Sunday hike in New England

[DoctorIt]

So I feel like a jackass for not knowing there was an Audobon wildlife sanctuary just down the road from me! A great place near some marsh land and a river, with miles of nice trails (and not all highway like, some narrow twisty ones too). We had a ton of snow on saturday, but we decided to go out on sunday anway. It was warm and sunny, so why not. Taking shots in the woods, on a sunny/then cloudy day is never easy, so I didn't get the gorgeous shots I wanted, but a few came out alright.

Here's the first bit of wildlife we saw, yup the ultra rare American Robin :rofl

http://doctorit.smugmug.com/photos/17452030-M.jpg

http://doctorit.smugmug.com/photos/17452776-M.jpg

maybe not rare, but when you see them around here, it means spring is coming!!! :clap

On to the infamous felis castor rearendus. I swear he knew when I was lined up and ready to shoot, cause he'd swim all slow and then, bang!, dive dive dive. :wxwax

http://doctorit.smugmug.com/photos/17455007-M.jpg

So we found his nearby entry/reentry hole near the bank, and staked it out. Patience...

http://doctorit.smugmug.com/photos/17453540-M.jpg


That didn't work so well. He was probably just laughing at us from somewhere else. So we decided to test drive some cars. They were in really great shape...

http://doctorit.smugmug.com/photos/17455646-M.jpg

Finally, we were about to call it a day. Content with a great hike and sighting a few critters we've seen around these parts, I saw this big lump up in the trees.

http://doctorit.smugmug.com/photos/17452056-M.jpg

An osprey! Cooool! Not a great shot, he didn't hang aournd too long and we were in the middle of a wooded trail, so as he took off, there was no following him. But it was neat, I'd never seen one around here before! So I'm hooked and I'll be at this sanctuary whenever I can, especially as it warms up... I hear even great blue herons make a stop here... unless Harry ate them or something. :lol3

[lynnma]

Great set of shots Erik.. where is the park??? :clap

[wxwax]

Nice one! Great smile and pose.

http://doctorit.smugmug.com/photos/17455646-S.jpg

[DoctorIt]

Great set of shots Erik.. where is the park??? :clapEasthampton. Kinda behind the Oxbow, which I'm sure you've seen from I-91.

[DoctorIt]

Nice one! Great smile and pose.

http://doctorit.smugmug.com/photos/17455646-S.jpgFunny, she doesn't mind posing as much when I'm 100 yds away with the big lens... :scratch :D

[Seamus]

Looks like you had a nice time, great shots.

Shay.

[Harryb]

Hey Erik,

Nice series of shots and now that you now its there you can get back there again. Looks like you had a good day and got some good pics too. Not too shabby. :thumb

[ehughes]

Great Shots Erik, looks like you had fun :thumb

Ed

That a beaver butt or an otter butt?? :dunno

[USAIR]

Nice shooting
I also like this one too... good one

http://doctorit.smugmug.com/photos/17455646-S.jpg

That was a muskrat butt wasn't it ?

Thanks
Fred

[DJ-S1]

Funny, she doesn't mind posing as much when I'm 100 yds away with the big lens... :scratch :D
Yeah, chicks dig big lenses. :wink

Nice shots, looks like fun! Guess the 20D is suiting you nicely. :thumb

[DoctorIt]

Yeah, chicks dig big lenses. :wink

Nice shots, looks like fun! Guess the 20D is suiting you nicely. :thumbI wish... 10D, but yes, it's treating me very well. Being able to control metering was the key for me, for tricky outdoor lighting conditions.

[DJ-S1]

Doh! My bad, I have blinders on to anything above the 300D... sorry.

Hey, know anyone who wants a 9 month old S1-IS? I'm leaning towards sellin' mine. I know your mom likes hers.

[DoctorIt]

Great Shots Erik, looks like you had fun :thumb

Ed

That a beaver butt or an otter butt?? :dunnoBeaver butt. :lol3

[Angelo]

Great set Erik (and stop waving that big lens around in the cold)

[DoctorIt]

(and stop waving that big lens around in the cold)it's okay if I do it in warmer weather :dunno :lol3

[Steve Cavigliano]

A very entertaining and humorous story, Doc :thumb :thumb

Being a Pro level butt shooter, I have to give you props on the beav's butt :lol

The Robin was nice and the Osprey even nicer, but I have to agree with Sid and Fred. Your significant other pic is KOPTD material. She's got a fantastic smile, the pic has really good color and it's such a nice pose :clap :clap


As the weather warms up, I'll be looking for more butt shots from you. That is, bird and animal butts only please....lol We don't want to cause Lynn to have an anyerism :lol3


Thanks for sharing,
Steve

[DoctorIt]

A very entertaining and humorous story, Doc :thumb :thumb

Being a Pro level butt shooter, I have to give you props on the beav's butt :lol

The Robin was nice and the Osprey even nicer, but I have to agree with Sid and Fred. Your significant other pic is KOPTD material. She's got a fantastic smile, the pic has really good color and it's such a nice pose :clap :clap


As the weather warms up, I'll be looking for more butt shots from you. That is, bird and animal butts only please....lol We don't want to cause Lynn to have an anyerism :lol3


Thanks for sharing,
SteveThanks for the compliments... guess I'll mosey on over the KPOTD, give it a shot. And don't worry, with the way I like to bound through the woods (I'm a mountain biker and runner, so slow quiet hiking is something I have to learn), I'm sure I'll have more rear ends of animals fleeing from me to share with everyone.
:lol3