LHR Images BLOG

… After we were done photographing Split Rock Lighthouse, Gordon and I returned to the state forest campsite for a chilly evening around an not very cooperative fire followed by a cold night in not very cooperative sleeping bags — well, mine wasn’t doing so well, anyway

It was clear and cold when we got up the next morning. Gordon even spotted ice on the nearby river (Baptism River) — you know it’s cold when ice starts forming on a river! We started for home thinking (partly due to the last forecast either of us had seen) that it was going to stay clear and cold. Boy, were we wrong. As we headed south, we were surprised to see a cloud bank ahead. Even more surprised when it started snowing!

We decided to head for Mille Lacs Kathio State Park anyway. It’s a great place to view and photograph deer since there are plenty of them and they are pretty used to seeing people around. It didn’t take long before we found a couple of does right near the road.

… they were aware of our presence but didn’t pay much attention. Something nearby (a buck maybe?) did warrant a few furtive glances though.

… whatever had their attention, we never found out. They eventually ambled away from us, deeper into the woods. We decided to move on.

Driving around the park, we weren’t spotting anything else — until I saw a flock of turkeys in one of the campgrounds. We drove around to the campsite where I spotted them.

I think someone had told these guys about Thanksgiving coming soon. They weren’t anywhere near as cooperative as the does had been.

Why did the Ruffed Grouse cross the road?

… to get to the other side, of course!

While we were driving around the park, looking for more wildlife, Gordon spotted this grouse crossing the road in front of us. I managed a couple of shots before it vanished into the brush.

That was the last of the critters to present themselves to us. We packed up our camera gear and headed for home.

end of the trip… end of the photos. Hope you enjoyed!