![]() Today’s guide features U-Pick apples and pumpkins farms near Kingston (less than an hour away), where you can take your family for a fun-filled day of harvesting, going on hay rides, and enjoying delicious homemade baked goods, ciders and juices. At this time of year, bundling up in a cozy sweater and making a short trip to a local farm is a fun and locally supportive way to enjoy the fruits that fall has to offer. 14 when the Eagles return in the winter of 2020.Apple season has been in full swing for a couple of months now but there are still lots of delicious varieties to enjoy before the end of the month. I will definitely be making future visits again to Lock and Dam No. I rate it better than Scotland and Finland where I have also spent time photographing Eagles. Overall, the Eagle photographic opportunities here are the best I have found for the winter fishing shots - anywhere. I was pleased with the usual amenities with a good bed, very friendly staff, the bistro restaurant, and a hot bath to warm up after the long cold days. I chose to stay at a Marriott Courtyard in Davenport just a few miles away. Using hand and foot warmers allowed me to last the full day.Īlthough there are two hotels close to Lock and Dam No. I was dressed for deep winter, but I still had some face chapping and felt the cold. There is no shelter and that wind can be a constant challenge. ![]() A balaclava or ski mask with a beanie on top is strongly recommended as the wind is brutal. I managed to capture several roosting images of the eagles in the tall trees while standing in the parking lot area.ĭuring January & February in LeClaire on the river’s edge, it will be VERY COLD.Įnsure that you dress for the extreme cold with excellent footwear and multiple layers of clothing. There are likely to be several eagles flying back across the platform/parking lot to the trees with a fish tucked up under their tail feathers, so also watch out for those opportunities (image below). I would recommend having a long lens set up on a tripod and a 200-300mm easily accessible for the explosive close up action. It is likely that you will see Eagle fishing activity both close to the bank and 150 yards out. ![]() I didn’t see these, so it may just be during certain days/time periods? Many photographers leave for a lunch break, but be warned, my best sequence was taken at 12:30 when I was alone on the platform, so be mindful what you may miss, just for the sake of that hotdog ! I bring my thermos and pack my lunch and snacks, so I cannot really advise on nearby food options, but I believe I heard some discussion about limited food vendors in the car park area. 14, but it is steady with occasional periods of explosive competitions for a fish between multiple raptors. Some patience is needed, as there is not constant action at Lock & Dam No. It is therefore desirable to have the wind on your back (coming from the West), otherwise you will only get ‘bum shots’. Eagles take off into the wind (the same as aircraft) and especially with a fish in their talons. The other significant factor to consider is wind direction. Eagle fishing activity is usually good at this time too. In my experience, the best time for eagle photography from the platform is from 14:00 through 16:30. Even though the Eagles will be active, getting a good image in the morning is not easy. They stay in this location until the weather warms and they start to display signs of mating rituals on the thermals and then move on to their warmer weather locales.Įarly morning photography is challenging as the sun will rise from the opposite bank, directly into your face/lens. There are also many tall trees along the river bank where the Eagles will watch for fish, roost and take their catch to eat. ![]() The Eagles choose this particular location because during the winter freeze, there is ‘open water’ (not frozen) just down river from the dam and the fish that cascade over the dam are sometimes hurt or stunned, making the catch a little easier. Although the platform/walkway sounds large, it can soon fill up with dozens of photographers and their large tripods, during the prime Bald Eagle weekends (late January through February).
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