Category Archives: Birds
Sandhill Crane Young
Friends, this is a young Sandhill Crane colt who is about half grown. Those of you who have followed my blog know that one of my favorite birds is the Sandhill Cranes of Crex Meadows here in Northwestern Wisconsin. By fall this chick will have a brown head and as an adult bird will appear as in the bottom image. They love the cornfields and pluck the bugs from the leaves. til Tomorrow MJ
Begging for Food
Friends, this pied billed grebe is very small and photographers often miss her and her chicks when they are hidden among the lily pads. This particular bird had six chicks that were fast approaching her size, and even thou they were diving for their own food, she was still feeding an occasional morsel and so the younger bird is begging for food. I like the two heads telling the story. Would you edit out the spent lily bloom in front of the adult bird? til Tomorrow MJ
Weekly Photo Challenge:The Golden Hour
Friends, the sharptail grouse dance during the golden hour before dawn until after dawn, then they fly off with a female and do what grouse do. Til then they dance, jump and talk about it and often have an attitude. This image is from Namekagon Barrens Wildlife Area and was taken early in the spring. I always freeze my fingers onto the shutter button, talk about cold, brrrrr something to think about now that the temperatures are in the 80-90 range. til Tomorrow MJ
Rising to Meet the Morning
Friends, I know that this loon pose is very commonly seen here in the northland, but I never fail to be amazed by them. I grew up in dry country so seeing a very large bird rise from the water and stretch his wings is a novelty to me. This particular loon and her mate lost their eggs this year due to fluctuating water levels, so they are busy fishing, napping, grooming and yes stretching, this summer season, instead of fishing frantically to feed their young. In this particular place in Crex Meadows, a pair of loons (maybe the same pair) raised a pair of young, so they have done their diligence. til Tomorrow MJ
Yellow Head
Friends, this is a yellow-headed blackbird shopping for dragonflies that fly too slow and make a delicious lunch for birds. The day that I took this image, the dragon flies had just hatched and several of these birds were frantic in their pursuit of lunch. This one even sat still for a minute or so to allow me to snap his portrait. til Tomorrow MJ
Lunch time
Friends, I imagine that this adult loon is admonishing her chick to “not play with your food”, but the look on his face is priceless. Technically this image has way too many highlights, but I liked the joy and celebratory feel to lunch time, In the early morning I was shooting into the light, enjoy, til Tomorrow MJ
Portrait or Blur
Friends, these images are two renditions of a western kingbird, which do you like, the sharp portrait or the pleasing blur,?, i personally like the blur because it is a challenge to capture and it is a bit different. These birds are often perched on top of the prairie dog mounds and constantly shopping for insects . til Tomorrow MJ
Swan Cygnets
Friends, these babies of the Trumpeter Swan are having a friendly conversation on the water. I love the pink beaks that are present on these cygnets all summer as they grow up. Mom and dad are close by and being protective, The family was headed for the weeds where mom and dad stomp around and loosen little critters for the babies to pluck off the water surface. til Tomorrow MJ
Joyous Day
Friends, lots of folks around Crex Meadows have been watching this red-neck grebe’s nest this spring, wondering when will the little ones hatch. Yesterday was the day, in the morning I watched against the sun and saw three little heads riding on the adults, when i visited again in the evening when the light was better, I only saw these two riding on mom, but a third might be hidden somewhere in her feathers. A soft comfy bed to take a nap, I will visit again today to see how they fare in Phantom Lake, this image is a little fuzzy but I had to push my telephoto to get any image at all, enjoy, I know I will til Tomorrow MJ
Badlands Flicker
Friends, back to the badlands today with this Northern Flicker singing in the cottonwoods of the Cottonwood Campground. This site was once my grandfather and grandmothers ranch where they raised five children on the banks of the Little Missouri River. Today campers and birds and an occasional bison that wanders thru are the inhabitants. til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 