Category Archives: Crex Meadows

Crane Dance

0310mjsDear Friends, these cranes are jumping for joy or are they jumping to stay warm, either way, they appear happy, on a sunny morning in the corn field with light shining through their wing feathers. Are you jumping for joy this morning? I haven’t had enough coffee yet. Soon til Tomorrow MJ

My Best Dancing Cranes

01,WC185,DN, Dancing CranesDear Friends, this is my best dancing cranes from this year, the fluffed up feathers make this image unique, this is a staring match , and the first bird to blink, well, that is my take, til Tomorrow MJ

The Essence

0210mjsDear Friends, the essence of fall in our part of the world is summarized in this image, the trees are brilliant with color, the corn is harvested and the cranes are flying everywhere.  Soon the ground will be white, the cranes will be gone and the trees will be bare, i do not like the winter, but will put up with it, bah humbug, til Tomorrow MJ

Trumpeter Swan Takeoff

0803mjs

Friends, Crex Meadows in the fall not only has thousands of Sandhill Cranes, but also has smaller gatherings of Trumpeter Swans.  The swans breed and raise their cygnets in the area and residents can be observed throughout the summer.  So enjoy this landing til Tomorrow MJ

Back to Work

01,WC185,DN,Gray Fox

Friends, this gray fox was focused on something that moved, not me, i don’t move a hair while photographing this guy, i have been on a short hiatus this summer from blogging, but still gathering images to be used in this site, enjoy the fall season, i am, til Tomorrow MJ

Big Black Bear in a tree

big bear in a tree

Friends, this is a young black bear male who has been chased up a tree by a bigger black bear male, i love the pose as he tries to assess his position from this loftily perch, love the bears til Tomorrow MJ

Before the Storm

before the stormDear Friends, the other day i was chased by this storm and it seems to be a reoccurring theme in Crex this summer, lots of rain and humidity, this morning it is a little cooler and dryer, time to visit the birdies, til Tomorrow MJ

Green Wing Teal??

young green wing3Dear Friends, i think this might be either a young male green wing teal or some kind of hybrid, what do you birders think?  The green speculum is there but no white border around the head green stripe, the back and side feathers are also strange. Seen on Phantom Lake in Crex Meadows on July 1.   til Tomorrow MJ

Pair of Horned Grebes

springettmj_1Dear Friends, i was hanging out by Phantom Lake and this couple were out for a late afternoon swim on a very rough lake.  These birds are probably pushing babies around the lake by now, so til Tomorrow MJ

Crane Lunch

two cranes lunchcrane lunch

Dear Friends, i always think of our Sandhill Cranes as gentle giants roaming the wetlands in search of food.  I never thought of baby Red Winged Blackbirds as a food source.  These young cranes were being harassed by the adult Red Wings as the cranes plucked the babies from the nest.  The male red wing bird is definitely in attack mode but the sandhill has his lunch.  Red wings are not in short supply here and predation is common as they nest on the ground. til tomorrow MJ