Late Fall at the park: pelicans, mergansers, deer, and a big gator!

[wfooshee]

Photo-John posted some pics from his ski trip on FB today, which inspired me to go out not-skiing. Camera bag in the side case of the motorcycle, and off to the state park for some huntin'.

At the boat ramp is a fish-cleaning table, and if someone's cleaning, there'll be about 45 birds hanging around for the scraps. Here's a Great Egret with a morsel.


Sometimes bitter conflict ensues...


My trusty steed. My camera bag exactly fits one of the side cases, the other side case carries my rain gear and cold-weather liners, leaving the top case free for groceries on the way home!


This doe walked right up to me, gave me a sniff, and moved on. That implies that people are a food source, which is not supposed to happen. I had the 70-300 mounted, so I couldn't get any shots while she was close.


She crossed the trail I was on, and there was another doe back there I'd not seen or heard. She scampered just as I tripped this shot.


The second doe had a bit of a floppy ear...


Continuing around the trail, where it runs alongside the lagoon, I encountered these hooded merganser hens.


Got some decent closeups, even though the light was pretty dreary, with a thin overcast.




Then it was on to another trail, the one around the lake. Found this beastie getting a bit of late Fall sunshine while the gettin's good. This is with the 18-55 at 35, i.e. "normal" lens length, and my shadow at the bottom, maybe for a little bit of scale.


Now back to 300mm!


So John, enjoy your ice-face weather out there in Utah or wherever. I'ma be right here on the Gulf Coast, trynna stay warm!

[Photo-John]

Photo-John posted some pics from his ski trip on FB today, which inspired me to go out not-skiing. Camera bag in the side case of the motorcycle, and off to the state park for some huntin'...

So John, enjoy your ice-face weather out there in Utah or wherever. I'ma be right here on the Gulf Coast, trynna stay warm!

So, you just assume I look at every post on the site or something? ;-)

You've got some good stuff here. I like the one of the pelicans bickering and gators are always a winning subject. We don't have very many gators here in Utah. We do get some pelicans though, believe it or not.

Glad I could help inspire you to get out. I'll give you a heads up today - it's been snowing for days here and I'm gonna take tomorrow off to ski again. I might even take some pictures...