![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiM6va-Mlwssh0E_Z03m63P9KDbzUttwHKzToTovtgrSszGlYSqq68-SJ4zm8rDBl8JBCshpqcXjJj6wcgR-tUuUPP0PKd-WF_w3jf89dsTYGDkgCM3R5NMn3-yUrC0TJwi6Uz7CTcVEzy7/s400/img_4075rnd.jpg)
We spent last weekend in a cottage at the lake with my husband's family. It was a wonderful, relaxing weekend. As you might have already guessed, I took a few pictures. Despite the number of bug photos I have posted on this blog, my favorite thing to photograph are birds.
With every click of the camera, I wished for a digital SLR. Perhaps someday. . .
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrBMPeV9x44X78H2xBqF1yr5OzmU3RwiENozD4EzcwlkM11FPk_4AOZ2CN3oQhQv7G8VKF5n56BVRYHomq4Q2ugr8d9ya_ut9TYYPfztUQJcj4f4UaRxIZwH2T0DDffet7sVqVBQ4lrDuj/s400/img_3922croprnd.jpg)
The Great Blue Heron is one of my favorite birds.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrIL_mPGqF7Kq-oXv7l2TgM62R639eTsd7WoYRAnowyHvIQXcnLFyqA6z8wTp1JMPWp761OndR1K5tN8ok7KvqSmL61ij5a1eJ4iSxhIaJiYMn2RJF26r0yjjMRxXdsSKX0XlnDnV_T87N/s400/img_4071cropetc.jpg)
I had never seen a Black-crowned Night-heron before, so I had to include this. Here is an immature night-heron with a Great Blue Heron flying behind. The photo is grainy because it was about 6:15 a.m. on a cloudy morning.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTU45y_azHtAYtFIYh5BPlbZaDRW2tQ0sfK2tSNyIMWfzWY_k3wmB13FhKW9G8l4MlL9PbLqqhBh5FfKv98QFNN1-i5LDRwkm-gXktQ62QSkAEo3DSwbTYY1c9qsT-7ERKp3fJOQJ-abNb/s400/img_3968croprndlight.jpg)
a Herring Gull
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNau-HN9H8fzZcxFwQ9cw6TZR8Th2ckqerHxWVYYrzyhi94__edfXEN8Vr6vZNGjw3IZTdgzGdoGB44HwV0Vm-_HLgLlyIWDGgMmLv8IIDgH4akMeZu-yWiMLtYtaUmQWS5bxou1Fzoe5l/s400/img_4199rndcrp.jpg)
This small flock of Canadian Geese was enjoying this quiet cove almost as much as we were.
Having been a birdwatcher as long as I can remember, I'm fairly familiar with the common birds in our area. The same cannot be said for my knowledge of insects. For insect identification, I rely on eNature.
And now for the requisite bug pictures:
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5WrDEznEusCP5K8iRl-XLvrn-wzShCLBXHk5yezHNlJOoXdWJAt-_ZKMacvGOEzv4htWUJNwjKa2-BuNSCZyqgXww1icTstfUz-nU-EYfVntlcA8Idrw5xvCH83e0112afBKSDOpbbSON/s400/img_4086rnd.jpg)
This is a Great Blue Skimmer. It is the biggest dragonfly I have ever seen. He was posing on the cottage as we were packing the car to leave.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3VyeKFV9w7sNhQY1odANFQzPZzKEEBRs05tMSbBd1zqJoc8D4SRufCheoSBeE8_f6GPK2RmoLs1eJrEEYSOonJBODw1ADqKlYLiwJWNpIm2pZxwPX-LuqIjKZkb7b5hfdIhpDyy00qr9u/s400/img_4111rnd.jpg)
After the dragonfly left, this butterfly landed right by the car. Despite it not looking like its name sounds, I believe this to be a Red-spotted Purple.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4pbMphw5knxQKqQ7ricleTwFcFC07b2c5apqzJ2EDOKQOjzjoT24C2XPFlMLhOUi7Hg3d-APbmQiAytfd4bcJ_vq-H_VD3_tTfC0syXyZv0i5_e-aqHJXPK4RdjjhC-J4Be7gujan_eGa/s400/img_4116rnd.jpg)
Here you can see the "red" spots on the undersides of the wings. I'd call them orange though.
Here are a few miscellaneous lake pictures.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQ_Xb0ZuCT4ypShGcuOgdNbM6-nYytHADD4zjLkrJbcXaR9HPVB7NeCAwSjL1tH1SJ3gIAcJS4kMVNz2xp7hLGHju2DDoHM-1iHDZREA1XwiNpf96Cxx-Gd7gMtKQPS49QmM5iJ33zozdx/s400/img_4220croprnd1.jpg)
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvU3BY7QlcUdZzD_BRIu9VrtX65kJA62NkbsZoQ07RcHuvpOo8Uz2NL3uCepSoqMjWXQ3SiVxxO7Vhwrpf9MNgimR5nvjSAFmHwkvLVQlTJJN9fyZ-7uwM9kY4A4ivx0inwzIKpF-Tv7LL/s400/img_4208rnd1.jpg)
I just love pretty rocks. I wish I had paid more attention in geology.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh98fHS7X2uPjMshY14YeQHLjAd25HDpKG5XcLbqwifOiWsZ2x72bigyE8sM_EXeO1hJyE6RTt5IOANmhGKgRaQbMLykdeF8OLpEqFwrmv-7qO30VlUvUetJZ_UvgX5RLL4frTW8PyRxPyG/s400/img_4045croprnd.jpg)
Beautiful sunset. Sailboats are so picturesque.
I hope you've enjoyed my lake pictures. I'm already planning another trip soon.
-Susan