Young Cooper's Hawk.  This young hawk has been chasing the Blue Jays off the feeder for the past two weeks.  Has not caught on yet-hunting skills are not yet well developed.

White breasted Nuthatch.

South Branch Root River, Forestville State Park.

White Pines on ridge above the river.

False Rue Anemone, a spring flower that was blooming in Forestville yesterday.  Over the past two decades we have seen this tough little flower bloom in all 12 months of the year.

Tufted Titmouse at our feeder yesterday.  We have only had 3 of these over the last 20 years.  They are a little larger than a Chickadee and love sunflower seeds.

White-breasted Nuthatch.  A year around visitor to our sunflower feeders.

Red-breasted Nuthatch.  A fall and winter visitor from up north.  Arrived about two weeks ago.

Pileated Woodpecker and Pine Squirrel.  Posted another photo of this contest a couple of years ago, but found this one (never posted) and felt it might be better than the original. The battle ended in a draw.

Comma butterfly.  Also saw one Monarch, a few sulfurs, and one Green Darner dragonfly this week.

A very thirsty Chickadee.  Did not realize they put their head in that far.

Asian Beetle.  Had more this year than last year.  Hope the cool weather holds them down now.

Bumble bee on New England Aster.

Beefly or Flowerfly.  A true fly that mimics a bee for protection.

Honey bee on New England Aster.  One of the few wildflowers still blooming at our place is the New England Aster and the bees are here in large numbers.

Milkweed silk and seeds.  We are spreading as much Milkweed seeds as we can, as Milkweed is the food source for next years Monarchs.

Yellow-rumped Warbler on our Prairie today. Headed way south for the winter.

White-faced Meadowhawk.  The Meadowhawks like our lower grassland area.

Red bellied snake.  These small snakes do indeed have a red belly.  They are currently crossing our driveway to head to some unknown den for the winter.

Black Saddlebag dragonfly.

Great Blue Heron.

Great Egret.

A family of once endangered Trumpeter Swans.  The young ones are grayish.  Whitewater Wildlife Refugee.

Painted turtles.

Hundreds of Cormorants and a few Pelicans. Mississippi backwaters.

Monarch on New England Aster.  The asters are blooming now and have become the pollen/nectar source now.  Down to two Monarchs yesterday.

Red Admiral butterfly on Frost Aster.

Sulfur butterfly on New England Aster.

Palm Warbler.  Had nice numbers, heading south,  along the edge of our prairie yesterday.  The warblers are not as colorful now as in the spring.