Blog Archives
The Essence
Dear 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
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
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
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
Dear 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??
Dear 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
Dear 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
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
Do you have your jacket?
Dear Friends, this is a typical uniform for me when taking nature photographs in Crex or other places, from sturdy boots to sunglasses at all times. These items are necessary to stay warm and dry, the missing items in this image are a tripod and cap. On colder days a hooded sweatshirt and jeans, on warmer days i lose the sweatshirt, My father always said before we left the house, ” do you have your jacket”, lesson learned. Now if i could only teach my husband to bring a jacket because the weather can change so quickly and drastically especially in the spring. So do you have your jacket? til Tomorrow MJ
Horned Grebe Hairdo
Dear Friends, this Horned Grebe was found on a very windy day on Phantom Lake in Crex Meadows. A pair of birds were present but this one came very near the shore allowing me a closeup of his beautiful red eye and wild feathers. His yellow head feathers can be raised or lowered and when raised they look like horns from the front view. This day the wind has the lake stirred up and his feathers in a jumble. til Tomorrow MJ
MJ Springett 