Location, location, location ...

Sometimes if you're looking for the right shot, you change models and location. Lock and dam 14 ... very active birds :).

Eyeing the river at lunchtime . . .

The Duke - 2009

Back for another winter along the Rock River ...

Cabin Fever ....

So it's only been a few days since I was out in the New Mexico forest cutting trees, but this weather has been suffocating! Wind chills fell as low as 20 below zero (Fahrenheit for my international watchers), and the snow drifts in the yard were easily three feet high. Today, the weather was a balmy 20 degrees. This meant that at least the dogs could go outside for at least more than a minute. Also, it meant that I could actually spend a couple minutes photographing outdoors.

As soon as I stepped outside, I saw this huge bird sitting on top of one of the branches; I'm thinking that Farley and Jake looked like a tasty meal after the brief cold spell. This bird was fast. It hovered just over the field at about 40 MPH (paced it later in the day with the car). I think it's called a red-tipped hawk, but I'm not certain (feel free to correct me if you know). Also, as I headed into the office, I noticed this other bird of prey watching the cars go by on the side of the road. Amazingly, it's an immature bald eagle. I found this to be pretty amazing because I haven't seen an eagle this far away from the river (about three miles). It makes sense, though, because a good portion of the river is jammed with ice and there are very few open spots left to fish.

Finally, since it was such a nice day. we all took a quick road trip to the Palisades Park near Savanna. Jake and Farley got to get out and stretch their legs. Farley, a little more than Jake.

The last image you see here, courtesy of Rochelle, is what my week was like after work. Jet lag finally set in, and Farley, my little furnace, made it difficult not to fall asleep.

A good day for fishing ....

I drove out past the highschool today and watched the Duke get ready to hunt. It was definitely a sunny, clear day; one of the very few this winter has brought us.

Guess who's back!!!

It was 41 degrees outside today and absolutely beautiful for the most part. But the best part about today, the bald eagles have returned to the Rock River area. Now this is just all part of rumor and speculation, but I believe this is the baby eagle from last year's hatchings. He was sitting on the north side of the Rock near the high school yelling at his parents, the Duke and some unknown lady of feather. I'm guessing he was hungry as Duke went and caught a fish downstream. Welcome back!