A narrow but persistent finger of snow has been streaming from Lake Huron down to Toronto all morning and has given us several centimetres of snow. Coupled with a temperature of -14°C, and a wind chill of -21°C, this makes for a tough day for wildlife which seems to have completely disappeared apart from the occasional deer and squirrel.
2013 01 22, Looking south just before Humber Creek.
We’ve grown used to mild temperatures in winter and these days, when the overnight temperature drops to normal, somehow it seems unduly harsh. Last night’s light snowfall, falling temperatures and penetrating winds make for a relatively cold morning. The shadows by the footbridge were interesting and the low humidity evident by the deep blue of the sky. Again, the Sony RX100 sailed through this tough challenge with no blown areas.
Shadows and footprints.
A mild day on the Humber.
2013 01 10
The January thaw is upon us; rain expected tomorrow will likely clear the rest of the snow from the park along with ice from the river which floats ashore progressively as a temporary dam is formed and water pressure builds. Large chunks of the ice often end up stacked along the riverbank in huge piles. Little possibility of that this week as the ice is quite thin and may simply disperse down the river.
Today with a low sun and mild weather, Raymore Park is a photographer’s paradise.
Lines, grains and texture.
2013 01 09
Here’s a view down the length of the park from the sign at the bridge looking towards Eglinton.
Photographed in January 2013 with a 5472 x 3648 (20.2 megapixels), Sony RX100.
When compared to the same view taken (with an early digital camera) in February 1999, nothing much seems to have changed other than the sign. In fact a fair amount has changed. More details tomorrow.
Photographed in February 1999 using a 640 x 480 (0.3 megapixels), Apple QuickTake 100 (made by Kodak).
2013 01 07
Snowmen don’t last long in Raymore Park; they usually perish at the hands of unsympathetic humans. Today’s must have been fresh as it was intact, but – judging by the colour, ownership had been claimed by a dehydrated dog! This one was just before the hill up to Scarlett Road.
The difference between early fall and early winter is illustrated in these two photographs; no prizes for guessing which one was taken today. The park literally teems with billions of creatures (mainly insects) at the end of summer while on a day like today wildlife seems strangely absent, even though a fair number of animals stick around by hibernating or finding winter food.
In addition to seasonal differences, the two photographs are about 8 years apart which can be seen by the growth of the bushes on the left.
29 September 2004.
Looking at today’s image, it’s hard to imagine anything surviving but in less than three months, the park will begin to stir as the sun’s warmth returns.
6 January 2013.
Off topic rant/ The apartment building in the photographs is one of a pair of notorious carbuncles built on Weston Road in the 1970s. These have been the subject of many a city compliance order and have become in some ways too big to fail. The landlord was recently given $1.8 million of taxpayers’ money to fix up the place. Hopefully the gift of a GO Station moving onto the doorstep should spare the taxpayer from further assistance to this alleged capitalist enterprise. /rant
Last winter was unusually mild and the robins never left. Today there was a few of them feeding on sumac flowers about half way down the park and not at all bothered by my presence. After a couple more centimetres of snow yesterday, the park is looking at its winter finest.
Down along the Humber, there is a tangle of trees that have been battered by river ice over the years. A fresh covering of snow always adds to the charm.
Friends of Raymore Park 