We have returned from the Badlands of North Dakota, where we spent a whole week, photographing and soaking up the sunshine.  This Mule deer buck was the biggest that I have seen in the Badlands,a true 5×5. He is polished and ready to face the breeding season. Enjoy til tomorrow Mj

My mom turned 102 With two grandsons Louis and Andrew

This crane has picked up a gift from the ground and is presenting it to whoever will accept it. The second image shows a very happy crane who has thrown his gift into the air. Enjoy til tomorrow Mj

The cranes often sing to others flying above. The males beaks point straight up and the females call with beaks at a shallower angle. Enjoy til tomorrow Mj

Now and then the cranes confront aggressively and with attitude. The tallest crane isn’t always the noisy one. Sometimes the noisy one is being submissive enjoy til tomorrow mj

No words just enjoy til tomorrow Mj

These images illustrate cranes landing with legs reaching down and taking off with legs out behind. So when studying the thousands of images taken this fall, I still am learning the nuances of crane behaviors.

This egret was in the Meadows with seven oh her buddies. I was spellbound by the graceful lines in these photos and the birds are still on main dike today. The light is truly amazing this time of fall. Enjoy til tomorrow mj

I show this image to illustrate two things, the ruffled feathers on the neck and his second eyelid closed. The inner eyelid closes from front to back and this outer eyelid closes top and bottom. Double protection while stirring up the feathers. a natural history moment. Enjoy til tomorrow mj

Talking and dancing in the meadow. Will go again today as the sunshine makes my camera focus well. Enjoy til tomorrow mj