by Nancy 67
Member since:
November 22, 2006

The Seagulls of Lake Charlevoix

August 07, 2008 10:13 PM EDT (Updated: August 07, 2008 10:14 PM EDT)
views: 180 | comments: 66

My hubby and I recently returned from a two-week vacation, which was a family camping trip, taken up above Traverse City, Michigan, at Young State Park by a lovely lake called Lake Charlevoix.  We've gone to many family reunions in July up there as well, and often just go up to camp with my husband's two daughters and extended family.  For my husband and me, it's a welcome respite from the triple digit temperatures we have here in Texas right now.  This last visit to the Mitten State saw daytime temperatures in the low 80s and great night time temperatures in the mid to low 60s.  Ahhhhh...great sleeping weather!

I took over 3000 pictures of pretty much everything while up there, with my Canon XT digital SLR, and in this photo essay, I'm featuring some of the beautiful seagulls that live on and around this lake.  Most of these photos were taken at 1/1500 sec., shutterspeed (F-stop) of 4.5, give or take, and varying ISO settings, depending on the time of day and amount of light available. 

By the way, the term "seagull" is actually a misnomer.   Biologically speaking, they should simply be referred to as gulls, as they are also an incredibly successful inland species ~ so I guess these guys are really "lakegulls"! 

         Up Close and Personal!

                                                     Searching for dinner

                                                    Looking for lunch?

                                                        Just browsing...

                                                         Ever diligent...

                                                 Family time at sunset...

                                 Looking for any tasty bits on the beach...

                                                    Flying past a Seadoo...

 

                                                        ...over the beach

                                                      High in the sky...

                                                   Stretching his wings...

                                         Up there where the air is wailin'...

                                                        Heading home...
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Comments: 66

Janie E. Aug 7, 2008, 10:18pm EDT
Fantastic captures, Nancy!!!!!!
Marianne R. Aug 7, 2008, 10:24pm EDT
Beautiful photos! Hope you enjoyed your trip!
Dorine H. Aug 7, 2008, 10:27pm EDT
Lovely photos!
Kerrell g. Aug 7, 2008, 10:27pm EDT
A 10 for you!
heather "chickenlips" g. Aug 7, 2008, 10:40pm EDT
Wow! These are great shots!!

We actually have seagulls here in the SE Oregon desert!

I call them desertgulls :)
Sue M. Aug 7, 2008, 10:46pm EDT
Awesome photo essay, Nancy! Thanks so much for posting this to *My Bird Macro* !
Kay M. Aug 7, 2008, 10:49pm EDT
Wow! Gorgeous photos Nancy!
I enjoyed all of these! Seagulls can be so pretty. Amazing that I never see any in Texas, but see tons of them in Minnesota~
meg pattinson Aug 7, 2008, 11:11pm EDT
beautiful pictures Nancy ! i hope you had a fabulous trip !
♠~Dnbuster~♠ ~. Aug 8, 2008, 2:21am EDT
great pics!
Shirley ♡ ☮ M. Aug 8, 2008, 3:22am EDT
Beautiful photo essay of the birds. Looks like you had a great trip.
edna r. Aug 8, 2008, 3:44am EDT
Great pictures. I've been at the beach for 2 weeks and have seen lots of seagulls. I didn't get any pictures.
Denise E. Aug 8, 2008, 3:49am EDT
Great shots, Nancy! I love the first two. The detail is amazing. 10 work.
Rae M. Aug 8, 2008, 6:56am EDT
Amazing shot!
Rae M. Aug 8, 2008, 6:56am EDT
Sorry that would be shots.
Sharon C. Aug 8, 2008, 7:06am EDT
Beautiful Pictures!!! How amazing it must be to fly as graceful as they do. Welcome back aaand I hope you had a wonderful time!
Harrel (Len) Phillips Aug 8, 2008, 7:22am EDT
Welcome back Nancy. Seagulls are so very photogenic but they will crap on you if they get the chance. :-)

Beautiful pictures, anxious to see more of your trip.
Elaine S. Aug 8, 2008, 7:23am EDT
Awesome shots Nancy.....welcome back
lena k. Aug 8, 2008, 7:53am EDT
great shots
John Philipp Aug 8, 2008, 8:24am EDT
These are really excellent, Nancy. I love seagulls.

