2018 Feb 24-25, Focused on Nature Photography Weekend Saturday

I checked into Joe Wheeler State Park Lodge for a fun-filled weekend.

Joe Wheeler State Park Lodge

The day began around 8 A.M. with Nature Photography, taught by Rocky from Athens.

The next speaker was Joe from Tuscumbia, who discussed photo editing using Lightroom & Photoshop. He also encouraged everyone to take photos in Raw format.

We broke for lunch.

Sharon joined me for lunch at the lodge, and we both enjoyed a baked potato.

We had a guided field trip to take pictures of Waterfowl at Wheeler and Wilson Dam, with Guntersville's park rangers Mike and Sharon riding with me.

Waterfowl at Wilson Dam 

I also took Sharon to River Heritage Park behind the Marriott Hotel. 

We rode back to the lodge to freshen up for dinner.

Hubby joined us for dinner in the Cypress Room at 7 P.M.

For dinner, I enjoyed fried catfish, salad, Coleslaw, and cheesecake covered with blueberries.

After dinner, a Wildlife show (Birds of Prey) was presented in the Cypress Room by David, the park ranger from Reelfoot Lake.

For show and tell, David brought a Red Tail Hawk, an Eagle, a Horned Owl, and a Barn Owl.

These are animals that have been rescued and cannot be released back into the wild because of a handicap.

Sunday 

Hubby stayed for the breakfast buffet in the dining room. We enjoyed crisp bacon, eggs, waffles, and Coke. 

Hubby left for work after breakfast. I joined the rest of the group outside for more of the wildlife show. 

Barn Owl and Great Horned Owl 

Red Tail Hawk 

Our last adventure was a Pontoon boat excursion on Wheeler Lake to look for wildlife and Waterfowl.

Yesterday was a beautiful sunny day, but today was cloudy and cold, so I had to add several layers of clothing for the water adventure. 

We saw a pair of Red-tailed Hawks sitting on top of a tree. 

We had about 12 people on the boat excursion.

A couple from Tuscumbia, a couple from Trenton, Mississippi, a couple from Guntersville, a couple who enjoys taking pictures of old barns, a couple from Olive Branch, Mississippi, and Captain Steve, our boat guide.

The wind was around 12 mph and a bit cold, so we traveled near the shoreline up to Wheeler Dam.

Captain Steve showed us the lock water discharge.

Hundreds of birds are sitting around waiting for fresh fish 

It is the process of draining the lock, and the circular wall serves as the "discharge barrier," but locals call it the "blow hole."

I joined my sister, great-niece, and dad for lunch at Bojangles.