Finally - Birds

[dkippen]

It took me a while, but I finally have some bird shots. Caught these on my trip home from the N. Shore.

[LensBaby]

WOW that is just not any bird - that is an beautiful bird. I love the photos they are wonderful.

[jerryph]

I love bald eagles! I think those birds have this natural and very proud look... very majestic!

They are very rare in Canada and when down south on those rare times when I do see them, I spend every second I can enjoying them.

[dkippen]

Thank you Sue. We saw these on the way home and had to pull over, go back and sneak up on them to get the shots. I was amazed to find so many at one time and didn't go very far when we came back. These are immature birds, but still very majestic.

[ladyups]

Beautiful, majestic birds. I've seen two this past winter but didn't have the camera with me. They used to be on the endangered species list but have been downgraded to threatened now. Here in Missouri, they are still classified as endangered to protect the nesting grounds. We have over 2000 here that come down from Canada and the north to overwinter. I still hope to get a picture of one soon.

[dkippen]

I live about an hour from the Eagle Center in Red Wing, which attracts a lot of eagles in December and March because of the river bluffs. I'd love to get there to photograph the eagles. They're having some type of event this coming weekend that I might try and get to.

[Snappers]

Nice shot Debbie. I saw a bird which was in flight over a lake this morning. It had a black body and white head and tail, not sure if it was an eagal or not, I'd love to go back and see if it is still there. Do they tend to stay in one place or do they fly from site to site?

[jonrayner]

Woah, are they in your garden? I'm not sure I would venture out if they was in my garden!!

[jonrayner]

Good shots but the way, forgot to mention that in the last post!!

[dkippen]

Thank you Jon - I saw these and about 10 others on the way home along the N. Shore in MN.

[gjtoth]

The missus and I will be going to the Great Smokey Mountains for our anniversary next month. With any luck, I'll be able to capture one or two of these.

Deb, I hope you don't mind but, I did a little enhancing on these. Ya can't get too close to wildlife. Looks like he moved his head on the second shot. I didn't run it through Neat Image but, see what you think.

[dkippen]

Gary -

These were two different eagles on different sides of road and I was trying to take the shots standing from the vehicle on a slightly busy 2-lane highway. To add to the already challenging shot, it was very windy. In your re-do for the first one, it looks like the sky ended up washing out a bit. Other than the wind and cold, we couldn't have asked for prettier weather, not a cloud in sky.

[gjtoth]

Gary -

These were two different eagles on different sides of road and I was trying to take the shots standing from the vehicle on a slightly busy 2-lane highway. To add to the already challenging shot, it was very windy. In your re-do for the first one, it looks like the sky ended up washing out a bit. Other than the wind and cold, we couldn't have asked for prettier weather, not a cloud in sky.

Given the conditions, these are very nice captures. Encore! :D

[dkippen]

Thank you Gary.

When we saw the eagles, we were cruising at 70MPH and didn't see them until right on them. I got so excited, just had to turn back to see what kind of shots I could get. AND, while pulled over as far as possible to get out of traffic, one &*&*&*% had the audaucity to start honking at us.

[dkippen]

The missus and I will be going to the Great Smokey Mountains for our anniversary next month. With any luck, I'll be able to capture one or two of these.


In case I forget, - Happy Anniversary. Never been to the Smokey Mountains. Another place on my list of places to see.

[gjtoth]

When we saw the eagles, we were cruising at 70MPH and didn't see them until right on them. I got so excited, just had to turn back to see what kind of shots I could get. AND, while pulled over as far as possible to get out of traffic, one &*&*&*% had the audacity to start honking at us.

When ya start taking photos in areas that's public (aka large groups of jerks), you can count on there being at least ONE that thinks it's just soooooo funny to do something like that. Kinda like when you listen to classical music. There's always ONE... always... that just has to stand in the middle of the room and wave his arms around like he's trying to lift off. I normally just tell him to try his wings some other time, stop being an idiot and attempt to enjoy it. Unfortunately, God made jerks and mosquitoes too. ;)

[dkippen]

I know - I just hate when that happens. I sometimes think God made jerks so that we can learn to get along with each other. Some days, its difficult.

[gjtoth]

The missus and I will be going to the Great Smokey Mountains for our anniversary next month. With any luck, I'll be able to capture one or two of these.


In case I forget, - Happy Anniversary. Never been to the Smokey Mountains. Another place on my list of places to see.

Thanks! It's only for 4 days but, I'm soooo looking forward to it. we haven't been on a vacation where it's just US in 15 years! Check this out... this is ours for four glorious days. I'm unplugging any communication with the outside world.

http://www.mountainchalets.com/Rentals/unit_BLESS.aspx

[LensBaby]

Happy Anniversary!
:D:D:D
I hope you two have a wonderful time, and ENJOY your time together in such a beautiful place.

My sister lives there, so we visit all of the time, and I love it. The last time I went a saw a bear on the side of the road. I have photos, but he was down a hill, and of course I didn't have a good zoom, so he is kind of behind a tree. Look for bears!!

[gjtoth]

Happy Anniversary!
:D:D:D
I hope you two have a wonderful time, and ENJOY your time together in such a beautiful place.

