We then drove to Minnesota for a wedding during a ridiculously severe heat wave. We sat under a tent and sweated for four hours; it was a happy occasion, but I think I sweated off about 10 lbs. (I'm sure it all came back.)
Once in Wisconsin, I had my eyes peeled for Sandhill Cranes; I'd seen that we'd be in their breeding range and that there were lots of reports of them in eBird. We hit two different spots listed as "hot spots" around Beloit, WI, but we didn't see any cranes. I was also hoping to see a Dickcissel to get a better photo for my lifebird photo file, but again -- nothing.
On the road between WI and MN, however, we struck gold:
Terrible photos, and we only got them after having to drive a ways, exit, turn around, go back a few miles, and then hope they were still in the field. AB spotted these; I was busy waving at cows. AB's patience rocks.A few days later, on the way home, we saw these cranes in Ohio; after another 30-minute turnaround, I was able to get a decent photo:
Sweet! Lifebird #307 and a good photo! Thanks, AB!While we were in Beloit, I heard the constant twittering and buzzing of dozens of House Wrens:
I'd never seen or heard so many in one spot! They were like HOSPs in this neighborhood--everywhere.
5 comments:
Great Crane shots ... They are quite rare here - I once took a long distance shot of a field full of ducks with a Blue Heron and when I Biggyed it, it was a Crane!!!
I'm sorry I had to miss your visit to Minnesota, Delia. You sure picked a hot and humid weekend! Yay on the Sandhill Cranes! They look prehistoric to me.
I've chased and missed those cranes several times in Connecticut-good for you-and a photo to go with it too!
Congrats! Sandhill cranes are so cool looking..Nice shots!
Rabbits' Guy--ytes, I would imagine they'd be rare on the west coast. They're pretty rare in PA too, though a friend saw one in Delaware on the coast.
Lynn--next time! And ohmygod it was hot and humid, like Texas!
Larry--I was lucky to see them.
Dawn--I agree; that bustle is so cool-looking.
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