Cranes Descent. For the first time in a while I went for a photo walk into the park. Wanting to photograph birds I carried my camera and 400mm zoom lens ready. As I stood at the head of the ridge trail that runs just downhill from our home I could hear Sandhill Cranes in the distance. I scanned the sky all around me but tree cover prevented a clear view. As their calls grew louder they began to bounce off the heavy tree line opposite me. I never saw that particular flock. As I made my way down the trail I stopped periodically to scan the skies and to take photos of very high flying formations of geese as they migrate back to Canada. Eventually I found myself in the middle of the open prairie, the sky a nice dome above me. I settle into a very balanced stance and began to just relax, meditate, watch and listen. I heard another flock coming off in the distance. After long moments of waiting and not seeing anything I figured I'd missed this flock as well. Just then I noticed what I thought was a small, silent gaggle of geese circling above me and descending. I literally had to keep my camera directly pointed over my head, framing, adjusting my exposure and tracking them as they circled around and around above me. It was a really good exercise as I tried to aim the heavy camera and to turn it just so in order to compose the scene. When I got home I had a chance to actually see what I photographed. They weren't big geese or swans. It was a flock of Sandhill Cranes! WOOT! #Grus #canadensis #Grus_canadensis #Grus-canadensis #Sandhill #crane #Sandhill_crane #Sandhill-crane #Sandhillcrane #migration #natureasart #naturelovers #wildlifephotography #exploretocreate #your_best_birds #nuts_about_birds #bestbirdshots #bb_of_ig #bird_brilliance #eye_spy_birds #feather_perfection #birds_adored #thebirdingsquad #nature_worldwide_birds #total_birds #instabird #birdlove
Teri and I slowly walked along the only free channel of the mostly ice covered Mississippi River. La Crosse was shrouded in a very dense fog. Only vague dark shapes of trees crusted in hoarfrost lace lined the shoreline. The open channel was a deep, slate gray ribbon that silently slid by. Occasionally we'd spot a duck drifting by, only defined by their ashen silhouettes. Then I spotted it. A dark hulking shape sitting motionless in the fog. I took a few silent minutes to angle closer without scaring it off. By the time I could find it in the fog with my zoom lens, focus, and take this shot it was doing this. Just sitting there with it's head tilted back, beak open. It never made a sound and soon began to preen itself. Soon after it simply strolled off, disappearing into the fog. #eagle #baldeagle #birdofprey #conservation #wildlifefriend #wildglobe #wildgeography #featured_wildlife #marvelouz_animals #animalelite #ig_shotz_animal #nature_perfection #nature_brilliance #wildlifeplanet #live_love_wildlife #bd_pro #splendid_animals #fog #foggy #lax_parksandrec #lacrossewisconsin #lacrossewi #wisconsin #wisco #discoverwisconsin #mississippiriver #travelwisconsin #explorewisconsin #driftlessarea #midwestmoment
What a day it's been! After a busier than normal morning hustling the kid off to school I barely had time to clean up and get into my spats. My friend stopped by on his way to the city and we practiced a few BJJ techniques. It's really awesome having someone come by to work out the little details that go into perfecting a move. He's also an experience kick boxer so we're both looking forward to hanging my heavy bag outside in the spring. Once he split for work I then hit the gym for my usual fitness routine. I'm staying at a constant 225 or so weight (102kg) while still increasing the amount I lift. @thalesblaso & I also came up with a plan to workout together here in Mount Horeb on days I can't make the city! It'll be in the mid afternoons once or twice a week. Once the weather breaks we can also begin doing cardio runs into Stewart Lake. I managed to find time to walk into the park myself today. I wasn't out for long, just long enough to find some fun lighting to photograph. I have no idea what this plant it but it caught my eye today.
