Sandhill Crane Week 11

Early in the week, the juvenile remained flying back and forth in the small mowed park on the west side of Tiedeman's Pond as if an invisible boundary held it there.  Within a day or two of that, the boundary vanished, and the juvenile began flying about the neighborhood. A similar, mowed grassy area to the west of Stricker's Pond became a destination. And so the horizon recedes farther and farther along with bringing new experiences and dangers.

Sandhill Crane Juvenile in the lead, flying across the north side of Stricker's Pond on the way from Tiedeman's, on the way to a new spot. Freedom at last.

Sandhill Crane The flooded edges of the field provide water and food.

Sandhill Crane Doing a version of its snake dance, bounding up and down and in a circle over a danger real or imagined.

Sandhill Crane The wings will not stop as the juvenile uses them more and more as its entire body matures and strengthens.

Sandhill Crane And the parents still occassionally offer the juvenile happily accepted food bits.

Sandhill Crane For no apparent reason, the juvenile took off at full tilt, splashing across the edge of the wet field.

Sandhill Crane Closely following a parent in the hope of easy food.

Sandhill Crane A tangle of heads, necks and legs at an excellent spot. The female is in front and the male to the left.

Sandhill Crane Time for more flying as a parent looks on with a whatever, go ahead.  They keep an eye open, but allow more distance now.

Sandhill Crane The take-off downstrokes are more powerful, the run quicker, and lift-off faster.

Sandhill Crane A bit of air-paddling with the feet doesn't hurt.

Sandhill Crane And a dangle before the tuck, though the flight is only a hundred feet or so.  Why walk when you can fly?

Sandhill Crane A graceful touchdown.  The parents watched for a bit, then the female flew after walking halfway to catch up.

Sandhill Crane A show of the wings in their full glory.  Not too long before they need to make the journey to New Mexico or thereabouts.

Sandhill Crane Circling the entire area, they return to the standing water at the edges.  The juvenile needs another drink.

Sandhill Crane Dancing and splashing.

Sandhill Crane An adult adds a bit of flapping to the mix while the juvenile studies both it and the sky.

Sandhill Crane Intermittent preening takes over again, though birds flying overhead keep the juvenile's interest.

Sandhill Crane As the adult male shows off his wings, the juvenile does a tenative dance bow, looking uncertain this time.

Sandhill Crane And dancing around. The older the juvenile becomes, the more serious the meaning.

Sandhill Crane The male stops to de-escalate, but the juvenile has its on switch stuck as usual with excess energy.

Sandhill Crane Sometimes just ignoring the displays works.

Sandhill Crane And sometimes it doesn't.

Sandhill Crane Off on another flight to the other end of the field.

Sandhill Crane The take-off is even smoother this time. The juvenile is becoming a master.

Sandhill Crane After this flight, the parents waited out the juvenile, who returned to the other side with them before all strolled into a new yard. Exploration and danger.

© Michael Bailey All Rights Reserved; Not for reproduction.  No photograph
from this blog may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means whatsover.

Northern Parula

Northern Parula Along with a companion working through the prairie plants at the edge of Tiedeman's Pond.

Northern Parula With acrobatic skill, it catches many tiny insects.

Northern Parula A quick pause shows off all its colors nicely. Soon off to the south.

Eastern Wood Pewee Everywhere, their distinct call after which they are named can be heard.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird Though many live here in the summer, many others migrate through in the fall.

Red-eyed Vireo Another summer resident, often secretive. Of several vireos, this is the only one with red eyes.

Red-eyed Vireo A close-up of the colorful eye.

Swainson's Thrush Usually very difficult to see, though its haunting song can be heard in the wood, this one is easier to see during migration.

Swainson's Thrush The need for berries outweighs shyness sometimes.

Wild Turkey Though its head is far from attractive, its feathers are another story, particularly when looking like fall colors.

American Gold Finch When mining a thistle head for seeds, the American Gold Finch can be rather aggressive.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird Beautiful in the subdued light, a young male feeds on a thistle.

White-breasted Nuthatch A year-round resident, upside down seems to be its favorite posture when searching for insects in trees.

Red-bellied Woodpecker With her red crown sitting back more than that of the male, the female works for insects where she has removed the bark.

Indigo Bunting It takes awhile for the young male to start showing the true color for which it is named.

Cedar Waxwing Very social, they like to gather in large flocks and talk over life as they know it.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak With a blunt bill good for cracking seeds, the female is less colorful than the male.

Green Heron Always amazing with its ability to stretch its neck to a great length.

Green Heron Compressed back down to a smaller size, and with the crown flared up in general excitement.

Green Heron Medium-length, also good for scanning ponds for fish.

Green Heron With a raised crown and brilliant eye, a very intense look.

Great Blue Heron Wading in a shallow pond in search of small fish.

Warbling Vireo Usually far up and unseen, singing away, in the tree tops, particularly Cottonwoods.

Ruby-throated Hummingbird Chin and breast glowing from the red feeder it's sitting on.

© Michael Bailey All Rights Reserved; Not for reproduction.
No photograph from this blog may be reproduced or used
in any form or by any means whatsover.