Though it's summer time and the living is easy, there is always something new at Great Meadows. With the dropping water levels in the Upper Impoundment, shore birds have started to arrive to feed in the mud. This Killdeer was near the first gap in the reeds on the Cross Dike Trail.

The water level in the lower impoundment is dropping due to evaporation. The channels are much more clearly defined.

Most evenings you may see fishermen near the boat launch, but this is the first time I've encountered a fly fisherman.

The setting sun quickly casts long shadows that make photography more challenging. However in this case a gap in the trees cast a spotlight on the Great Blue Heron with the tower and lotus in the background.

This red dragonfly is attracted to this red plant where from the right angle it blends into the background.

This duck made a surprise landing near where I was standing on the observation deck. Thankfully, my camera had appropriate settings. This is one of my better panning shots. I need to get this down before fall to capture the migrating ducks and geese. Often I pan too fast, sometimes too slow.

With all the lotus you might thing that I Photoshopped out the background of this next photo. However, careful positioning the blossom against a patch of inky black water complemented by setting sunlight resulted in a photo that has a fine art feel. It quickly became one of my favorites of this month.
