Still Alive

So we've had below-freezing temperatures, and even a few inches of snow already (it's all gone by now) -- you'd think the insects around here would mostly be either asleep or dead. Yet in yesterday's warm, sunny weather, there were still a few dragonflies out and about:

I'm pretty sure this is an Autumn Meadowhawk (Sympetrum vicinum) -- a very appropriate name if that's indeed what this little creature is -- one of the last dragonflies to still be active before winter. I just love all the red, and I think the dragonfly and its perch are very pretty back-lit as well:

Mmm, fall. Here are some more assorted sights from my walk in Naugatuck State Forest yesterday afternoon:

A trio of Black-capped Chickadees preening and chirping in a bare-branched thicket. They let me come quite close to their tree without seeming to mind at all, really.

An old (paper-light, empty) cocoon dangling from a branch. I'm not entirely sure what used to live in here, but it looks like it might have been something big.... Does anyone know?

A mysterious whirlpool in a flowing stream.

Late afternoon light over the lake. Of course I didn't have my wide angle lens with me, so this is a composite of several images. (I would've kept adding shots for a nice big panorama, but my camera got too variable with its colors after this.)

I'm so glad I took advantage of the temporary warm weather to go for a walk in the woods!