[emu742]

Spring is finally here - been a relatively beautiful April and May so far.



Had a few real warm nights so far this spring and the frogs/toads call out like crazy at dusk.





Canadian Geese raising their little ones - they tried over and over to cross this road, the dad always calling it off the last minute and everyone scurrying back to the grass. Such a funny coordinated thing to watch a goose family.



Some of our new baby chicks. They'll be graduating from our bathtub brooder to their outdoor coop in about 2 weeks. Dandelions are a favorite treat of theirs. Which there seem to be plenty of in our lawn!





Love spring blossoms..and so do the bees







Not sure if I've ever seen magnolias until I came here. They are so stunning.





Beautiful downtown Allegan.

[michmoldman]

I think this counts as a Michigan picture! This is my latest metal piece I designed and cut with my plasma cutter. Please check me out on Facebook...just search "Michigan Rocks"
Also if you are on Facebook spread the page to your friends and help support a Michigan business!

[mkfarnam]

Originally Posted by michmoldman

I think this counts as a Michigan picture! This is my latest metal piece I designed and cut with my plasma cutter. Please check me out on Facebook...just search "Michigan Rocks"
Also if you are on Facebook spread the page to your friends and help support a Michigan business!

It speaks for it's self..

[mkfarnam]

There seems to be afew "Michigan Rocks" on facebook.

Michigan Rocks | Facebook

[hiphopcr]

Love all these pics and love this state!!!

[michmoldman]

Originally Posted by mkfarnam

There seems to be afew "Michigan Rocks" on facebook.

Michigan Rocks | Facebook

Lol...I have more fans in a short amount of time

[Bhaalspawn]

Originally Posted by mkfarnam

Well, lets see Bydand, (approx)2100 mi's, getting 13 mi's per gallon(gas hog)
=161.5 gal's @ $3.85 per Gal, would come out to (appox) $621.71 (one way)

Thanks for the tip. But I just don't see how I'd benefit from it...

Except for getting another great view of my Home State of Michigan again.
And that would be "Priceless!".

Yup. Sadly the high gas prices make it difficult for people to get out and see their great state, which is a real tragedy IMHO.

[mkfarnam]

Originally Posted by Bhaalspawn

Yup. Sadly the high gas prices make it difficult for people to get out and see their great state, which is a real tragedy IMHO.

In the last 3 days it's gone down 10 cents in OK. How about up there?

[Bydand]

Went out to the Ludington State Park this morning while I waited for the Cell phone store to open and of course had the camera with me. Spotted a couple deer and a very unexpected visitor.

One of the deer was just lounging, and I was able to creep up very close for a nice shot (Who says hunting doesn't teach useful skills?) These are all uncropped and taken with a 70-210mm lens. Even the last photo which will give you an idea of just how close he was to me.


Then as I was waiting in another location for a deer I saw to come to me, and be against what I thought would be an interesting background... this fellow swooped in right behind me for breakfast.

A young Red-Tailed Hawk with a Chipmunk for breakfast. He grabbed the Chipmunk that was right behind where I was sitting and then landed on a fallen tree less than 20 feet away from me right in the open. One of those once-in-a-lifetime things that you really hope for as a photographer... but never really expect to happen. In my excitement I missed that the camera had been set to ISO 800, so the photos are not as sharp and clear as they should be, but still better than I would ever think I would get.






It stayed right there while eating about 3/4 of the Chipmunk before flying away. It was one of the coolest 20 minutes I have had in a LONG time. Very gruesome really, but fascinating at the same time.

[JGatti]

Originally Posted by Bydand

Went out to the Ludington State Park this morning while I waited for the Cell phone store to open and of course had the camera with me. Spotted a couple deer and a very unexpected visitor.

One of the deer was just lounging, and I was able to creep up very close for a nice shot (Who says hunting doesn't teach useful skills?) These are all uncropped and taken with a 70-210mm lens. Even the last photo which will give you an idea of just how close he was to me.


Then as I was waiting in another location for a deer I saw to come to me, and be against what I thought would be an interesting background... this fellow swooped in right behind me for breakfast.

A young Red-Tailed Hawk with a Chipmunk for breakfast. He grabbed the Chipmunk that was right behind where I was sitting and then landed on a fallen tree less than 20 feet away from me right in the open. One of those once-in-a-lifetime things that you really hope for as a photographer... but never really expect to happen. In my excitement I missed that the camera had been set to ISO 800, so the photos are not as sharp and clear as they should be, but still better than I would ever think I would get.






It stayed right there while eating about 3/4 of the Chipmunk before flying away. It was one of the coolest 20 minutes I have had in a LONG time. Very gruesome really, but fascinating at the same time.

Still very cool and awesome shots. I have only seen one hawk on my walks and he was in the shade. Made for some tough shots and he was a bit far from me. But these....wow. Did you use a flash on the last one? Looks like he has a catch light. If you did, did it startle him at all?
I will be out there this summer. Some how some way I WILL make it out your way.