Heading North unmolested

[charlie cleveland]

jack those are really good pictures..arnt we the lucky ones that get to see such sights... i really like the old grreen head...do you have a photo of a red head..only seen one in my life not to many of them in north miss... charlie

[TARNATION !!!]

You bet we are lucky. The sights we see and can appreciate with or without a shootin' iron in hand. I may or may not have redhead or canvas back. Don't see them too often. Did see a redhead this week but didn't have the camera and he was at least 200 yards out sitting on water. Heard the unmistakable call of a flock of sandhill cranes yesterday. They were a mile high. They must fly twice the distance of the others as they continually circle their way north (and south for that matter). I wonder what they think they missed seeing the first time by?
Cheers,
Jack

[Theodore LeDurt]

Thank you for sharing. The spring is always enjoyable as waterfowl follow the ice lines north.

[C.O.B.]

Nice pics Jack. Good to see you back in the fold so to speak. I was begining to think you were abusing Moms talents with the new Mix Master...to many chocolate chip cookies will slow you down

[Dean Romig]

Originally Posted by Richard Anderson

to many chocolate chip cookies will slow you down

[TARNATION !!!]

I'll see your cookies and raise you a ......


As the migration unfolds, today was soul satisfying. Headed out with the pups, no gun or camera - just to watch and quietly let it all sink into and blend into the collage of migrations past. CHARLIE and KYRA were focused on their newest game, much to the detriment of the mouse population. I just watched the sky, until the reflected spectral symphony of a prairie sunset filled the runoff wetlands with a radiance unknown to the fluorescent lit mall walkers. It was a glorious evening. Mallards and pintails, canvasbacks and red heads, Canada's of course and a score of swans swimming majestically on a temporary lake. A great blue heron winged by - likely the only local returning resident. The call of the snows became almost thunderous, as a gazillion or two dropped in for an evening meal. We do have a spring season but I never hear shooting - maybe I've grown more deaf than I know. I hope some of you have such days in your memory banks.
Cheers,
Jack

[TARNATION !!!]

Originally Posted by charlie cleveland

jack those are really good pictures..arnt we the lucky ones that get to see such sights... i really like the old grreen head...do you have a photo of a red head..only seen one in my life not to many of them in north miss... charlie

Charlie: Red Head ducks aren't normally around here in great numbers. This is a very different year. It is so wet and so much more available wetlands for the ducks/geese that I am seeing more and more species in numbers well beyond the norm. I have even seen four snow geese. I only see them during migration by the millions but never during mating season. Not sure if these four are just smarter than the millions or if they are just lazy or first go round and couldn't wait any longer.

Here are some recent shots from the past few days. I find "in flight" tough shots. Far tougher with the camera than the Parker. The Red Head flock is about 400 yards. I would put the mallard "touch down" around 200 yards, as well as the three RedHeads in flight. The swimming RedHead pair is about 100 yards. Any nice in flight shots are 50-60 yards. I shoot a lot for a decent pic but when there is a good one, I enjoy it.

Now I know where the RedHeads are in a flock, maybe I can find where they feed and then intercept them along the way for some in flight entertainment.

Last pic is CHARLIE still believing in possibilities. She swam a long way and the blue bill just putzed along in front. When she came to shore, I think some of the liquid she shook off was sweat. I haven't bothered to shoot migratory ever since the lead shot ban. I did have the barrel on the SKB semi opened up for steel, just in case I ever wanted to bother. CHARLIE thinks I should bother

Cheers,
Jack

[Wild Skies]

Originally Posted by Jack Cronkhite

Charlie: Red Head ducks aren't normally around here in great numbers. This is a very different year. It is so wet and so much more available wetlands for the ducks/geese that I am seeing more and more species in numbers well beyond the norm. I have even seen four snow geese. I only see them during migration by the millions but never during mating season. Not sure if these four are just smarter than the millions or if they are just lazy or first go round and couldn't wait any longer.

Here are some recent shots from the past few days. I find "in flight" tough shots. Far tougher with the camera than the Parker. The Red Head flock is about 400 yards. I would put the mallard "touch down" around 200 yards, as well as the three RedHeads in flight. The swimming RedHead pair is about 100 yards. Any nice in flight shots are 50-60 yards. I shoot a lot for a decent pic but when there is a good one, I enjoy it.

Now I know where the RedHeads are in a flock, maybe I can find where they feed and then intercept them along the way for some in flight entertainment.

Last pic is CHARLIE still believing in possibilities. She swam a long way and the blue bill just putzed along in front. When she came to shore, I think some of the liquid she shook off was sweat. I haven't bothered to shoot migratory ever since the lead shot ban. I did have the barrel on the SKB semi opened up for steel, just in case I ever wanted to bother. CHARLIE thinks I should bother

Cheers,
Jack

No big deal, but the only Red Head ducks are the three in flight, the flocks of "Red Heads" on the water and the swimming pair with the Ruddy drake are really Canvasbacks.

[TARNATION !!!]

Thanks for that observation Greg. Heading out soon for the dog hike. Will try to get close enough for some clear in flight shots, as neither species has been in abundance here.
Cheers,
Jack

[TARNATION !!!]

Had a good hike. Not around at the right time for most the ducks. Settled on images of a familiar shore bird for most of us who have spent time around sloughs, the Avocet. I ended up filling the memory card and was wondering what would I see on the way out that I will be annoyed about not having another card along. I use 8GB cards, so it takes a long time to fill one and I forget it is not endless. Well, Murphy's law held true. I encountered another unusual species for the area - antelope. Male, female and fawn. They only moved off the trail and stood about 75 yards away. I just kept rolling along at about 5MPH and watched them for a short while. The fawn wasn't too old, about triple the size of those little (some might say annoying) toy poodles. Now a Standard Poodle has my respect as a great hunting dog. I have never owned one but have watched one working in the pheasant fields. Very nice dog. The mosquitos were ugly tonight, even with netting jacket. The hands were bare for operating the camera and those little buggers knew it too. Okay, I seem to have blathered on a bit. Here are some shots of the Avocet