My sister lives there, so we visit all of the time, and I love it. The last time I went a saw a bear on the side of the road. I have photos, but he was down a hill, and of course I didn't have a good zoom, so he is kind of behind a tree. Look for bears!!

I'd settle for just ONE good night's sleep! heheheh But, thanks. We are really chompin' at the bit to get down there!

[dkippen]

Gary - this looks wonderful. 4 days in someplace like this is better than 4 days at work. I'm sure you and your wife will enjoy it immensely. Has your wife started a count down yet?

[gjtoth]

Gary - this looks wonderful. 4 days in someplace like this is better than 4 days at work. I'm sure you and your wife will enjoy it immensely. Has your wife started a count down yet?

As soon as I clicked the "Book It" button. heh

[dkippen]

Good for her. My hubby and I are going to Cocoa Beach in May for his birthday - down to 74 days.

[LensBaby]

DID I HEAR B E A C H???????????????????????????????
AGGHHHHHHH I want to go to the B E A C H!

On a serious note my husband wants to go this year to Cape Town (The photos from Janine of the beach)We will have to see though. We own our own business, and he works seven days a week, so trying to get him to schedule time off is like asking Paris Hilton to become a bag lady (no not designer hand bags either) hahaha

[dkippen]

Yes, you heard right BEACH!!! We bought 1 wk in a timeshare last fall sight unseen and I can't wait to go see it.

So - what is your business?

And Paris becoming a bag lady??? HA HA HA - only in her wildest nightmare.

[LensBaby]

Hey you have to admit Paris on the streets of Las Vegas with her pink baseball cap on the ground begging for money, would be a sight to see. (I wouldn't wish this upon anyone but you know what I mean)

Our business is a general contracting business. We do construction work, and contract out the roof and siding.

[dkippen]

I wouldn't wish it on anyone either, but then there are some.

How funny you do general contracting. My husband is a safety consultant for construction companies.

[LensBaby]

Really? Thats neat! I have always wondered why many, many construction workers think they are invincible, and that nothing can happen to them. I am trained on the medical aspect of it, and they think that years of dry wall dust can do no harm, and then when they hit 45 and have COPD they wonder why! I have seen some really stupid things on construction sites, and I am sure your husband has as well. (We do not allow anything like that with our company)

[ladyups]

The missus and I will be going to the Great Smokey Mountains for our anniversary next month. With any luck, I'll be able to capture one or two of these.

Deb, I hope you don't mind but, I did a little enhancing on these. Ya can't get too close to wildlife. Looks like he moved his head on the second shot. I didn't run it through Neat Image but, see what you think.

Congratulations on your upcoming anniversary, Gary...How many years? That cabin looks so luxurious and relaxing...I need a getaway too...just no time right now. I've never wished for a warm getaway in the winter time before but this year, I've wished it every day. It's been such a long winter.

[jerryph]

16 days to spring, and we got another snow storm in Montreal. :mad:

This has to have been the longest winter of my life.

[dkippen]

I would like to have one of our local weather forecaster's paycheck. Last week he said "I would bet my next paycheck that we are done with sub-zero weather." Well, Saturday AM, we'll be waking up to -2.

[gjtoth]

Congratulations on your upcoming anniversary, Gary...How many years? That cabin looks so luxurious and relaxing...I need a getaway too...just no time right now. I've never wished for a warm getaway in the winter time before but this year, I've wished it every day. It's been such a long winter.

Thanks, Mary. It will be 26 years.

See... that was the problem with us, too. No time. Between our work, prison ministry and "everything else"... no time. So, about 2 weeks ago, I said, "This is nuts. We are MAKING time! We are going to STOP this hamster wheel crap and get away. JUST US! No more excuses." Ya know what? We feel more relaxed already knowing we are going.

[gjtoth]

Hey you have to admit Paris on the streets of Las Vegas with her pink baseball cap on the ground begging for money, would be a sight to see. (I wouldn't wish this upon anyone but you know what I mean)


I lived homeless for over two years. It is NOT nice. It is NOT fun. But, it was MY choice. I made it. But, I also made the choice to stop being like that. It gets pretty hungry out there.

[LensBaby]

I'm feeling how you feel Jerry. We had ANOTHER storm yesterday evening and all through the night/morning. We had a HORRIBLE ice storm first, and then a snow storm on top of that. Our whole driveway is one sheet of ice. I wanted to get photos of the iced branches hanging down on the tree, but I don't want to take my equipment out there. If it gets better out I might try it.

[Snappers]

Happy Anniversary Gary. I hope you and Mrs Gary have a great time. That place looks beautiful along with peacfull and quiet!
Just my sort of place.

[LensBaby]

Gary I know what you mean about the homeless thing. Although I think if there were a program that would put little rich kids that get into trouble on the streets for a while instead of a resort rehab they might think before they do it again. Nice to know that these celebrities can drive drunk and could kill innocent people and nothing really happens to them. Oh yeah, well maybe a prison for stars. Do they realize that a large majority of people that are in prison had a very rough life, in many different ways. I am not making excuses for them by any means, because I have been there and made something of myself, time and time again. Look at Hulk Hogans son...what is going to happen there???