Welcome back to the fray. When you have time to relax and chuckle, click on:
John Philipp for President
Tabitha M. Aug 8, 2008, 8:30am EDT
I love my state--though I can't stand sea gulls! :) You make those flying rats look so beautiful. LOL
Nana to Seven Cutiepies Aug 8, 2008, 9:12am EDT
Welcome back Nancy. I bet you had a wonderful time. These photos are beautiful and if these are just an appetizer for what is to come, I can't wait.

Thanks so much for posting this to
my group
Lucky Stars Aug 8, 2008, 9:25am EDT
Hi Nancy. Beautiful shots.
I'm leaving today for Sliver Lake on Lake Michigan - quite a bit south of where you were.
Jennifer aka Jenn B. Aug 8, 2008, 9:49am EDT
Hey Nancy...glad to see you back....
wonderful gull shots....we have them in the winter on our lake..I don't know why but they hang out around the feed mills...ya think that could be it?
Matt O. Aug 8, 2008, 9:55am EDT
great pics. you were at one of the more picturesque places in Michigan.
.* Sandi * Aug 8, 2008, 10:22am EDT
welcome back, hope you had a nice time away from it all, even thought you have lots more work to do being home (wash)
These pictures are beautiful, the colors came out nice
Curt L. Aug 8, 2008, 10:53am EDT
Awesome photography! Great to have you back, Nancy!
Gary H. Aug 8, 2008, 12:06pm EDT
Wow Nancy these are awesome shots of the seagulls, nice job on this essay
Mariana T. Aug 8, 2008, 12:16pm EDT
Dear Miz Nancy- so good to hear from you! Those are some great shots and I can really get a feel for where you were! Glad you are back and sharing things on here again! Salud.
Mariana T. Aug 8, 2008, 12:18pm EDT
I haven't been on here much either as it's summertime and I'm down in La. and you know things move very slow here including the dial up puter system. When I can get online I go right to Gather and sometimes I have problems getting on there! Anyway, welcome back and have a great rest of summer! It's only beginning for me - my seasons are a bit twisted but it's ok, I like them like that! Salud
Nancy S. Aug 8, 2008, 1:33pm EDT
These are wonderful pictures Nancy. I really enjoyed them. Looking forward to more.
John S. (arizona) Aug 8, 2008, 1:58pm EDT
I'm glad you enjoyed your vacation, and welcome back. Those are some excellent photos of seag.... er ah, "gulls" you have there... ;-)
The positions of the wings in some shots is great. Thanks so much.
3000 pictures... wow, that is a lot to look through, LOL. Take care.
Sassy Cat Aug 8, 2008, 2:17pm EDT
Fabulous photo essay!
Cristina S. Aug 8, 2008, 2:33pm EDT
Love all your gulls Nancy! I'm trying to catch up too...
Susan B. Aug 8, 2008, 4:06pm EDT
Bravo! Thank you for posting your article in Theme Parks and Attractions
Marilyn M. Aug 8, 2008, 4:06pm EDT
The gulls are beautiful. You're right. We do probably have lots in common. I imagine I might have passed this lake in my travels in Michigan. :-) My sister lives in Rapid City - near Kalkaska.
Natalie Neal Whitefield Aug 8, 2008, 4:38pm EDT
I always love your photo essays. You really show us the sleek elegance of the lake gull.
Sandra T. Aug 8, 2008, 4:48pm EDT
What beautiful pictures! Nancy, my Dad always used to correct me and say they are gulls not seagulls! You should read the first article that I wrote for Gather. I was so sad that no one had read it, finally one person did. Anyway, it's about my childhood days on vacations at my Great Aunt's in Michigan. The birds I talk about in my story, Flying Bears!, are "gulls"! http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?memberId=254652&articleId=281474977021255&nav
=MyGather
Marge H. Aug 8, 2008, 5:32pm EDT
Beautiful photos.
Tanya P. Aug 8, 2008, 5:46pm EDT
Beautiful catches!
Roberta G. Aug 8, 2008, 5:47pm EDT
Great shots, Nancy. Glad you had a nice vacation.
Rhetta A. Aug 8, 2008, 6:44pm EDT
These are just beautiful, and make me want to go to a large body of water immediately.
necee t. Aug 8, 2008, 7:04pm EDT
hi Nancy... gorgeous photo/essay... Sea/Gulls... are really beautiful birds...
i'm glad you had a fun vacation... welcome back... lots of hugs and love...
Blessings...
Nana to Seven Cutiepies Aug 8, 2008, 7:45pm EDT
These are amazing photos Nancy, I love each and every one of them.

