Golden-crowned Kinglet.  This week we have had many of the Golden Crowned and Ruby-crowned Kinglets here.

Leaf-footed Bug.  on the warm days many  have been on our deck.

Bald Eagle pair, Whitewater Wildlife Refuge.

Immature Trumpeter swans and Canada goose.  Whitewater refuge. These once rare swans are becoming quite common now.

Swamp sparrow Whitewater refuge.

Saw Whet owl.  Photo courtesy of Bruce Spurgeon.  This owl was spotted with a broken wing in Spring Valley, Mn, but we could not find it again and I never did see this bird.  It is unlikely to survive.

We have had several Leaf-footed bugs like the one above on our deck today.

Bumble Bee gathering pollen from our late Stiff Goldenrod and New England Asters.

Green Bottle Fly on Stiff Goldenrod.

Wooly Bear. 50-50 chance of a tough winter????

Great Egret, Trempealeau National Wildlife Refuge, Wis.

Painted turtles covered with duck weed,  Mississippi backwaters.  We photographed this same group about a year ago in the same pond.

Two foot  long Bald-faced hornet nest hanging over the backwaters of the Mississippi.

Trempealeau Mountain and Mississippi backwaters.

We also post our nature photos on facebook (Gary Erickson, Spring Valley , Mn)

Small Red-bellied snake crossing our driveway.  Probably headed for a rocky den for the winter.

Sulfur butterfly on Stiff Goldenrod.

Sulfur butterfly on New England Aster.  Most of our butterflies are now gone.  Have not seen a Monarch for two days now and hopefully, they are on their way to Mexico by now.

Our yellow Stiff Goldenrod and New England Asters are still blooming on our 1 acre prairie.  The asters will bloom until a hard frost gets them.