Green frog...

This green frog proved to be a challenge to get a shot of.

Yesterday I went to explore a new place that I have not been to in years. I found this cool water hole in a swamp that was loaded with mosquito's. I thought I had plenty of bug spray on, but they still tried to bite. Anyways I moved in slowly so I would not scare the frog away. It was muddy and it really smelled the closer I got. I lowered my tripod to ground level and started to shoot. I was able to get about 20 images when I made a wrong move and ended up in the water. Camera gear was fine, but my leg and boot were soaked in mud and other stuff. I guess it was to much for the frog and it dove under the water only to come up further in the middle. I was not going to wade in this mucky water. It was leech heaven....so I just headed on down the trail. The deer flies were even worse than the mosquito's. At least I came home with some nice images.

Bunchberries...

Just Plain Awesome!

This is just plain awesome!

There is a pair of Twelve Spotted Skimmers that have been hanging around my garden and ponds. I knew I could get some shots of them using my 300mm. I have taken many over the last few days, but today this Male was kind enough to let me get close enough to use my macro lens. As I worked my way close I became very frustrated with the gnats buzzing my head. As I sat down he flew up and grabbed one right next to my ear. He then flew right back and landed on the perch he was using. I was now less than a foot away and began shooting. I moved in slowly and carefully and was at the end of the focusing range..only inches away. Suddenly he flew up and grabbed another one and landed on my head. I froze and he flew off back to his perch. It was than I noticed something on his leg. When I uploaded the images...I discovered it was a strand of my hair. I guess I'm loosing my hair in my old age....LOL. Anyways, he stayed there for about 20 minutes flying back and forth grabbing gnats from around my head. He landed on my arm once, but not for very long.

So it has been a very good afternoon. 

 Notice the strand of hair