Butcher's FallsLaura and I visited Butcher's Falls after several years. Caution is in order since the access road has washed removing all the gravel and leaving auto underbelly grinders. Recent thundershowers appear to have been quite severe in this area. The falls as usual are grand and well worth the visit. Try to avoid weekends when it can get crowded with kids and dogs. Butchers' Falls
CCGS Hare BayI photographed CCGS Hare Bay off Chebucto Head at full power plowing through the swells. 19
6.3
1.7
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100.2
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CCGS Hare Bay
USS Forrest ShermanThe Arleigh Burke class of destroyers are the backbone of the United States navy's fleet defence. The USS Forrest Sherman was photographed off Chebucto Head as it was leaving Halifax harbour to participate in NATO Exercise Cutlass Fury.
USS Forrest Sherman (DDG-98)
USS Forrest Sherman (DDG-98) is an Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyer in the United States Navy and is the second US Navy ship to bear the name. She is part of Destroyer Squadron 28. Namesake[edit]She is named for Admiral Forrest Percival Sherman. Construction[edit]Built by Northrop Grumman Ship Systems Ingalls Shipbuilding in Pascagoula, Mississippi, Forrest Sherman was launched on 2 October 2004. Admiral Sherman's daughter, Ann Sherman Fitzpatrick, is the ship's sponsor. History[edit]She was commissioned on 28 January 2006 at NAS Pensacola, Commander Michael VanDurick in command, and six days later departed for her homeport in Norfolk, Va. to join the Atlantic Fleet. She departed Norfolk for her maiden deployment in July 2007, visiting various nations around the Mediterranean Sea and the Black Sea. In August 2007, while the ship was visiting Sevastopol to conduct drills with the Ukrainian Navy, a 1,100 pounds (500 kg) naval mine from the Second World War was discovered 500 yards from the vessel. The mine was secured before it could damage the ship.[1] Also during that visit, she became the first US Navy ship to land a Ukrainian Navy helicopter. She also conducted Reliant Mermaid 2007 with the Turkish and Israeli Navies.[2] On that deployment, she circumnavigated the continent of Africa as part of Task Group 60.5, the US Navy's Southeast Africa task force. She returned home on 19 December that year.[3][4] In early June 2008, Forrest Sherman deployed for three months in support of U.S. Southern Command's Partnership of the Americas 2008 (POA 08) operation. She returned home on 29 August 2008.[5] On 25 November 2019, Forrest Sherman captured a stateless dhow carrying a large cache of Iranian missile parts destined for Yemen.[6][7]
York RedoubtHalifax and Halifax Harbour has been heavily defended from naval attack for hundreds of years. Many of the bunkers and guns are still visible to this date. I hadn't visited York Redoubt, one of the many harbour defenses, for several years. I took the opportunity to visit briefly on my tour of the east side of the Chebucto Peninsula. York Redoubt
York Redoubt is a redoubt situated on a bluff overlooking the entrance to Halifax Harbour at Ferguson's Cove, Nova Scotia, Canada, originally constructed in 1793. It was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1962.[1] History[edit]York Redoubt was a key element in the defence of Halifax Harbour in the 19th and 20th centuries, and saw many additions to its fortifications. It was a command centre for the local harbour defences in World War II, which included observation posts, a defensive minefield and a new gun battery below the fort at Sleepy Cove covering the anti-submarine net which stretched across the harbour's entrance from Fort McNab on McNabs Island. York Redoubt remained in military use until 1956. Buildings in the redoubt complex include what remains of the Duke of York's Martello tower, built in 1798; other fortifications from around 1800 and 1900; and advanced fortifications and artillery from World War II. York Redoubt has many examples of rifled muzzle loader cannon from the 1870s period. An open-air collection of unmounted cannon within the fort has several pieces of artillery of various periods, including a large 9.62-inch breech loader that had been mounted at the Sandwich Point battery, part of the York Redoubt complex. Structures at the water's edge at Sleepy Cove battery, now closed to the public, include three search light batteries, two concrete lookout towers and two gun emplacements which originally held two 12-pounder guns, but were later replaced with 6 pounder guns. On 28 June 1985, Canada Post issued "York Redoubt, N.S.", one of the twenty stamps in the "Forts Across Canada Series" (1983 & 1985).[2] Sandwich Point Battery[edit]The series of four gun emplacements was constructed during World War I one kilometre away from the main fort at York Redoubt to protect the approaches to Halifax Harbour. During World War II the two dated 9.2-inch breech-loading guns were removed, but the two 6-inch breech-loaders were retained throughout the war. The battery is currently derelict and completely contained within Department of National Defence fenced land (home to Canadian Forces Naval Engineering School) and is strictly off limits to the public (gates restrict road access to Gas Lane via Fire and Smoke Roads from John Bracken Drive). See also[edit]
