Weekly Top Shot - #52

The moon was a lucky shot - I was focusing on the hawk and didn't even see the moon.

I am joining Madge at  her one year anniversary of the Weekly Top Shot.  Great photos there - stop over and see them.

Hummingbirds

As I was sitting at my desk I looked up when a movement caught my eye - I reached for my camera - there was the little hummingbird again. This time I got some good shots of him. He was very busy flitting about.

Weekly Top Shot - Heron in Wisconsin

While on vacation in Wisconsin for Don's 50th class reunion we visited some favorite spots of his from his childhood. One was Kashena falls. As we watched the falls we saw a heron land off in the distance. I got a couple shots off before he flew on - this is the best one.

I'm linking to Weekly Top Shot - with Madge, thanks Madge for doing this.

In the last post we watched the Sandhill Cranes in hay fields, and then they lined up and started walking - look where they went.

They started across the road . . .

Follow the leader . . .

Very neighborly . . .

They decided to pay a visit to the farmer who so graciously cut his hay so they could find something yummy to eat. We didn't follow them into the farmer's yard.

Sandhill Cranes in Wisconsin

We just got back from Wisconsin, where we had a nice visit with Don's cousins and their families in Waukesha, and went to Northern Wisconsin for Don's 50th class reunion.

The first day there, on the way to breakfast with cousin Bob, we spotted a Sandhill Crane in a small park along the Fox River, right in town. Everyone assured us that the cranes were everywhere, but just in case, I had to stop and get some pictures. This was the first Sandhill Crane that I have seen up close - such excitement.

Then when we were in Northern Wisconsin we saw a lot more Sandhill Cranes. Mostly they were in fields of hay that had been recently cut - looking for food. They would sometimes be close, and sometimes far, but with my 140x zoom on my camera I got some great shots. It was so exciting to listen to them and watch as they walked about, finding tasty tidbits in the hay. Those birds can move fast, with those long legs. I often had to focus the camera ahead of them to catch them as they moved forward.





In the nature preserve we saw a big flock of the Sandhill Cranes in hay fields. We counted over 45 in the flock - but were only close enough to get a picture of these.

This crane seems to be eating something off the plants - berries I suppose.

This is the only picture I got of them flying - their wingspan can reach up to 6.9 feet.

Their beaks are so big they look like swords. I was told that they are vicious and will attack if you get too close - we stayed a good distance away.

Wait until you see what these cranes do next!

Amazing!

On the way home last night we stopped by the ponds near our house to see what was going on with the ducks and Canada Geese. We were surprised to see the muted colors on this goose, we hadn't seen her before. She is a leucistic goose (there's a good word to look up in your dictionaries).

She was very patient and let me get lots of photos . . .

Though uncommon, these are surprisingly, not rare . . .

I like the contrast between her and the regular Canada Goose.

Such striking feather colors . . .

The purple reflection in the water is from a house across the pond . . .

A hawk was flying over and she was looking to see if it was a danger to her . . .

No danger - but her friends, the ducks, certainly dove for cover . . .

The blue bill and feet were astounding!

Have you ever seen one of these - or another unusual goose?

Mallards - this one is for you, Bert!

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard (they pronounce it mu LARD) live in our neighborhood during nesting season. They are seen walking up and down the street - flying overhead - and mucking about in the muddy sides of the street. Today it was raining as we came through and there they were - happy as ducks in a puddle.

My friend Bert mentioned that she loves the color on the wings of Mrs. Mallard (mu Lard, if you please), so I tried to capture the blue.

If you click to enlarge the photo you can see the raindrops on Mr. Mallard's back.

And Mr. Mallard's pretty curl on his duck tail . . .

This is another shot of Mrs. Mallard on a sunny day in our yard - they often come for tea time and enjoy the seeds we put out for tea.


Mr. Mallard also has a pretty blue stripe on his wing - not one to be outdone by Mrs. Mallard.

Looks like Mr. Mallard has taken up ballet - what lovely wings!

Snow Geese - in action

One of the most spectacular things you can ever hope to see - and hear - is hundreds and hundreds of Snow Geese taking off. Sometimes something will frighten them and they will take off, and sometimes for no reason apparent to us, up they will go, circle around and land again. There aren't words to describe it - overwhelming - magnificent - spiritual communing - those are just a few, and seem so inadequate.

Click to enlarge the photos - makes them even better!!