Spring Lake

[Ric Grupe]

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?)

http://rickay.smugmug.com/photos/367432902_WFub4-L.jpg

http://rickay.smugmug.com/photos/367432367_9bqbU-L.jpg

http://rickay.smugmug.com/photos/367431668_i9k8A-XL.jpg

http://rickay.smugmug.com/photos/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?

http://rickay.smugmug.com/photos/367431197_dKFVR-XL.jpg

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

http://rickay.smugmug.com/photos/367430794_Jm2Uf-X2.jpg

[dlplumer]

Very cool Ric.:thumb Those are Black Crowned Orange Throated Peli Chasers :rofl

[Maestro]

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!

[Cato]

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 :lust the PIF (pelican in flight) shots - they are wonderful, and that last shot is very, very cool. :thumb

[NorthernFocus]

Nice set. That last one it too cool :thumb

[dbaker1221]

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

[Ric Grupe]

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 Grupe]

Very cool Ric.:thumb Those are Black Crowned Orange Throated Peli Chasers :rofl

That's what I thought they were!!! :rofl

Thanks, Dan. :D

[summerz]

:thumb Nice set, I really like the last one.:lust

[Ric Grupe]

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

[Greggbert]

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 Grupe]

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 :lust the PIF (pelican in flight) shots - they are wonderful, and that last shot is very, very cool. :thumb

Thanks for the ID! :thumb

Pelicans are less shy than most others...the secret is getting close...so cooperation is a big plus.

[Ric Grupe]

Nice set. That last one it too cool :thumb

Thanks, Dan. :D

[stevehapp]

nice ones ric, good exposures on the pelicans et al..
are the first two some kind of coots ?

[Ric Grupe]

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 eggplant]

Nice series. I like the last one, interesting composition. Likewise, those two peli's fill the frame nicely, very pleasing.

Cheers

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?)

http://rickay.smugmug.com/photos/367432902_WFub4-L.jpg

http://rickay.smugmug.com/photos/367432367_9bqbU-L.jpg

http://rickay.smugmug.com/photos/367431668_i9k8A-XL.jpg

http://rickay.smugmug.com/photos/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?

http://rickay.smugmug.com/photos/367431197_dKFVR-XL.jpg

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

http://rickay.smugmug.com/photos/367430794_Jm2Uf-X2.jpg

[Harryb]

Good set Ric. :thumb

[Ric Grupe]

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 Grupe]

Good set Ric. :thumb
Thanks, Harry. :D