Rock River Drift 5/9/26

I did better today doing one drift, but it didn’t start out well with boats running around, but I started over and it went ok. I just missed getting a repeat of yesterdays Eagle dive but I was just one minute off in timing. I did time it right to catch a Red-tailed Hawk perched. He took off, landed down further, then took off again calling out.

Then I saw the Eagle in the same perch looking down. She dove before I was ready, again. She landed on a branch and only took it to the nest when the male showed up. Then he was calling out. I think she is older and more experienced than him. There are few goose chicks to get this year so far, so she is catching fish instead and he isn’t. I missed the dive but I did a get a decent nest shot. This was the female catching fish. I saw her take the fish to the nest when the male showed up.

I didn’t see much else, it’s going to be another slow year. I did find another Belted Kingfisher nest. Lots of song birds moved in but they are hidden in the bush. The river dropped another foot. It’s not too muddy. The river is at 7.2′. It will drop another 3′ and then maybe I can have some peace and quiet on the river because it’s too low to get around and not many boats will be going out in this area. And with the price of gas I am reluctant to make the drive to the big river.

I am using my R5II with an RF 100-500 lens. I am getting used to it and have the settings pretty close, but I am still missing some shots I would have gotten with the R5.