Camera Assistant
An alligator floats in the swamps of Kennedy Space Centre, a good reminder to be careful when setting up remote cameras.
Stork Stack
A brown pelican (previously misidentified as a stork) sits on a piling used to secure the barge that transports the shuttle’s External Tanks. The top of the STS-133 stack can be seen in the background.
Roll Maneuver
Space shuttle Discovery begins her Roll Program, turning the vehicle 180° so it ascends to orbit in a “heads down” position. Here the Roll Program gives a perfect view between the External Tank and the orbiter.
Staging Progression
About two minutes after liftoff in a sequence called “staging”, Discovery’s SRBs (Solid Rocket Boosters) separate from the External Tank to begin their parachute-controlled decent to the ocean below for recovery. (Click image to view larger.)
Overflight
The International Space Station, with a full complement of visiting vehicles from all participating nations, soars in orbit over Toronto at 7:02 P.M. This is a stacked set of eight images, the gaps in the trail are caused by the ~1 second delay between shutter actuations.
Old Faithful
Another Ward’s beach geyser erupts into strong sidelight. After each session of shooting in -18°C weather, the cameras would be coated in ice and require careful defrosting for several hours near a constant heat source.
Bighorn Gaze
On a completely Island-unrelated note, a bighorn sheep peers through its horns on a July trip to Alberta’s Icefields.
Home Sweet Home
“The Fence”, erected for Toronto’s G20 summit, essentially shuts down the ferry docks on the city side.
G20 Twilight
Marine security restrictions for Toronto’s G20 meeting leave the inner harbour completely empty on the eve of the summit, looking more like January than June.
Tern Return
Common terns check out this season’s nesting options, on the raft in the middle of the trout pond.
Egret Spotlight
A great egret perches on a stump, caught in the spotlight of a late evening sun on Long Pond.
Bumps on a Log
Painted turtles tie the ducklings with a score of five, in the “we can fit more on a log than you” category.
Ducks in a Row
Mallard ducklings prepare to go head to head with the turtles, in the “we can fit more on a log than you” category.
Transitions
A mallard duckling starts to look a bit ratty as its baby fur gives way to adult feathers.
There’s Always One
A mallard duckling tentatively looks back, making sure that mother is still close by.
End of the Road
The breakwall that defines the eastern gap continues to crumble into the inner harbour. Here a lonely bollard awaits its fate, many of its siblings already lying submerged beneath the icy waters.
