Friends, these two Greater Sandhill Cranes have been digging in the mud for food.  They use those very long sharp beaks to root for grubs, frogs, seeds, and other muddy food.  Crex mud must be rich in food elements as everywhere in the mud flats, small humps of mud are signs that the cranes have been tearing up the scenery and when their heads pop up the mud is still stuck to their beaks.  The bird in front is an adult and the one in the rear is a juvenile.  This morning we have heavy wet snow, so the cranes will probably be on their way to warmer weather and softer mud. I will miss them when they are gone, they entertain us from September thru November but disappear around Thanksgiving time. til Tomorrow MJ

Friends, these Greater Sandhill Cranes are in flight above the Crex Meadows.  The front bird is an immature followed by an adult bird, see the difference in the head coloring.  Some Rusty oaks still hold their leaves, but this morning we have a trace of snow, so winter is coming.  A sad time for me cause the big birds will have left and we only have the smaller birds left around here.  Lots of chickadees, juncos and nuthatches in the bird feeders.  The smaller birds are a challenge photographically speaking, but i do love the bigger birds.  Maybe we will have some eagles or rough legged hawks to keep us company this winter.  I can always go to Sax-Zim bog and look for Snowy Owls, Hawk Owls and Boreal Owls, but that is a two and one half hour drive one way.  til Tomorrow MJ