A Rainy Day on the Chebucto PeninsulaI enjoyed a short circuit of the eastern end of the Chebucto Peninsula on a cloudy and drizzly day. Double-crested Cormorant
Canada Goose
GASPÉ, QC – Chantier Naval Forillon today announced the delivery of the fifth search and rescue vessel it has built for the Canadian Coast Guard, the CCGS Hare Bay, as part of a major contract, the first having been delivered in 2017. The contract calls for the yard to supply the Coast Guard with a total of ten vessels by 2023. The entire team is pleased to have contributed to the production of vessels that will serve the Canadian Coast Guard in various provinces across the country. Boat enthusiasts will be able to admire the units produced by Chantier Naval Forillon in the various rescue stations in British Columbia, Newfoundland and the Magdalen Islands (Qc), among others. The CCGS Hare Bay will be stationed in Nova Scotia, where it will provide essential search and rescue services, including on-water searches, response to distress calls at sea and assistance to vessels in difficulty. “Search and rescue vessels are an essential component of the Canadian Coast Guard fleet and are vital to marine safety and to supporting environmental response operations. Congratulations to the skilled workers at Chantier Naval Forillon for their exceptional work in building the CCGS Hare Bay,” said Mario Pelletier, Commissioner of the Canadian Coast Guard. The contract was won as a result of the shipyard’s positive response to a number of criteria, including its strong shipyard organisation, proven expertise and value for money. Over the years, the team at the helm of the company has sought and found ways to increase production without neglecting the quality of the vessels built. As a result, more than double the number of jobs have been created since the contract was confirmed, mainly as project managers and naval architects. The 37 employees have been joined by 34 who are retained on a year-round basis. The company is now operating with 70 employees on board and Jean-David Samuel, president and CEO of the shipyard, attributes this growth to the Coast Guard contract. “Obviously, this contract has proven to be structuring for the company. And we are pleased to be able to offer value-added jobs because of it,” he said. Founded in 1952, Chantier Naval Forillon is a company that builds and repairs boats. Its advantageous geographical location allows it to accommodate coastal and ocean-going vessels weighing up to 800 tons. It also provides services to several shipowners in Eastern Canada, and its infrastructure makes it one of the best equipped shipyards in the province for the construction and repair of boats.
Yellow Ladies Tresses Orchid Note the small yellow spot on the tongue. The single orchid flowers are about 1/4 inch long (6mm)
Head of Northwest Arm, Halifax
Sloop Nine off Sambro Island
Herring Cove
Portuguese Cove
Sambro Harbour
Portuguese Cove
Sambro Harbour
The Dingle
West Pennant Creek
CloudsThere are photographers that specialize in daylight sky and cloud photography. These photographs show why the interest exists. Clouds
Red Rock FallsOn our evening walk at Chignecto Provincial Park we walked pass the red rocks. Normally the flow of water here is but a trickle but after a particularly heavy rain the trickle becomes a waterfall and so I named it Red Rock Falls. Red Rock Falls
Blackburnian Warbler and Northern ParulaThe stunning Blackburnian Warbler and Northern Parula are a joy to meet and photograph. The Northern Parula is so tame I've had them feeding within a metre of me. Blackburnian Warbler
Northern Parula
Cedar Waxwing and Magnolia WarblerThe Cedar Waxwing was gathering nesting material. They are late nesters like the Goldfinch. It was a cooperative bird but hard to photograph on auto focus because the camera insisted on focusing on the twigs in front of the bird. The Magnolia Warbler is not a shy bird but tends to mind its own business and ignore passersby so I am always pleased when I can capture a few images. Cedar Waxwing
Magnolia Warbler
Recent PhotosThese photographs are an eclectic mix of recent experiences as I visited a few of my local haunts. The lack of shorebirds is disconcerting. Black-capped Chickadee
Dead Man's Fingers
Fungi
Coral Root Orchid .....past its prime
HMCS Toronto Entering Halifax Harbour off Chebucto Head
Forest Floor Lichens
Forest Floor Mushrooms
Forest Stump
Red Squirrel
Round Lake
Stump and Pickerel Weed
Sunrise at Duncan's Cove
Western Head
Aster Species
Nodding Ladies' Tresses Orchid
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