More 'freight' pictures from last week's trip to western Iowa!

The town of Woodbine (Iowa) has this train car from an old Chicago and North Western train parked near the car in the next picture. I didn't find out why...

(Below) This miniature train is located in Missouri Valley (Iowa). It's really 'cute'! It even has a tunnel for the kids to ride through. It didn't operate much last summer due to the flooding of the Missouri River (which is to the west, but fairly close).

I hope there is better weather cooperation for this little railroad to operate this summer!

Eagles chasing a seagull at Desoto Wildlife Reserve 3/1/2012

We weren't sure what the seagull had done (if anything) to irritate the eagles, but a few minutes after we arrived in the building, about 9-12 eagles started chasing this seagull.

After several minutes, some of the eagles started flying off apparently after they'd given up catching the seagull.

There were several younger eagles in the mix chasing the seagull, but we never saw them catch it.

"Freight and Fowl" mini vacation

The Desoto Wildlife Reserve in Missouri Valley posted sightings of 250 eagles last week, and we were already half-way there when we were in Sac City Wednesday working on moving Grandma Walker out of her fabric store (retired the fabric part, still mending for 'other people' at home now).

The weather was frightful on Wednesday (snowing, 50 mph winds, icy roads, etc.!) so we hadn't decided whether we were going to travel anywhere else until late in the day.

It turned out to be a fairly nice day in Missouri Valley (Iowa) on Thursday, with 48 degree temperatures, light wind and mostly sunny conditions. It was perfect for eagle watching!

We arrived and went into the building (where all these eagle pictures were taken--through the glass) just before noon, and there were only a couple of eagles at that point in the tree and occasionally looking for some 'lunch' in the water.

We also saw the 'rock' train in western Iowa, where the UP is laying a third main line of train tracks. More eagles and trains tomorrow!!!