Time is getting very short for us migratory bird photographers in this area. Another week or so and the ice will form on the smaller ponds and slower moving creeks around here and that puts a damper on things. The birds will move somewhere that has open water. And it gets considerably colder for the photographers too! And when you are of a more senior age (like me), you realize you have many more days behind you than in front of you. So you tend to appreciate your days a bit more.
But I was not ready to give up on this year yet. All of my local spots were not producing very well so I knew I had to travel. The only two spots I was considering were Iroquois and Montezuma NWR. But Iroquois was a 3 hour drive away and staying overnight was not an option this time. Besides, I hadn’t been to Montezuma in several years and my buddy ML had been having good luck there this year. There were a few walking trails that I wanted to check out so I got up there just before dawn. I parked at the trailhead and got my gear ready, but that was when I saw the sign “trails closed for hunting season.” Crap! I came all the way up here to walk the trails and they were closed!!! Now what? By that time Iroquois was no longer an option. So I chalked it up to photographer’s luck and put my gear away intending to go back home. But I figured I would stop at the main pool behind the visitors center just to see what was around, and I’m glad I did!
The bird that is flying has a fractured leg, but he still kept up with the other birds…
There was a flock of around 40-50 Sandhill Cranes right behind the visitor’s center! I had been busting my butt all year trying to get images of these beautiful birds and I find them in the backyard!!! Now don’t get me wrong, these birds were still a long way away and the light was pretty crappy too. But photographers rarely look a gift horse in the mouth so I stared shooting.
Hovering
Perfect Landing!!
Tuning up….
Yoga Practice….
Choir Practice
About 10 minutes after I began photographing these birds I heard a car pull up so I figured I would soon have company. I had my eye glued to the viewfinder when I heard someone approach and ask “do you mind if I shoot up here with you?” Of course I was more than happy to have some company so I said certainly, help yourself. As I turned to see the photographer, I realized that I had a fellow club member to shoot with! It was Deb Muska from Animal Images. I have known Deb for years and I looked forward to shooting with her. But it got quiet again as we were both concentrating on the birds.
Wings down…
Wings up…… whatever you prefer…
In Sync…. my favorite BIF image…. I will probably try different compositions but I like the portrait …
Family Portrait
Because of the fact that these images are heavily cropped and the light was not what I wanted, I doubt any of these will make it to my photo gallery on my website. But they are good enough to show you what beautiful birds they are, and if this is my last shoot of the season then I appreciate that the Cranes stopped by on their way down South!! Enjoy!