Thanks so much for posting this to
my group
señoritafish (oxyjulis californica) Aug 9, 2008, 3:32pm EDT
Living near the ocean, I sometimes class gulls in with pigeons, as flying, theiving, poop machines. But both of them really are beautiful birds that deserve more appreciation. Great photos!
Janet Somewhere Up On The Mount Aug 9, 2008, 3:45pm EDT
Great essay!! Thanks for sharing.
John B. Aug 9, 2008, 7:01pm EDT
wonderful pictures of the
Gulls.
You captured some excellent shots in flight Nancy...seagulls are lovely birds and you captured some of their true beauty.
Phyllis R. Aug 10, 2008, 12:04am EDT
Beautiful photo essay Nancy, -- that last picture looks like an airplane...."Seagull Airways"!!! LOL
LaRue B. Aug 10, 2008, 8:39am EDT
Beautiful! I love to watch the birds.
Sarah Honenberger Aug 10, 2008, 2:28pm EDT
I thought I did well to take 300 on a trip. Wow.
Ang, wandering aimlessly, G. Aug 10, 2008, 6:11pm EDT
Awesome pictures, Nancy. I hope you enjoyed your vacation.
Chelsea R. Aug 10, 2008, 11:18pm EDT
gorgeous!!
Ellie !. Aug 11, 2008, 12:44am EDT
Nancy, these are wonderful! I'm so glad you have a nice camera...you do great work with it. You should create a business for yourself...or would it cease to be fun?
Melinda ~choosing happiness~ S. Aug 12, 2008, 7:43pm EDT
Spectacular photos, Nancy! Your photos are always so impressive!
Patti M. Aug 12, 2008, 8:20pm EDT
Wow! These are awsome shots.
Patti M. Aug 12, 2008, 8:22pm EDT
I think of Running Through the Rain every time I'm out in the rain. Thanks for the comment.
RJ H. Aug 13, 2008, 3:03pm EDT
How lovely! I miss the seagulls after growing up in Duluth, Mn, on Lake Superior!
J. P. Aug 21, 2008, 5:48pm EDT
Very nice capturing those sea/lake gulls, Nancy!
You can repost this for the summer promotion, wink wink :^)
Nancy 67 Aug 25, 2008, 3:54pm EDT
Thanks so much, Gather friends, for ALL of your nice comments! I sure do appreciate you all!
Susy R. Aug 29, 2008, 10:36am EDT
Gorgeous Shots Nancy! How do you shoot them without their movements turning out blurry? What settings do you use on your camera? I always have a hard time shooting fast moving objects. Its hard!!
queen.susan . Sep 29, 2008, 6:47pm EDT
You took some really wonderful pictures of the birds!
I enjoyed seeing them.
Ryan M. Oct 7, 2008, 2:08pm EDT
Awesomne shots.
LeeAnn D. Nov 15, 2008, 7:55pm EST
Fantastic photo's. How many shots did you take to get this many great shots? lol Taking pictures of moving objects can be tricky and unforgiving. Particularly flying objects that can take abrupt random movements. Thank God for digital cameras! What photo's didn't come out, just.....delete. lol Great job!

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