The lake level was down, making it easier to get around the lake, especially by the filtration plant, but the river level was up preventing a walk along the shoreline in spots.
I hadn't seen many, if any, pied-billed grebes at Mud Lake before. But this day in early October there were at least 3-4 of them. They are a shy bird, always diving, so it can be difficult getting decent photos of them
Many of the male wood ducks have their fine plumage back, but not all. Some are still in the process...
Some wood ducks were making cameo appearances with Canada geese and egret
There were few cardinals around, one was persuaded to come for a snack
A nuthatch was being very aggressive in warding off a downy woodpecker and chickadees from a pile of seeds. The nuthatch flared its wings and stood his ground as the woodpecker was helping itself to the seeds.
Having chased off the woodpecker, a chickadee was given the same treatment
The nuthatch, already on the seeds, told other chickadees to get lost
A pair of black (?) ducks paddled close to the river shoreline
One of the raccoons must have had a hard night, it was sound asleep up in one of their nesting spots
A few flowers were still in blossom (Scroll over for ID)
vipers bugloss (and cold bee)
fall asters
late blooming Queen Anne's Lace
Some milkweed seeds were starting to escape from a partially open seed pod. They looked like a trapeze troupe
Fall colours were seen in a few spots. Sumac seed pod, maple tree reflection
No mushrooms were found, but a tree that had a few bracket fungus on it last year, that were torn off by passers by, was trying again this year with a new crop of fungus
