Autumn colours, birds, and a butterfly(!)

This past week was probably the last few days of the year when signs of autumn are still pretty evident.  Soon the trees will be bare and the ground will be covered by snow once again.  I have an uneasy and sickening feeling about the future of the world given what happened just four short days ago in America.  But there is not much anyone can do except to stay positive and hang on tight to anything that brings you happiness, whether it is spending time with your friends and families and/or being outside and enjoying nature.

People going out for a morning stroll.

I found Hamilton Euonymus (Euonymus hamiltonianus) trees in the Arboretum with beautiful pink fruit capsules and bright red arils.

It reminds me of popcorn.

A pleasure to discover such bright colours in November.

Perfect maple leaves.

Branching out.

Taking an afternoon walk in Strathcona Park.

Golden leaves.

An Eastern chipmunk (Tamias striatus) stuffing its cheek pouches with food.

I also saw some birds at the Arboretum last Sunday and today.

 Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubescens)

One Great Black-backed Gull (Larus marinus) among the Ring-billed Gulls (L. delawarensis), Canada Geese (Branta canadensis), and female Common Mergansers (Mergus merganser).

 One lonely male Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula).

 Hooded Mergansers (Lophodytes cucullatus)

Canada Geese in flight.

Last Tuesday, while I was taking photos of the maple leaves in Commissioners Park, I noticed a leaf pierced by a stick on the ground.  And perched on that leaf was a sulphur butterfly!

It was a Clouded Sulphur (Colias philodice).

I have not seen any butterfly (except at the butterfly show last month) out and about for quite a long time now, so I was very excited to see one this late into the season.

Since it was chilly out, the butterfly didn't have the energy to fly away as I approached closer.

So beautiful!

Hope everyone is coping with the recent events and bracing for an unpredictable future.