Hovey Lake area.....

Last week we drove out to Hovey Lake one day.  This is a very large lake near where the Ohio River and the Wabash River meet.  Sometimes we see a lot, sometimes we see next to nothing.  This was a day for a great variety of species even if I didn't get perfect photos.

Before we got there we saw some turkeys off the edge of the road.  These 2 are young ones.  The adults hustled into the bush on the other side and a couple flew away into some trees.

We pulled into the main parking lot and I could see a gray bird up in the tree flitting around.  Shooting out of the car window and upwards didn't make for great photos, but this was the best one.  When I got home I identified it as a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

I'll show this tail shot just because it helped me figure out what it was :-)  That black section between the light sections was very obvious and is one way to recognize them.

Leaving the parking lot we could see this Great Blue Heron through the trees.  I didn't try to get out for a better photo figuring I would scare it away.

Heading around to a path we like to walk at the end of the lake, we saw 2-3 deer.

I spend about 10 minutes chasing two Monarch butterflies that didn't want to hold still most of the time.  You can see the second one below the first, but out of focus.

  This is what happens when the subject moves :-)

Not much different, but I liked it on the Button Bush.

There is a path we walk that goes between the lake and a swamp area.  This heron was sitting high until we arrived and chased it away.  I don't know if you can see the black spots...those aren't dirt on my lens.....they are dozens of dragonflies flitting around.

Part of the swamp.

We usually see Red-headed woodpeckers here and found a pair.  He's sitting high watching everything and she was following him around.

An Eastern Pondhawk female

Another one that is eating something!  I didn't know that until I got home, or I would have taken more photos.  Can't tell what it is....something green with little horns? Caterpillar?

I just liked the "o" shaped vine hanging over the lake.

Heading back down the road towards home, I saw a large bird in a tree....an Eagle!

A little bit closer, but too many branches in the way.