November 30. 2008 - Misc. photos

I’ll be taking the next few weeks off from doing Pictures of the Week. This time I’m using some photos that I didn’t get to use over the last couple of months.

This Monarch Butterfly was sampling the clover on the North Shore of Lake Superior. I got some funny looks from people who were wondering, “What is that guy doing lying flat on his stomach with that big camera?”

butterflymonarchcastledanger20080912

Here’s another photo taken on our trip to the North Shore. It shows the rocky shoreline of Lake Superior and was taken at Tettegouche State Park. Notice how the wave action has carved out caves underneath the overhanging ledge.

rockyshorelinetettgouche20080915

This wildflower is called a Rough Sunflower. I found it blooming in late August along a county road near our home in Northern Minnesota.

sunflowerroughitasca20080830

We have seen big Snapping Turtles in our lake, but never sunning themselves like the Painted Turtles do. This one was in a small pond beside our driveway. I was surprised at the light colored skin. I guess it’s usually covered up by the shell. Notice the two snails hitching a ride on the turtle’s back.

turtlesnappingdunninglakepond20080829

This cute little Common Yellowthroat was hopping around in the reeds at White Oak Lake near Deer River, MN. It was busy picking tiny bugs off the leaves. Male Yellowthroats have a completely black mask over their eyes. The mask is not complete on this bird and I can’t tell if it's an adult male in the process of molting, or a juvenile male that just hasn’t acquired full adult plumage yet.

commonyellowthroatcomposite