I was sitting on a wood pile near the lakes edge hoping to photograph hummingbirds sipping from jewelweed in the morning sun when this stoat popped up out of the grass and darted in and out towards me. I realized the stoat wanted to get to the woodpile, where I was sitting. It is a great place for hiding and hunting unsuspecting rodents. I got up and sure enough to stoat ran to the wood pile and disappeared into the the logs, peeking out from time to time to see if I was still near. I love these adorable predators. 

We set out in our canoe hoping to see loons. About an hour later, this smiling face was just ahead of us on the water. Momma was not far and called him to breakfast just a moment later. 

We set out on our canoe at Trout Lake with the hopes of spotting a loon and we were not disappointed. We first spotted a juvenile and kept our distance when we heard a call from behind us. There was Momma with breakfast calling for her young one. It was an amazing experience. A bucket list for me. I often hear them but this is my first encounter where I was near enough to really see how beautiful these birds are. 

Yesterday I stumbled upon this stunning Narceus americanus, or American Giant Millipede. Fun fact: these armored arthropods protect themselves by secreting a noxious ooze when threatened. Be wary of "millipede burns"; the benzoquinone chemical compounds in Narceus secretions can cause irritation and discoloration of the skin!

This funky little arachnid skittered across my hand as I was having my lunch today! I believe it is a Banded Harvestman or Leiobunum vittatum. It's awesome how a small choice like deciding to take lunch outside instead of indoors can connect you with such cool creatures!

I did not realize until I downloaded this photo onto my computer to submit this encounter, but I also captured a small spider! Any idea what species it could be?

As I was working in my garden I noticed this young skunk digging for food around another bed of flowers. It seemed that she was not only enjoying the abundance of food but also the scent of the blooming flowers. 

This beautiful nearly all white ruby throated hummingbird appeared in my garden for the first time the evening of July 21. I thought I was seeing things. Over the next several days I watched her coming to my feeders and chasing other hummingbirds from her favorite feeders. I have reported her existence to Cornell and other birding organizations. I have been told that she is not leucistic, as I originally thought, because of the presences of brown pigment, and the color of her eyes, beak, and feet. It was explained to me that her coloring is the result of "schizochromism dilution".

I saw this cute Northern Yellow Warbler at the observation deck at Indian Creek Nature Center! Yellow Warblers are one of my favorite warbler species, so I was happy to get a good photo.