notable photography for 2025 was again a frog year on my Flickr site. Even though the photo was taken in 2024 of a Northern Green Frog ( Lithobates clamitans melanota ) Fletcher Wildlife Garden, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. It was highlighted to be my most popular upload for World Frog Day which was on March 19, 2025. Subsequently garnering even more views and likes when I included the photo on Flickr's Your Best Shot 2025 in the Nature category. Some other notable photos of the yea...

 Birds & Cats  Snow Buntings ( Plectrophenax nivalis ) Richmond, Ontario, Canada. While in the search for Snowy Owls, it was wonderful to discover a large flock of Snow Buntings in search for food in the farm fields of Richmond. It was a pure joy to observed them doing their thing in the fields. Most of the photos showed them pecking at the ground it would have been more favourable if there was more snow like we had this past week enduring heavy snow falls that we haven't seen since 2002, but then again it must be very hard to find food out there for the Buntings after such a snowfall.  Cats Spent some time with some feline friends on Valentine's Day this year. They are a favourite topic of mine and thank goodness my friend has some beautiful posers in her home. The only qualm I would have is the lighting was a bit difficult taking most the photos at night so they are a bit warmer than usual. Nigel and KC are their names and they have the most inquisitive stares I ha...