GeneM Loc: Upstate PA

I went to the mountain lake to look for Bald Eagles. As I waited for them to come for their morning feeding, I watched a pair of Canada Geese at the marsh end of the lake.

Someone said they were bathing and preening. I took some pictures. It was courting foreplay. As I scanned the sky for eagles, someone said they were fighting. I swung my camera in time to get some pics as the gander slipped from the back of the goose. They weren't fighting, they were mating! (The gander's Cloaca can be seen on some of the pics.) After they finished their ritual, they moved on, feeding together.

I was using a Canon EOS 50D w/EF 100-400mm L lens HH; P-mode; ISO 400. Cropped and PP w/PSE8.

Enjoy these. Comments welcome.

-- Gene

PS: I did see the eagles but they were too far for pics that day. But you can see some pics I shot at the mountain lake in some of my previous threads. Some include BIF pics:
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-74120-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-74364-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-75217-1.html
http://www.uglyhedgehog.com/t-76852-1.html

Canada Goose info: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Canada_Goose/id

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#22 - Here comes the eagle! Too far.

steve6 Loc: Hull MA.

number 14 and 21 i thought were great ,good shots.

GeneM Loc: Upstate PA

Thank you, Steve. Your picks are appreciated and shows how much we think alike. All the others were shown to demonstrate the varied activity of wildlife we see while out trying to shoot something else. You never know what's out there. Thanks for looking. :thumbup:

Aldebaran Loc: Florida

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GeneM Loc: Upstate PA

Thanks for the picks, and thanks for looking.