After first spotting the two Sandhill Cranes we turned into the next farm lane and drove back to see them. As I said yesterday, we both enjoy watching for them and it's a highlight of the summer if we do spot them.
This was our view of them when we stopped, not very close. But I zoomed in as far as my iphone would allow and got two good pictures.
One of the largest birds in North America (with a greater wingspan than a Golden Eagle), at this time of year you see them steadily grazing across fields picking up what they can find off the ground.
As the two birds kept moving they disappeared over the crest of the hill, but we chased them down by driving in the farm lane. They were easily visible over the short soybeans. We've always seen them in pairs (except for the giant 2000 strong migrating flocks we saw east of Stayner last November).
They nest in isolated wetlands usually, usually only raising one chick. One year we saw a pair with a tiny chick. They are known for their fantastic dancing displays during courtship, and for their strange 'bugling' call. Once you've heard it you'll always recognize it.
As if seeing the cranes was not enough we also drove to Goldsmith's Farm Market in Thornbury and picked up a flat of strawberries. On Friday my job was to prepare the berries.
And on Saturday Mrs. F.G. made the jam!!
Teamwork. I do some canning when I'm home at the cabin, but Wayne is strictly a BBQ guy. Good for you. - Margy
ReplyDeleteTime for a confession -- did you eat any of those strawberries while you were removing the stems and leaves? Yes or no! Good find on the sandhills, I wish we saw them more often down here.
ReplyDeleteGreat that you got to see the Sandhill Cranes. I grew up in Michigan, where we saw them occasionally, but out here in northern NY I never see them. I'm glad to know the strawberries are ripe, although they are never as sweet and juicy as the ones I remember from my youth. I don't know if it's just the happy filter of memory or if growers are choosing sturdier, less fragile varieties. The ones my grandma grew just melted in your mouth. They barely could make it to the kitchen from the strawberry patch without bruising, but oh, were they delicious!
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the Sandhill Cranes. Amazing size, wing spread. Fresh strawberry jam teamwork!
ReplyDeleteJoy
Yummy from garden to table and those jars, goodies for later in the year.
ReplyDeleteI love seeing the cranes...this past year is the first I did not see or hear in in several years. I hope to get out somewhere this fall...
ReplyDeleteDid you eat any strawberries while you worked? I cannot resist them.
Yum fresh strawberries! I love all field fresh food! And making preserves :)
ReplyDeleteJam!! How lucky to have homemade jam!
ReplyDeleteWe have a few weeks yet til the same happens here.
ReplyDeleteIt seems to be a bumper year for strawberries.
ReplyDeleteHello, I would be happy to see the Sandhill Cranes, could there be a chick hiding in there too? The strawberry jam sounds yummy. Take care! Enjoy your day, wishing you a happy new week!
ReplyDeleteSuch neat looking birds! I have only seen them once. Hubbers job is the same as yours at jam making time. A taste of summer will be ours come winter!
ReplyDeleteOh, how wonderful to be making strawberry jam together! And I too love the sandhill cranes and am glad you chased them down. :-)
ReplyDeleteI heard Sand Hill Cranes in the Hullett Marsh Sunday morning but I didn't see them. We sure have had our share of fresh strawberries this year. I put them in my morning shake and it turns it a pink-burgundy color. With my recent diabetes diagnosis, strawberry jam is off my menu now:((
ReplyDeleteThat jam looks so good. As a kid in southern Iowa we didn't have cranes. When a stray lone one would fly over all the family had to run out of the house to see the rarity. We were in the central part of the state and no large bodies of water. Now I live near a man made lake and we do see them as they migrate.
ReplyDeleteWe bought a litre of strawberries from down the road. We've been devouring them!
ReplyDeleteI've only seen sand cranes once, near here! It is a treat.
I can't recall ever seeing those cranes before.
ReplyDeleteThe jam looks great! We have a few Sandhill Cranes but not many til Fall when they migrate through:)
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