We continued down the sideroad past the still-standing fields of soybeans, figuring we would enjoy the drive even if we didn't see any Sandhill Cranes. This is a narrow lightly travelled gravel road where you're more likely to see farm equipment than any other vehicle.
We have driven down so many roads like this over nearly 6 decades, finding interesting adventures along the way - Manitoulin Island comes to mind.
You pass a nice barn looking across a soybean field.
Turning two corners we checked out the other field we've seen them in and there they were - taking off in a scattered flock just as we pulled to the side of the road. I could hardly see them. They're very large birds, but seem small in these pictures.
This view is a bit better. Some are silhouetted against the trees and others against the sky. A good description of their size is that they are like a 'stout Blue Heron', just as tall but heavier.
In this picture they're all silhouetted against the sky as they rose and disappeared over the trees, landing over a rise where they were no longer within sight. We counted about 25, a far cry yet from the 1000+/- we saw last year.
We still looked closely and saw two who stayed behind on the ground. I think this is a harvested wheat field. We'll have to go back in about two weeks.
Yes yes, keep showing those beautiful cranes!
ReplyDeleteWell, at least you got to see them if rather distantly.
ReplyDeleteI had to Google the cranes to find where they migrate to, and surprised to read some fly as far south as Florida. Do they band any of them or track their flight? I can just image the road chaos if people had to do the same!!!Less birds than other years, have they already gone or are somewhere feeding up for the exodus?
ReplyDeleteI'm glad to hear you were able to find the sandhill cranes. I remember seeing them in the fields in the fall when I was a child, but never more than a dozen or so. Awesome find!
ReplyDeleteIt was good to see them even though they were so distant.
ReplyDeleteSuccess. At least you spotted some of them if not the great numbers as in the past.
ReplyDeleteSuccess :)
ReplyDeleteSo pleased you were able to find some.
Hoping this comment comes through and stays!
Blogger and commenting seems to have glitches from time to time!
All the best Jan
Behold, ye did search and ye were rewarded.
ReplyDeleteSuccess! Glad to hear that you saw them, hopefully the next time you go back there will be a lot more.
ReplyDeleteWonderful to see these magnificent creatures, even at a distance. Thank you! :-)
ReplyDeleteSuccess! I'd forgotten about these birds!
ReplyDeleteI love the road in the first picture!!
ReplyDeleteNice to see the birds.
I am so glad you found some. We see some geese that fly over fall and spring. Most major migrations are closer to the river. Our southern part of the state gets such a large variety of waterfowl including pelicans. We sometimes get the pelicans at our lake.
ReplyDeletesuch a pretty place for a drive and it looks like you are getting some fall color already!! good that you saw some cranes...but now you have a reason to go back and try again!!
ReplyDeleteMarvelous birds.
ReplyDelete