Spring Lake

Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
edited September 12, 2008 in Wildlife
Yesterday...on the spur of the moment...I decided to take the two hour trip to Green Island, Iowa. Well...when we got to Savannah where we cross the Mississippi...the freakin' bridge was closed!:boid

So...we took Rt. 84 to the south to cross the river at Clinton. Not two miles down the road, we stumbled across Spring Lake and it's dikes.:clap A very nice spot indeed. (Hear that, Dave?)

367432902_WFub4-L.jpg

367432367_9bqbU-L.jpg

367431668_i9k8A-XL.jpg

367432125_iRUJA-XL.jpg

These guys like to follow the Pelicans around and are one of the most impossible birds to expose properly...this is the best I've been able to do. What the heck are they?

367431197_dKFVR-XL.jpg

It appears that the GBH is enforcing segregation on the dike! :rofl

367430794_Jm2Uf-X2.jpg

Comments

  • dlplumerdlplumer Registered Users Posts: 8,081 Major grins
    edited September 7, 2008
    Very cool Ric.thumb.gif Those are Black Crowned Orange Throated Peli Chasers rolleyes1.gif
    Dan
    http://danielplumer.com/
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  • MaestroMaestro Registered Users Posts: 5,395 Major grins
    edited September 7, 2008
    Doooooooooood, that last one is incredible! I love the pano feel of it! And the moorhen and grebe are also very well done. Nice, nice and nice!
    Stephen
    www.capture-the-pixel.com

  • CatoCato Registered Users Posts: 287 Major grins
    edited September 7, 2008
    The "pelican chaser" looks like a double-crested cormorant. You've done a much better job exposing a dark BIF than I have.

    I just iloveyou.gif the PIF (pelican in flight) shots - they are wonderful, and that last shot is very, very cool. thumb.gif
    http://catographer.smugmug.com/

    Shooter on a shoestring.
  • NorthernFocusNorthernFocus Registered Users Posts: 1,347 Major grins
    edited September 7, 2008
    Nice set. That last one it too cool thumb.gif
    Dan

    My Photo Gallery:Northern Focus Photography
    I wish I was half the man that my dog thinks I am...
  • dbaker1221dbaker1221 Registered Users Posts: 4,482 Major grins
    edited September 7, 2008
    good set Ric

    I'll have to check out Spring lake next time I'm home
    they were working on the Savanna-Sabula bridge when I was there but they had one lane open.
    You went through alot of where I used to live Ric. My wife is from Savanna, when you take 84 to Thomson, that's where I'm from. between Thomson & Fulton is lock & dam 13. you should have went right by it. Eagles are there in the winter & they have one pair year round with a nest by the lock. My grandma's in Fulton & you could have stopped at Allstate in Clinton & seen my mom & dad.

    So I'm guessing you didn't take the Iowa side to green island.

    Next time you're back there tell everyone I said Hi. I think you're there more than me:D
    **If I keep shooting, I'm bound to hit something**
    Dave
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited September 7, 2008
    dbaker1221 wrote:
    good set Ric

    I'll have to check out Spring lake next time I'm home
    they were working on the Savanna-Sabula bridge when I was there but they had one lane open.
    You went through alot of where I used to live Ric. My wife is from Savanna, when you take 84 to Thomson, that's where I'm from. between Thomson & Fulton is lock & dam 13. you should have went right by it. Eagles are there in the winter & they have one pair year round with a nest by the lock. My grandma's in Fulton & you could have stopped at Allstate in Clinton & seen my mom & dad.

    So I'm guessing you didn't take the Iowa side to green island.

    Next time you're back there tell everyone I said Hi. I think you're there more than me:D

    I stopped at the dam...nice place! For evening shots, what's the location on the Iowa side? I saw a sign for Eagle's Point City Park so I assume that's it?

    BTW...I stopped in Thomson for a cup of coffee and the gal at the counter is a photography student...we had a nice chat.:D

    Thanks, Dave.

