Mrs. F.G. saw another Facebook post reporting a Sandhill Crane sighting west of Owen Sound so we went for a drive in search of Sandhill Cranes, our 4th trip this year. As Mrs. F.G. said, we're just spoiled after seeing about 1000 of them in a field east of Collingwood at this time of year and 500 in a field west of Owen Sound last year. She's hoped for the same ever since!
We headed for a small crossroads west of Owen Sound, now a roundabout, and drove north. Soon there was a small flock flying over. Mrs. F.G. got the first and ultimately the best shot of a small group feeding, heads all down.
There were more feeding in a ploughed field nearby, and in some nearby pasture.
Driving a few nearby concessions we searched for the elusive larger flock, seeing a few small groups, but ending up back at the same spot. A few threatening clouds along the way!
Right across the road was this enormous cattle operation, with five huge silos and two enormous barns. It's cattle country all right!
Looking west we counted about 100 altogether, here with a small flock of three birds joining them.
They are a long distance away and don't stand out very well, but there were quite a few.
Friends have asked how to recognize them. Well, they're huge for a start, about 5 feet tall and with a 6.5 foot wingspan, about the same size as a Great Blue Heron. They're grey in colour, with a striking deep red patch on their head. I think of them as a fat Blue Heron. But their call is unique, a low clattering sound that you will never mistake once you've hear it. Google the bird and listen to it! They nest in single scattered pairs, but gather into huge flocks prior to migrating south.
We left the cranes behind and headed home, but were surprised to see a small flock of swans, These would have been the native Trumpeter or Tundra Swans, also gathering to migrate, here gathered around a low wet depression in a harvested soybean field.
Too far away to even get a clear picture, let along identify which species, but nice to see.
We drove through Kilsyth again on our way home, passing the old general store where my dad grew up. A very successful adventure, even if we only saw about 100 cranes!
"Only" a hundred. Yeah!
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely drive and although not thousands, hundreds is good for those is us who don't see them. Thank you!
ReplyDeleteI would be thrilled to see even a few. You had a fine day for a drive.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely excursion! Looking for birds and taking in the countryside. Perfect!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite picture is the red barn under all those clouds.
ReplyDeleteYou sure have done your homework and come out on top.
ReplyDeleteWe have trumpeter fly though here. I see them in the spring more often than the fall. The sandhills do have their own characteristic movements and sound is wornderful. They fly through Nebraska a state over west. You did see lots of groupings to prove to be successful.
ReplyDeleteI understand why you want to see a large flock of sandhills. It's an impressive sight.
ReplyDeleteBravo, you found some, they certainly are impressive birds. Great clouds -- I've always liked dark cloud formations.
ReplyDeleteIt was a good reason to take a daytrip, and you were rewarded. Even the non-bird scenes looked sufficiently good to me.
ReplyDeleteWell, one hundred Cranes is sure better than no Cranes. Good for you guys in spotting the.
ReplyDeleteThey are a very impressive bird!
ReplyDeleteThe background texture in the swan pictures is really interesting.
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