Several photos that were taken around the lake during December. I was surprised to see two turtles sunning on a log so late in the year. I’m sure they will find a warmer place underwater as the big cold front creeps in this weekend.
Below is a peaceful scene of cormorants and gulls gathered at a distance from the boardwalk.
“I like to think that to one in sympathy with nature, each season, in turn, seems the loveliest.” ~Mark Twain
Note: Credit goes to my husband for the colorful slug photo.
walking on a country road 
Great photos.
Thanks, Timothy.
You made me wonder how the turtles survive the cold weather?
Great shots Rebecca and of course I love the Baldie shot the most!
Thanks, Wayne. The eagle had positioned himself at the top of a tree out in the lake where he could keep watch. They always look so regal.
they do……except when they accidentally go into the water. They always look so surprised and scraggly!
Lots of action on the lake… great photos, Rebecca. You must have had a lot of rain for the boardwalk to be submerged.
Thanks, Eliza! Yes, we’ve had quite a bit.
Rebecca, that’s pretty amazing for the turtles to still be out sunning. I hope they do bury themselves before this cold spell that is hitting much of the U.S. this weekend – maybe that colorful slug needs to take heed as well. The cormorants and seagulls in the video do make for a peaceful scene. The cormorants were pretty active in the water as well as that big tree. You see a lot of bald eagles there, always perching close so you get a good shot of them.
So far, we’ve just gotten a lot of rain. I’m hoping it doesn’t turn into black ice as the temperature falls. Are you seeing any snow?
We see this eagle just about every time we visit the refuge. It is usually sitting in the same tree, hidden by branches, but on this day it was sitting at the top of a branchless tree out in the water. I was lucky to get a few shots before it headed back to its usual tree.
That’s good Rebecca. I am sure many people are holding their breath that this is not an ice event. We have only had snow a couple of times and not enough to even shovel, 1/2 inch here and there, just this brutal cold and never-ending gusty winds.
You lucked out with the good perch photo. My one and only eagle photo this year was pretty far away and it was kind of embedded in the trees, so not clear like yours.
Wonderous!
Thanks, Cindy!
Beautiful photos!
Thank you!
Wow, what a gorgeous lake, and with a crazy amount of wildlife! 😉 I especially enjoyed the cormorants.
-Happy New Year
Julie
Thanks! You never know what you’re going to see.
beautiful pictures ❤ AMEN ❤
Thanks, Kristi!