Happy Halloween

Some people go a bit overboard on Halloween decorations.

 

Fall boardwalk

Another look at the fall.

 

Back already

The eagles are back at Shelly Lake, and so are the photographers.  When I see a gathering of cameras with very large lenses, I know there's an eagle somewhere close.  The photographers always generously point it out for me.

 

Fall sneaks in

The trees are slowly changing.

 

Heron

Our daily heron.  One of several around the lake in the morning.

 

Mom and kid

A momma deer and her little one watched suspiciously, but didn't run.

 

Steamy morning

The lake was steaming in the morning sun.  One lone goose stood in the water.

 

Pile on

On a cool but sunny day, turtles find any place they can in the sun.

 

Daily heron

If you don't see a heron while walking around any lake in Raleigh, you just didn't look hard enough.  Here is the heron of the day.

 

Nuthatch

This little nuthatch was working very hard on the tree trunk.

 

A calm day at the lake.

 

Encounter with a duck

This kayaker was facing off with a muscovy duck.   

 

Meal time

We couldn't figure out why the bushes and trees were quiet.  No little birds flying around.  Then we saw why.  A very big hawk just waiting for his next meal.

 

Mushroom

This one I think is an Amanita Abrupta. Native to this area it forms relationships with pine and hardwood trees.  (See here)

 

Turtle love?

Were they having a friendly conversation?  Facing off ready to fight?  Flirting?  Who knows with turtles.

 

Boardwalk

The pond boardwalk across the Yates millpond.

 

Mill

Another view of Yates mill across the millpond.

 

Anole

This little anole friend was hanging out on a barrel.  He slowly turned from brown to green.

 

Yates Mill

Yates Mill Park preserves a working grain mill complete with mill pond and mill.  Several times a year, the mill is put to work and actually grinds corn.  It is the last working grist mill in Wake county.  

 

Chimney

The swifts have pretty much finished migrating through.  But here is a chimney built especially for them.  Every year birders come to watch the birds swirl into the chimney.

 

Great Egret

A great egret was hiding in the pond.

He decided we were too close, and took off.

 

More Yellow

Another favorite yellow flower, Goldenrod.

 

Yellow

Another field of yellow flowers.  These are Yellow Crownbeard.  They always look messy because the petals are all askew.

 

Visitor

This young guy was hanging out in our backyard.  

 

Kingfisher

The kingfisher sits and watches from the water level post.

 

Reflections

The lake was glassy.  The reflections were crystal clear.

 

Heron

We caught the heron flying across the lake.

He landed high in a loblolly pine tree.

And surveyed his kingdom.

 

Morning forest

Morning light.

 

Web

Another spider web in the sun.