Derek Orpen
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dnorpen.bsky.social
Derek Orpen
@dnorpen.bsky.social
46 followers 110 following 23 posts
Occasional nature photowalker

Me: https://sparksphere.net/about/
My blog: https://sparksphere.net/
My gallery: https://derekorpen.smugmug.com/A-Few-Shots/
Posts Replies Media Videos
Reposted by Derek Orpen
koboldpress.com
Kendo sits down with the cast from ‪@baddiebards‬ to talk about their Kobold Creates project: Husk a horror actual play series. bit.ly/4oMqwvp
November 3, 2025 at 1:09 AM
dnorpen.bsky.social
A green heron, an egret, a chipmunk, and a wood duck in High Park.

Some wildlife shots from last summer.

#wildlife/hashtag/wildlifewednesday" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#wildlifewednesday #birds #birdphotography #ducks #woodducks #herons #greenherons #egrets #wildlife #wildlifephotography #nature #naturephotography #photowalks #chipmunks
A green heron stands on a log surrounded by water and marsh plants. An egret stands between a tree pond, pointing away from the tree out into the water with its beak. A chipmunk looks wary on a paved pathway. A wood duck swims across shimmering pond water.
June 18, 2025 at 2:45 PM
Reposted by Derek Orpen
westendphoenix.bsky.social
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Joy
March 14, 2025 at 2:31 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
A suspicious-looking great blue heron and some ducks. (3/3)

#wildlife/hashtag/wildlifewednesday" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#wildlifewednesday #birds #birdphotography #ducks #woodducks #mallardducks #herons #egrets #greatblueherons #wildlife #wildlifephotography #nature #naturephotography #photowalks

Full post: see link in description.
A suspicious-looking great blue heron stands in a marshy area surrounded by tall reeds. Three wood ducks are perched on a branch over a body of water with a blurred green and yellow background. A mallard duck with mottled brown feathers stands on a rock beside a body of water. Two wood ducks are perched on a tree branch over water, basking in the sunlight.
January 8, 2025 at 3:51 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
Some more egrets! (2/3)

#wildlife/hashtag/wildlifewednesday" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#wildlifewednesday #birds #birdphotography #ducks #woodducks #mallardducks #herons #egrets #greatblueherons #wildlife #wildlifephotography #nature #naturephotography #photowalks

Full post: see link in description.
A white egret stands on a log over a calm, reflective body of water with a lush, green forest background. A white egret is perched on a fallen tree branch over a calm body of water in a wooded area. A white egret is wading through a forested wetland area with fallen branches and logs partially submerged in the water. A white egret stands gracefully on a log above a reflective body of water surrounded by fallen branches.
January 8, 2025 at 3:48 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
Some shots of egrets I took this past summer in Grenadier pond. (1/3)

wildlifewednesday #birds #birdphotography #ducks #woodducks #mallardducks #herons #egrets #greatblueherons #wildlife #wildlifephotography #nature #naturephotography #photowalks

Full blog post: see link in description.
A white egret is standing on a log by a body of water. A white egret stands gracefully on a branch over a body of water. A white egret with a long neck and yellow beak is pictured against a blurred natural background. A white egret stands gracefully in a shallow body of water amidst floating leaves and branches.
January 8, 2025 at 3:29 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
Shots of some trees from a photowalk this past summer. (And some ducks.)

#photomonday #summer #nature #naturephotography #naturewalks #photowalks #trees #mallardducks #ducks #woodlands #woodlandphotography
Lush, green foliage with a gracefully arching tree and sunlit leaves. A serene pondside scene features a birch tree surrounded by greenery and tall grasses. Ducks rest on a woodland floor surrounded by tall trees and a blurry background of greenery and a pond. Green woodland with dense foliage and tall trees bathed in sunlight.
December 30, 2024 at 6:55 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
Some wider shots from High Park gardens (i.e., not close-ups of flowers.)

#silentsunday #flowers #gardens #summer #nature #naturephotography #naturewalks #photowalks
A garden pergola is adorned with vibrant hanging plants and surrounded by lush greenery. A large, textured tree trunk surrounded by lush green hedges and other foliage. A cart is parked on grass, loaded with colorful watering cans in the back.
December 29, 2024 at 9:33 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
Some shots from the High Park gardens this past summer

#silentsunday #flowers #gardens #summer #nature #naturephotography #naturewalks #photowalks

(Species identification by Apple Photos, not sure if accurate.)
A vibrant red hibiscus with intricate petals is in sharp focus against a blurred green background. A delicate purple flower (symphyotrichum dumosum) with a yellow center is surrounded by green foliage and grass in an outdoor setting. A cluster of vibrant purple flowers (fall phlox) stands alone with a blurred natural background. A purple flower (coopers hardy ice plant) with green stems and leaves is in focus, surrounded by a blurred background.
December 29, 2024 at 9:29 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
Some long exposure ducks in the late afternoon.

(Oops! the last two shots from the last post that didn’t make it.)

