Sandhill Crane Week 24

11/28/16

Sandhill Crane Two adults and the 24 week old juvenile forage in the small prairie area next to Tiedeman's Pond.

Sandhill Crane The juvenile is bigger than either parent, so it may well be a male. Its crown is changing color.

Sandhill Crane All three are more alert than in the past, not for any one thing in particular. Maybe it's the migration thrill ramping up.

Sandhill Crane As always one generally is studying the surroundings when the other two are busy with their heads down.

Sandhill Crane Even the juvenile has guard duty now.

Sandhill Crane Looking off over the pond at a few Canada Geese endlessly yakking away as they like doing.

Sandhill Crane Something over there interesting to more than one for the moment.

Sandhill Crane With such a thoughtful stare and scrutiny, it makes you wonder what's going on in its head.

Sandhill Crane When heads are down it's easy to tell what the thoughts of the moment are.

Sandhill Crane Now the gaze wanders to the nearby hiking trail busy with talking people and their dogs. They might be thinking about handouts from one house.

Sandhill Crane A lot of natural foraging in the muck of the marshy area and retaining ponds. Crossing in a row to the opposite side.

Sandhill Crane The juvenile veers off to the right as the two adults ascend the bank.

Sandhill Crane A few swivels and concentrated glares from the juvenile, but nothing edible flickers below the dark surface.

Sandhill Crane The juvenile followed its parents, but turned at the edge of the small pond for one last look. No luck.

Sandhill Crane Breaking the always on watch rule, the adult supposed to be on sentry instead does a bit of grooming.

Sandhill Crane After that they head down in the bubbling mud at the edge of Tiedeman's Pond itself.

Sandhill Crane This is where the long legs come in handy. They waded in almost up to their bellies before returning.

Sandhill Crane More hunting, but not much going on in the food pantry.

Sandhill Crane More people passing require more stares to be sure it's still safe.

Sandhill Crane Now they spend much more of their time studying what's way off there than foraging, even more so than in the summer.

Sandhill Crane Off for another try at the edge of Tiedeman's Pond.

Sandhill Crane That lasted for only a minute. Then all headed back toward the building just north of the little park on the west side.

Sandhill Crane The juvenile led the way onto the gravel path.

Sandhill Crane Pausing at the new textures, they studied things a bit before crossing toward the condos nearby.

Sandhill Crane The juvenile still has a white toe nail that it had all summer, so that hasn't changed yet, if it will?

Sandhill Crane Maybe go back to the pond. There might be overlooked prey there. Nope

Sandhill Crane The juvenile approaches a bird bath to see if it might have good water or not.

Sandhill Crane Yes. Then in for a drink at the bird bath at a convenient height for a young crane. Within a few weeks they'll be in New Mexico or Texas and the juvenile will be on its own not too many weeks after that. The next phase in its life...

© 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.

Lincoln's Sparrow

; Lincoln's Sparrow Though it stayed well-hidden in the brush, it briefly appeared in a little window for a clear view. At Governor Nelson State Park.

; Lincoln's Sparrow It didn't stay on the perch long at all, but very quickly flitted across the trail and away.

; Chipping Sparrow Hidden in plain sight on the gravel path at Stricker's Pond, among a noisy horde of English House Sparrows.

; Ruby-throated Hummingbird With the adult males long gone, migrated, far south, only the juveniles from this year remain behind as they fatten up.

; Ruby-throated Hummingbird A blink of the eye punctuated by an equally quick flick of the very long tongue.

; Ruby-throated Hummingbird Though the bird itself is tiny, imagine how absolutely tiny the feet are gripping the plant stem.

; Ruby-throated Hummingbird A hanging dead branch with a stub made for a good perch to pause on.

; Palm Warbler Out in the open in the scrubby trees at the edge of Tiedeman's Pond in Middleton.

; Nashville Warbler Behaving normally for a warbler, this Nashville Warbler flits in and out of the leaves on its non-stop bug hunt.

; Great Blue Heron A juvenile standing in a retaining pond at Owen Park, Madison, hoping for a fish.

; Great Blue Heron Pumping low over Stricker's Pond, Middleton, on the way to a better and higher roost.

; Northern Flicker Yellow-shafted tail showing brightly as it perches along with three others, maybe a family.

; Northern Flicker At Governor Nelson State Park, a Flicker briefly clings to a dead bush before flying off.

; Turkey Vulture Slowly circling with very little flapping, expert on up-drafts, suddenly a mile away with no apparent effort.

; American Redstart Adept at maneuvering through tiny branches, often flaring its tail for emphasis.

; American Redstart A quick peek at observers of its industrious insect hunting.

; Northern Parula Round-looking as it swivels about, breast colors bright from brownish to yellow to white.

; Northern Parula And an olive-gray cap with white wing bar for emphasis.

; Black-throated Green Warbler In true warbler style, doing a tree-top peek-a-boo while hunting for insects.

; Black-throated Green Warbler And a quick flip to check for any insects that might have been behind it.

; Red-bellied Woodpecker Tongue just visible as it probes beneath the bark on a dead branch.

; Red-winged Blackbird At Stricker's Pond, not too long away from migration, perched on the rim of a Lotus plant head.

; Red-winged Blackbird A closer look at the brown edging of feathers and the very long and sharp talons good for plant perching.

; Wood Duck Brilliant in color, the male Wood Duck paddles the pond with several companions. Shy as ever.

; Monarch Butterfly A rare sight these days as it floats from flower to flower, tanking up for migration.

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