A Hike To Mystic Lake Of The Vermilon River. A Post To MWT And Idrbb (new meme)

 The day was right for a climb to Mystic Lake with cool temperatures and a mild breeze. The trail is steep, about a sixty degree incline in parts, with a ninety degree dog leg thrown in. As well the path is narrow, and the forest dense, so variations in light are extreme, making photography difficult.  The Lake is in a bowl in the ridge shown opposite. All in all, it's a trail for the active and the aware. So what am I doing on it? When you see the Lake, of course you'll realize what I'm doing on it, and you're going to wish you lived up here.

There is always something interesting at Mystic Lake, and today the moon was still visible in the sky for a good part of the morning.

A post to MWT, and to the new bird meme, I'd rather be Birding . To the new meme, welcome.

 This is the ninety degree dog leg. So the question is what's on the other side? It sure won't be people, because the Lake is one in the uninhabited chain that runs to the north west.

AS USUAL THE POST IS SET UP FOR THE SLIDE SHOW, SO CLICK ON ANY PHOTO TO ACTIVATE IT. YOU SHOULD READ THE COPY FIRST TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON.

Hold your breath so we don't dislodge the rock above our heads

Wonder what lives in there?

At least this one looks stable.

First view of the Lake.

A rocky finger into the Lake.

Another View. All those low shrubs are blueberries.

A Reflection

Looking to the south west.

To the south

More Reflections.

 The Harrier was actively hunting again. She hunts the east track wetland which is the nesting site of numerous small birds. This time a Red-winged Blackbird decided to go after her. I thought the blackbird had actually hit the Harrier, but she merely turned so her attacker missed completely as you'll see.

Side View.

The blackbird is in the air now.

See the Harrier has merely turned.

Turkey Vulture.

Turkey Vulture.

Chickadee picking berries.

Chickadee in black spruce tree.

Male Common Yellow-throat Warbler.

He has lunch.

There's a fair breeze and all these guys are hanging on .

Puffed Cedar Waxwing

Even more puffed

Cedar Waxwing.

Another view.

Alder Flycatcher.

Alder Flycatcher.

Flycatcher In Flight.

Chipping Sparrow

Preening.

Still preening.

Now singing

 This is a shot of an Ontario air ambulance.Must have been an accident along the rail line.

Fritillary

Question Mark.

Unknown

Unknown Dragonflies.

Canada Thistle

Fern, but also showing the light variation.

Fireweed

Broad-leave Meadow-sweet. The shrub contains salicylates, the active  part of asprin.

Bladder Campion

Wild Diasies.

Common Yarrow.

Tansy

Wild Blueberries.