Hey Y'all,

I had noticed that large numbers of egrets were hanging out in the click ponds at the Viera wetlands on Monday morning. So I went back today in the afternoon because the birds were backlit in the AM. I wanted to get some flight shots. While I was driving along the edge of the dike I felt my car drop as the ground gave way. Naturally I threw my body over the 500mm to protect it. As I examined my situaton I found that there was a drop in the ground that had been hidden by the vegetation and there was no way w/o a tow I was getting out.

This dude came driving by and we started to talk and he said "are you Harryb". It turned out to be our the Nikon's Cafe Woundedmallard. He drove me over to the admin office and one of the workers said he would try to get me out. Tom drove me back to my car and while we were waiting we got some shooting in.









The worker came back and we decided it was better to call AAA to get me out. Tom was nice enough to drive me back tot he admin. office where I called AAA and Linda. When I left the office Tom noticed a Caracara across the way so.....





AAA came and pulled me out and there was no damage to my car. I drove back to the admin office to thank the worker, Ed, for his help. We got to talking and he shoots a Nikon SLR (the F5) and wanted a DSLR but the $ was an issue and he told me if I had an old DSLR I wanted to sell he was interested. So I sold him my D100 and he told me about a good location for eagle shots.

They say god looks out for fools and drunkards and I have a foot in both camps. I got my car stuck but I ended up meeting Tom, got some OK shots, got a tip for eagle pics, sold my D100, and my car was undamaged. Not a bad day.

If you want to see Tom's side of this tale go to
http://www.nikoncafe.com/vforums/showthread.php?t=89818

Well...some adventure! It's a small world after all
I'm glad everything turn out to be just fine including some really great captures.

Thanks for sharing.

Dick.

Alls well that ends well, and your funny story ended pretty well if you sold a camera and got your car out ok! Really nice shots, too, Harry! We will be looking forward to some spectacular eagle shots in the near future!

Nice series Sorry about your misadventure! Looking forward to the eagle shots!

good shooting story and better shots those eagles were they in LA

hehe, I put a rental car in the ditch in the U.K. Pulled over to look closer at these long haired cow looking things! Turned out to be highland cattle. I was fortunate like you. These nice UK gents got a big chuckle over our predictament and decided to lend a hand to these three stranded American tourists! Seems the tall grass hides the 3-foot drainage ditch and they are used to people pulling over and into them in various stages...

But hey, your adventure turned into a great day! And you sold a camera! And met someone new, and had time to shoot the birds! Life is good!

I bet the guy who bought your camera is absolutely thrilled with it too!

Stunning shots, all of them and a good story to boot!
I need to fine myself a wet land to hone my skills at exposure and flight shots as it has definietly worked wonders for you.
I'm looking forward to seeing some speccy Eagle shots too

Glad to hear after your earth moving experience everything turned out okay for you Harry....... least you can laugh about it now Skippy (Australia)

Do you need me to come up there and drive you around ? Keep 'er on the road Boss. Glad to hear things worked out. Too bad about the tire trouble. Sound like you eventually had some fun. Nice shots.

wonderul series Harry

Oh man, I have come so close to the same stuck spot - only without the vegitation (like we believe that part of the story). My husband will leave me there if that ever happens to me - he's always complaining that I'm trying to shoot pics instead of drive!

Glad there was no damage and you were able to get such great shots. I really like that green bg.

PS
did you manage to sell any of your socks

What a great story and pictures! Glad everything turned out okay. It was fun reading the story from both perspectives, too. Great shot of you and the car!

Originally Posted by Dee hehe, I put a rental car in the ditch in the U.K. Pulled over to look closer at these long haired cow looking things! Turned out to be highland cattle. I was fortunate like you. These nice UK gents got a big chuckle over our predictament and decided to lend a hand to these three stranded American tourists! Seems the tall grass hides the 3-foot drainage ditch and they are used to people pulling over and into them in various stages... But hey, your adventure turned into a great day! And you sold a camera! And met someone new, and had time to shoot the birds! Life is good! I bet the guy who bought your camera is absolutely thrilled with it too!

Photographers are a bit dangerous as drivers. I'm constantly getting distracted by wildlife as I drive. Its not easy in Florida, there are birds everywhere you look. On Monday I had a bobcat dash in front of my car.

Originally Posted by saurora Alls well that ends well, and your funny story ended pretty well if you sold a camera and got your car out ok! Really nice shots, too, Harry! We will be looking forward to some spectacular eagle shots in the near future!

Thanks, the day was pretty successful at the end but i had my doubts at a few points. It turne dout that I didn't have fair to go for some eagle shots. The next day I got a few eagle shots in at the wetlands as our resident eagle has migrated home.

Harry, amazing shots and a good story to boot.

-joel

I've had that feeling to but here in SoCal you get used to it !!

I'd say you had a spanking fine day

Originally Posted by raptorcaptor Nice series Sorry about your misadventure! Looking forward to the eagle shots!

Thanks Glenn. As it turns out I didn't have to go too far for some eagle shots. I wnet back to the Voera Wetlands the next day and our local eagle had returned home.

Originally Posted by jwear good shooting story and better shots those eagles were they in LA

Thanks Jeff, no eagles in LA I think it must be the smog and the pineapple pizza.

Originally Posted by mushy Stunning shots, all of them and a good story to boot! I need to fine myself a wet land to hone my skills at exposure and flight shots as it has definietly worked wonders for you. I'm looking forward to seeing some speccy Eagle shots too

Thanks Mushy and I just may have a few eagle shots to post soon.

Originally Posted by Skippy Glad to hear after your earth moving experience everything turned out okay for you Harry....... least you can laugh about it now Skippy (Australia)

Thanks Skippy. I was smiling at the end of the day but I have to admit that I uttered a few non-faniky friendly phrases at a few points in the day.