A not so perfect Swallowtail

 

This gorgeous butterfly had a chunk broken out of it's one wing....maybe from a confrontation with another Butterfly? Sorry to see very little Monarchs this year...hopefully in July....

? Does anyone know the type!

 

I beleive it is the female of this species, but couldn't find it in my referrence book...would appreciate it if someone could let me know!!!! I love how it is wrapping it's wings around...and I'm Loving this Micro lens....seeing a wonderful world around me

A Nesting Common Loon

 

This Male/Female Loon will soon be releived of it's laying duties as we noticed the mate nearby....they try and give themselves a low profile as we approached....I am always amazed on how wide these birds are, no wonder there can be twin chicks riding on Mama's back, to keep them safe from underwater predators.....

Reflections on Oak Lake

 

We waited 3 days for a beautiful sunny, calm morning to take these gorgeous reflection shots....and were awarded with many!!!!

White Waterlily

 

Among the many plants that grow rooted to the bottoms of small lakes and ponds...this one is the most beloved...with their bright floating blossoms and deeply notched green shiny pads...they are sought after by many a photographer or amphibian as a resting surface...when the flower fades, it's stalk shrinks,submerging the hard-cased fruit while the edible seeds mature. Then the case opens, and the seeds float free until they become waterlogged, sink, and take root

Our precious frogs

There's just something special about frogs!!!!!I've been fascinated with them since childhood, when we would hunt for their eggs, then try and catch the tadpoles and watch their legs develop and then lose their tales....their mating song is the sweetest music to my ears in the spring, and at one time we used them to catch the biggest Bass ever....but now our poison atmosphere is killing them off...since they breath through their skin as well as their nostrils, they are affected by the pollutants more than ever....not a very good sign for our eco-systems...this little guy took up residence in my friend's new rock pond....he sure didn't waste time claiming it for his own...and I warned her about putting in goldfish...those Great Blue Herons just Love snacking on them.....

paddler at sunset

How fortunate I was to have this canoe paddler go by as I sat and awaited the end of the day, of the 6 shots I took of him....this was my favorite.Every chance I get when we are at the trailer I try to capture the amazing sunsets that we are blessed with, this one came with a bonus!!!!!

Blue eyes of Wonder

I Love shooting little tots, and this little guy was so amazing!!! His name is Bastian and he is the grandson of my good friend Catharine. Baby boys always seem to have the longest eye lashes I've ever seen, I love that little curl in his hair...Thank You Bastian for giving me the opportunity to experiment with my new lens....