Duluth

fish eye lens

I love the movement in this photo. I went on a Duluth waterfront photo safari while my husband was doing a 26.2 mile inline Marathon along the North shore last Fall.  It was a beautiful crisp morning.

Sunbathing

There is no shortage of gulls to photograph.  This one caught my eye because he chose to sleep in the middle of an empty parking lot all alone.  

What lies beneath...

Can you guess what these are?  They light up the iconic lift bridge at night.

Some local color.

Something old.

I had some fun framing the lighthouse inside these loops.

A pigeon in a puddle.

Yikes!  This spider was even scarier in person.  In fact, I didn't even know Minnesota had such huge spiders.  He was at least 3 inches across.  Luckily, I'm on a new photo safari with the hubbs in tow.  At J. Cook State Park.  Hopefully he can save me from spider attacks.  Uff da.

Jungle shrooms.  O.K.  Minnesota doesn't have jungles or tarantulas.  But our woods are just as thick.

Raging Mountain rivers.  O.K. we might not have Mountains either.  Darn.  But we can be Minnesota Wild.

P.S. You can also find my favorite Duluth photos at my Up to the Duluth category over at My 3rd Eye  And just scroll down for more Duluth photos!

Saturday's Critters

Bird d'Pot

Wild Bird Wednesday

Wax On Wax Off

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Cedar wax wings are so elegant and sophisticated.  And the lighting is so pretty on this Summer morning walk near Menomonie, Wisconsin.  Look at all we saw besides birds on this pleasant stroll...

The birds and the bees.

This one is a favorite.  I love the composition. 

Are you celebrating Cyber Monday?  My celebration is very low key.  Just me and my keyboard. 

For more birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday

The Signs of Fall

Dragonflies are dragging their feet about leaving.

The red berries are ready for migrating birds.  (although I have no idea if they eat these)

 Mushrooms are exploding onto the scene.  This one was the size of a dinner plate.

 People heart Fall.  

We're all talking turkey.  (And eating.  Hee, hee.)

Yellow leaves sparkle in the sun.

There are so many mushrooms you could say they grow on trees.  

Now if we could just say the same about money. 

The wild flowers lose their petals.

The views are tinged with rust and gold.  Just like life.  

All these photos were taken at Westwood Hills and Spring Lake Park this Fall.  For more birds visit Wild Bird Wednesday

And for more turkeys......take a gander below.

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click to enlarge

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Florida 101

There are a lot of people I've run across in life who don't care for what Florida has to offer.  But I always say that if you don't like Florida you just aren't looking hard enough.  We love the white sand beaches, peaceful Cypress trails and abundant Winter wild life.  The first shot is one of our favorite parks in Naples.  We always try to walk and enjoy a few picnics here.  Sungren park

The view at Naples beach. Or I should say one view of thousands.

I had a visitor below my beach chair.

I was sitting on a bench in the heart of Corkscrew Swamp and look who snuck up behind me.

An Egret wading in the swamp. 

A curious Owl.

A maze of gulls.  Or amazing gulls!

Butterflies fluttered at the Rookery Swamp Trail.

And turtles sunned themselves.

Weird colored sea birds at Lover's key.

We threw this live shell back after a photo op.

Feeding Giraffes at the Naple's Zoo is not only for the youngsters.  Florida.  It's what's for Winter!

P.S.  This FLA post has been simmering in my drafts bin for quite awhile.  It is going to be 100 degrees in Minnesota today.  Hotter than a Florida swamp in Summer! For more photos visit the Sunday Best blog hop!

Things with wispy wings

I was feeling uninspired about what to post today. And then I ran across a butterfly photo that was taken a few weeks ago. Suddenly I had butterflies on the brain. Here are some wispy winged creatures from my photo archives...