Monday in Nature Weekly Photo Nov. 18, 2013

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<p ><strong >Basic Guidelines</strong>: Nature based subject matter. Please, declare captive subjects. Keep your image at/under 700 pixels on the long axis for in-line viewing and try to keep file size under 300kb. Note that this includes photos hosted off-site at Flicker, Photobucket, your own site, etc. Do you have a series of great shots to compliment your post? Please, tell us where they are so we can see them.</p>

<p ><em >In the strictest sense, nature photography should not include hand of man elements. Let common sense be your guide.</em></p>

<p ><strong ><em >Let's make this a true Photo of the Week and only post 1 image per week.</em></strong></p>

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<p>Salutations,<br>

Seems a celebration is in order. This is the 26th edition of Monday in Nature. All of you who contribute to this weekly thread make it happen. Some of you have been posting here since the very beginning. Others come and go with varying frequency.New folks have joined in almost every week. While we share many experiences in nature, we all have unique visions. You have all helped make this an inviting place with inspirational photography, helpful advice, wonderful stories, and views of nature that many of us will never see in person. In the beginning many of us were familiar with others through our camera forum POTW or the No Words forum. It has been a real treat to become acquainted with other nature photographers through MiN. It is fitting to tip our lens caps to the Nature forum mods. When presented with the initial concept, valuable suggestions were made and they agreed to give it a try. Seemed like a good idea at the time and you all proved it so. The future looks in focus, naturally.</p>

<p>Thank you to everyone who makes this an enjoyable start to the week. Let's light 1/2 a candle and make it a great Monday in Nature.</p><div></div>

<p>26 weeks? How did that go by that quickly? </p>

<p>Here's a little Green Heron (who's not too green) in early morning light.</p><div></div>

<p>Let us celebrate with popping open a little something. Capsule of <em>Impatiens pallida</em> (Pale Touch-me-not)</p><div></div>

<p>My wife and dog are dwarfed by what is the 2nd largest Green Ash tree in the state of Ohio. It is located in Byers Woods,<br>

Ashland county Ohio. </p><div></div>

<p>that beech tree behind her to the right isn't to shabby either John.....my guess would be they're both close to 200 yrs old</p>

<p>winter is right around the bend when these little junco's start showing up in my backyard</p><div></div>

<p>Thom, Boy Junco's already. We may be in for an early winter. <br>

Thom that portion of Byers Woods is called "The Big Tree Loop". There are some enormous oak trees in that area also. </p>

<p>American White Pelican at White Rock Lake in Dallas, Texas. </p>

<p>pelican photo</p><div></div>

<p>Last weeks mild wet weather afforded these oyster mushrooms a final late season flush. I found them yesterday growing on the trunk of a dead maple tree, I took a few photos before cleaning them for supper.</p><div></div>

<p>Autum is slipping away and these ducks will see a cold winter. The white one is aging and follows the grey everywhere. Will he see the spring?</p><div></div>

<p>Here's one taken a couple of weeks ago.</p>

<center><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/17595108-md.jpg" alt="60D 151" width="680" height="453" border="0" /></center>

<p>An attractive group of fungi on an old fallen tree (I'm not much good at identifying organisms without at least six legs and/or two wings):</p><div></div>

<p>26 weeks has gone by fast, almost as fast as this fall season that's rapidly fading. It's been a delight to participate here, thanks again Laura for all of your efforts and observations.</p><div></div>

<p>One of several shots from Great Smoky Mountain National Park, late last month...</p><div></div>

<p>Pine Needles Caught in a Twig</p><div></div>

<p>As winter approaches I find a last bit of color in the woods. AJ</p>

<p><img src="http://d6d2h4gfvy8t8.cloudfront.net/17603493-md.jpg" alt="" width="680" height="665" /></p>

<p>Full moon last night. Here's the upcoming moon over the Pescadero (California) Marsh. It's one of the remaining wetlands on the pacific flyway.</p><div></div>

<p>Greetings from the depths of northern Ontario.<br>

Our koi and shubunkin are hunkering down for the winter. Here's Mini Pearl, Spotty and White Lips down at about the 4' depth level. For perspective, Mini Pearl is about 16" long.<br>

The pond freezes over but we keep the waterfall and pump running for aeration. See ya in the spring, guys!</p><div></div>

<p><strong>White-tail buck in rut</strong></p>

<p><a title="On the hunt by dcstep, on Flickr" href=" src="http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7456/10765128235_2ba5cd4e20_z.jpg" alt="On the hunt" width="640" height="427" /></a></p>

<p>Click on the image if you'd like to see it full-sized.</p>

<p>It is time to fly south.<br>

<img src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-GlG3ijrTEXI/UoFm7LfomzI/AAAAAAAAAgc/rhzBbSs8MmY/s1600/Birds.jpg" alt="" width="800" height="643" /></p>

<p>Happy 26th edition and great shots as usual everyone! This one was taken while I was kayaking in NJ this past summer. I must admit that I was startled when I saw this proud gull coming at me with a freshly caught blue-claw crab in its mouth. It goes to show that you never know what you will find in nature.</p><div></div>

<p>Hi everyone ! Another wonderful start to Monday. Gordon B what a wonderful delicate shot .Robert that is a wonderful capture of the gull !<br>

Spent a few days at Dauphin Island, Al. I was fortunate to find the reddish egret. I love to watch these guys hunt. They run , jump and spread those glorious wings . <br>

Hope you enjoy .</p>

<p><img src="http://birdied.zenfolio.com/img/s10/v100/p156103980-3.jpg" alt="" width="580" height="391" /></p>

<p>Another day in the hood....walking the hill.</p><div></div>

<p>Young buck resting.</p><div></div>

<p>There is a family of Magpie's living in a tree in my yard. This baby was wandering around near the fence while waiting for mum to come back with some food.</p><div></div>