Other interesting sights from the weekend

A killdeer

A belted kingfisher with dinner the first night.

Looking for dinner the 2nd night.

Getting dinner the 2nd night.

Dinner is served.

A solitary sandpiper. Tringa solitaria.

A solitary banjo. Stringa strummerous bob.

2 nights with the sandhill cranes

This weekend we went with 2 photographers from Minnesota to the Rowe Sanctuary in Gibbon. What an amazing experience to get to spend over 30 hours just feet away from thousands and thousands of sandhill cranes. We drove around a bit on Sunday and found this pair feeding very close to the road.

This was our "home away from home". It was 8 feet long, 6 feet wide and 5 feet tall. There were 2 side windows and 2 windows in the front. The cranes were usually on the sandbars, but the water wasn't very deep, so they'd often walk around in it as well. The blind was shut, but not locked, so we could have escaped in an emergency. But being surrounded by all of the birds just made you sit in awe and silence as you joined their world for a few hours.

As sunset approached, they came in by the droves. They filled an area about 1/4 mile away and then kept coming closer and closer to our blind. The sounds of wings, the sound of their call....we just sat with our eyes opened wide.

Sunset was beautiful both days.

Morning found the birds happy and ready for their day. Lots and lots of displaying went on. The way the birds moved just made you smile.

We had really good light the second morning. It made the birds just pop out. I could see all of the subtle colors in their wings.

Flying was usually done in their family units - a single bird, a pair or a pair with one young.

This was our beach right outside our blind.

They flew right outside our window!

Going to work at night

Haven't seen the possum for while. Well, they're back! K-9 goes right to the window and looks whenever you say the word.

Happy Spring 2009

It's here. Stay tuned...hundreds of other bulbs to follow. These little guys are sure hardy though. I love the colors.

Desoto National Wildlife Refuge

We went to Iowa today to see birds. Pam and Linda were my partners for this excellent Friday the 13th adventure. We saw either one eagle 3 times, or 3 different eagles. They were high in the sky though. We did have a fun time looking at the ducks and the geese on the water.

Go Badgers Game 1

Smiles

I used the Gary Fong on my flash tonight. Did that ever fix the back shadow problem. I just did one external light to dialate the dogs eyes.