herons

It seems that everywhere we went this month there were outdoor photo ops, one of which was this bullfrog basking in the morning sun while waiting for an easy meal.

This Circumpolar Bluet rested on shoreline vegetation long enough for its photo to be taken.    

Unlike its older and bolder counterpart, this young bullfrog remains mostly hidden, keeping only its head above the soggy vegetation. It's learned early on that it can be the hunter one second before becoming the hunted moments later.

Long-legged waders such as herons and egrets consider frogs choice morsels.

Frogs needn't worry about this fella. Strictly a herbivore, this young forkhorn will be shedding his velvet in the coming days.

Teasle highlighted by the sun, in the background a shaded brook covered with duck weed.

August provided us with a number of interesting cloud formations -- this one occurring in early evening.

Last week's full moon on the rise, climbing above the upper branches of our apple tree....

and several hours later its descent in the Southwestern sky.

This small stream meanders though a woodland not far from our home. Here it reflects a bit of sky and the surrounding trees. In the background the stream surface is coated with duck weed.

Further upstream the surface of  the same creek is entirely covered with duck weed...

...much to the enjoyment of this female wood duck.

She is obviously at home in this alge-covered stretch of the stream.

This photo belies the leopard frog's size -- it was actually smaller than my thumb. They were quite plentiful and jumping all over the place. This little guy was willing to sit still for a few moments, allowing me to take his picture.

Another leopard frog, though considerably bigger, provides a demonstration in the art of camouflage.

This heron is in the process of swallowing a meal -- perhaps a fish, or maybe a relative of the leopard frogs.

A pair of Painted turtles soak up the sun.

All four of this turtle's limbs are flailing the air in a desperate bid to escape. As I approached to take its photo it attempted make a hasty exit but failed to get a toehold in order to propel itself into the water. It took some doing but It finally succeeded. Hopefully, next time it will select a larger sunning surface.

This group has the idea -- a large surface which provides easy escape in the event trouble should arise.