Trumpeter swans

This morning I took a trip to Monticello, MN to see the trumpeter swans. There is a lady who feeds the swans and it is quite a spectacle. Hundreds of swans, geese and ducks hang out there and she feeds them corn. Very loud and a really interesting thing to watch.

Lots o' swans:

Now thats kewl, great series Liz, nice to see people helping the birds out in winter.

nice series Liz. like the swan inflight shot and the woody.

Bill

Great set Liz, The 2nd shot being my fave, great exposure. Well captured.

Great set Liz. Did you get right up close to the swans? Big aren't they?

love the wood duck can never get close enough.

bromm wrote in post #5074174
Now thats kewl, great series Liz, nice to see people helping the birds out in winter.

Thanks, it was very cool to see. Apparently this is a tradition that has been going on for quite some time. For whatever reason, the river stays open in that area and the swans overwinter there. I guess the free food keeps them coming back.

Bill Pham wrote in post #5074420
nice series Liz. like the swan inflight shot and the woody.

Bill

Thanks, it's a great opportunity to practice BIF. I got really cold after about an hour, though!

philc123 wrote in post #5074437
Great set Liz, The 2nd shot being my fave, great exposure. Well captured.

Thanks, would have loved to have had some sun, maybe next time!

canonloader wrote in post #5074457
Great set Liz. Did you get right up close to the swans? Big aren't they?

Thanks, we could get pretty close but not right up next to them. There is an area that has a railing that they ask people not to go past. The swans know the lady that feeds them but get spooked if others try to get close. But, I did see how big they were compared to the geese and when the swan lady went out to feed them they were almost as tall as her! I had no idea they were so huge. I think it would be cool to walk out there like she did and be surrounded by these giant noisy birds!

I would die to get swan pics like #2!

Awesome work!

Some excellent photos with a "character" flavor that is very attractive.

Mguthrie wrote in post #5075664
I would die to get swan pics like #2!

Awesome work!

Thanks, I hope to go back at some point and really work on getting more BIF shots. I had to leave after an hour because my fingers were numb.

Normcar21 wrote in post #5076241
Some excellent photos with a "character" flavor that is very attractive.

Thanks, I think using some wider angle lenses would really help capture the sense of place, I only had my 500mm so couldn't get that. Next time!

All good, but 2nd is the cream of the crop, cracking image, although I'd perhaps consider cropping/cloning the white bits at the bottom?

Great Set Liz and you really nailed the exposure!!!

Awesome series Liz, #2 is my favorite!

Agree the #2 BIF is very nice especially as the one on the left beak open "saying lets go over there where the food is"