    Oh...I almost forgot...we did make it to GI...why?...I don't know...it sucked big time!
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited September 8, 2008
    dlplumer wrote:
    Very cool Ric.thumb.gif Those are Black Crowned Orange Throated Peli Chasers rolleyes1.gif

    That's what I thought they were!!! rolleyes1.gif

    Thanks, Dan. :D
  • summerzsummerz Registered Users Posts: 494 Major grins
    edited September 8, 2008
    thumb.gif Nice set, I really like the last one.iloveyou.gif
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited September 8, 2008
    Maestro wrote:
    Doooooooooood, that last one is incredible! I love the pano feel of it! And the moorhen and grebe are also very well done. Nice, nice and nice!

    Thanks, Stephen. :D

    I thought that the last one may not be liked because of the shallow DOF...but it looks like others see it as I do! clap.gif
  • GreggbertGreggbert Registered Users Posts: 5 Beginner grinner
    edited September 8, 2008
    Great shots especially the Pelicans.

    That last one looks like the Heron is the referree at some sort of weird "bird bowl" football game that's about to start. Smart money is on the Geese. :D
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited September 9, 2008
    Cato wrote:
    The "pelican chaser" looks like a double-crested cormorant. You've done a much better job exposing a dark BIF than I have.

    I just iloveyou.gif the PIF (pelican in flight) shots - they are wonderful, and that last shot is very, very cool. thumb.gif

    Thanks for the ID! thumb.gif

    Pelicans are less shy than most others...the secret is getting close...so cooperation is a big plus.
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited September 9, 2008
    articblooms wrote:
    Nice set. That last one it too cool thumb.gif

    Thanks, Dan. :D
  • stevehappstevehapp Registered Users Posts: 635 Major grins
    edited September 9, 2008
    nice ones ric, good exposures on the pelicans et al..
    are the first two some kind of coots ?
    Canon 40D, 50mm f/1.8, 400mm f/5.6L, sigma 105mm Macro.
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  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited September 10, 2008
    stevehapp wrote:
    nice ones ric, good exposures on the pelicans et al..
    are the first two some kind of coots ?

    Thanks, Steve. :D

    The first is a Common Moorhen with breeding plumage and the second a Grebe.
  • evil eggplantevil eggplant Registered Users Posts: 464 Major grins
    edited September 10, 2008
    Nice series. I like the last one, interesting composition. Likewise, those two peli's fill the frame nicely, very pleasing.

    Cheers
    Ric Grupe wrote:
    Yesterday...on the spur of the moment...I decided to take the two hour trip to Green Island, Iowa. Well...when we got to Savannah where we cross the Mississippi...the freakin' bridge was closed!:boid

    So...we took Rt. 84 to the south to cross the river at Clinton. Not two miles down the road, we stumbled across Spring Lake and it's dikes.clap.gif A very nice spot indeed. (Hear that, Dave?)

    367432902_WFub4-L.jpg

    367432367_9bqbU-L.jpg

    367431668_i9k8A-XL.jpg

    367432125_iRUJA-XL.jpg

    These guys like to follow the Pelicans around and are one of the most impossible birds to expose properly...this is the best I've been able to do. What the heck are they?

    367431197_dKFVR-XL.jpg

    It appears that the GBH is enforcing segregation on the dike! rolleyes1.gif

    367430794_Jm2Uf-X2.jpg
    ___________________________________
    "exxxxcellent" -C. Montgomery Burns
    __________________________________________________
    www.iceninephotography.com
  • HarrybHarryb Registered Users, Retired Mod Posts: 22,708 Major grins
    edited September 12, 2008
    Good set Ric. thumb.gif
    Harry
    http://behret.smugmug.com/ NANPA member
    How many photographers does it take to change a light bulb? 50. One to change the bulb, and forty-nine to say, "I could have done that better!"
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited September 12, 2008
    evil eggplant wrote:
    Nice series. I like the last one, interesting composition. Likewise, those two peli's fill the frame nicely, very pleasing.

    Cheers

    Thanks, Rich. :D
  • Ric GrupeRic Grupe Registered Users Posts: 9,522 Major grins
    edited September 12, 2008
    Harryb wrote:
    Good set Ric. thumb.gif
    Thanks, Harry. :D
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