Beavers on the Mississippi

This is probably too many images of beavers, but I'm going to be honest, this is the first time I've ever watched one in the wild ... let alone three at the same time ... so I was a little excited and took a lot of pictures okay?

So I was really out taking pictures of the sky over the Mississippi (see Hazy Mississippi) and as I was wrapping up and heading back to my car, there was a little creek that was kind of cute so I decided to take a couple pictures. I realized it ran on the otherside of the path I was on so I turned around and took a quick shot of it too. As I started walking away I realized the water was moving....

So no, I didn't see right away that there was more than the one swimming. I started taking pictures then thought to look forward to where he was going and realized there was a second beaver.

And then not too long later, a third. Now about this point I was mad at myself because I didn't have the lens that zoomed in just a little bit further, I left it in the car thinking I wouldn't need it. Dumb.

So I watched them for awhile but finally got frustrated with myself for not having the other lens, I decided to go get it - hoping they wouldn't all disappear by the time I got back.

At first only the one was still visible when I came back with my backpack of equipment.

It wasn't too long before one of the others poked its head out and decided to come back.

I just sat on the cement....in 40 degree (and dropping as it was just before sunset) weather....and just watched them and took pictures.

After a bit, the one chewing on the stick above decided to make his way down closer to where I was.

He decided to come up on ground to get another stick. Unfortunately I had been outside long enough without great gloves on that my hands were getting really cold (remember I didn't plan this). And the lens I switched to is a little heavier, so without a tripod I definitely didn't take great images from this point on. I salvaged what I could.