Lots of Cattle, and Wetlands Too

As we drove around looking for Sandhill Cranes we saw a great many cattle out in the pastures.  Here in Grey-Bruce, this is the time of year when farmers have sold on the calves they raised this summer and purchased young cattle to graze over the fall and feed over the winter to bring them up to a market weight of about 1500 lb.  Right now they're making use of any available pastures, the most readily available way to feed the young cattle.

Our route took us through Kilsyth, the village where both my grandparents lived, and my own parents met.  Lots of happy memories of times spent here, including the summer Mrs. F.G. and I lived here after my last living aunt died.

By this point the rain was covering the windshield, but we drove through it and it cleared up by the time we reached Elsinore.

Just one example of many, this a small herd out grazing.

These are 'Black Baldies', a crossbreed between a Hereford (with the white face) and an Aberdeen Angus (all black cattle).  

Lots of cattle barns too, many of them large and modern, in spite of farmers complaining about the price of beef..

Just another field, right?  This is winter wheat coming up and this is what Mrs. F.G.'s sharp eyes spot.  Can you see them?

Lots of wetlands too.  Sandhill Cranes typically nest in secluded spots around the edges of wetlands, building a nest 3-4' across.  They mate for life.

This small branch covered in fungi looked neat to me.

As did this old drainage ditch, now turned into an almost-natural wetland.  Water levels are very high after all the rain we've had.

Just one more shot to show you Mrs. F.G.'s sharp eyes.  There are about 10 Sandhill Cranes in the left half of this picture, just before the end of the first field.