#saturdaystroll #nature #naturephotography #ducks #mallards #mallardducks #trees #fallcolors #fallcolours #woodslands #woodlandphotography #naturewalks #photowalks
Long exposure of ducks gliding swiftly along a calm, reflective pond surrounded by dense, wintry reeds and trees. A snow-dusted field of tall, dry reeds is set against a cloudy sky at sunset.
December 7, 2024 at 11:35 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
The colours of November. Some long exposure shots in the late afternoon.

#saturdaystroll #nature #naturephotography #ducks #mallards #mallardducks #trees #fallcolors #fallcolours #woodslands #woodlandphotography #naturewalks #photowalks
A serene wetland scene features a leaning tree by a small pond with dry reeds and autumn leaves scattered on the ground. A calm pond beneath a leaning tree with a modern high-rise building and street car blurred in the background. A narrow, snow-dusted path winds through a forest with bare trees and dry, brown foliage at sunset. A narrow, snow-dusted path winds through a forest with tall, leafless trees and patches of orange foliage.
December 7, 2024 at 11:24 PM
Reposted by Derek Orpen
earthmood.bsky.social
Lovely shots!
November 18, 2024 at 6:58 PM
Reposted by Derek Orpen
gspence2.bsky.social
👏🏾🤩😍
The opening sounds like the beginning to a punch line…
November 10, 2024 at 4:24 PM
Reposted by Derek Orpen
tenoaks6.bsky.social
I feel like your caption is the beginning of a charming story! Lovely captures Derek!🌺
November 9, 2024 at 8:20 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
Two trees and a bunny.

(Photos from a walk this summer.)

#saturdaystroll #nature #naturephotography #bunnies #rabbits #trees #woodlands #woodlandphotography #naturewalks #photowalks
A solitary tree with yellowing leaves stands along a dirt path in a lush green forest. A lush, green forest scene features a variety of trees and dense foliage bathed in bright sunlight. A small rabbit is sitting on the edge of a path next to a grassy area, with a wooden fence in the background.
November 9, 2024 at 7:32 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
Houseboats on the Ottawa River. (Also rocks and motorboats.)

#landscape #landscapephotography #nature #naturephotography #outdoors #rivers #waterways #beach #summer #ontario #canada
A serene lake with a rocky shoreline is framed by distant, tree-covered hills under a partly cloudy sky. A serene lakeside scene features clear blue water, a sandy shore with large rocks, and a backdrop of lush green trees under a partly cloudy sky.
October 29, 2024 at 2:48 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
A wildlife hodgepodge: a duck, a black-crowned night heron, a dragonfly, and a bumblebee.

#birds #birdphotography #ducks #herons #nightherons #bumblebees #bees #insects #wildlife #wildlifephotography #nature #naturephotography
A duck stands on a branch in a serene, reflective pond surrounded by trees. A night heron stands on a branch over a murky, watery surface. A dragonfly with blue markings is perched on a brown stalk surrounded by green leaves. A bee is perched on a vibrant yellow flower among green foliage.
October 26, 2024 at 6:46 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
Some quiet, mossy woodland shots from a recent hike.

#silentsunday #mosstodon #nature #naturephotography #woodlands #woodlandphotography #trees #hiking
A moss-covered tree stump is surrounded by dense foliage and forest undergrowth. A tree trunk covered in moss and surrounded by lush green foliage in a forest. A dense forest features tall trees and two large fallen tree trunks resting diagonally among the foliage.
October 20, 2024 at 4:19 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
Side-eye (😒 ) from a Mallard and a couple of Northern Shovelers.

#birds #birdphotography #ducks #quackscrolling #wildlife #wildlifephotography #mallard #northernshoveler #nature #naturephotography
A mallard duck is swimming on a calm body of water. A colorful duck with a distinctive shovel-shaped bill is swimming on calm water. A colorful duck with a green head and brown chest is swimming on calm water.
October 18, 2024 at 1:49 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
A white-breasted nuthatch jumps around on the side of a tree.

#wildlife/hashtag/wildlifewednesday" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#wildlifewednesday #wildlife #birds #birdphotography #wildlifephotography #nuthatch #whitebreastednuthatch #nature #naturephotography #birdsofmastodon #birdsofthefediverse #birdsofbluesky #photof="/hashtag/photography" class="hover:underline text-blue-600 dark:text-sky-400 no-card-link">#photography #photo
A small bird with a white belly and blue-gray back is perched on the side of a tree trunk. A small bird with muted blue and gray plumage clings to the side of a tree trunk. A small bird with blue-gray feathers clings to the side of a tree trunk.
October 16, 2024 at 3:41 PM
dnorpen.bsky.social
Mist on Mount Martin

#photography #landscape #landscapephotography #river #ottawariver #mountain #mist #misty #fog #clouds #ontario #canada
A calm river is framed by a distant tree line and a misty mountain under a cloudy sky. A wide, tranquil river stretches into the distance under a dramatic, cloud-filled sky. Mount Martin is on the far side of the water.
October 15, 2024 at 3:34 PM