January 29, 2018
A group of cranes is sometimes called a construction. I decided to go to Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, in Alabama, which has lots of sandhill cranes, and sometimes whooping cranes.
Since it is some four hours away, not counting stops, I decided I needed to leave at 3:15 A.M. to get there near sunup. I was a little late leaving but then gained an hour going to Alabama, which is in the Central Time Zone. So I got there just after sunrise, before the road to the Visitor Center was open, but I was able to visit the boat launch park just across the road.
There I found cranes crowded onto sandbars with small groups periodically flying out. I spent at least thirty minutes there, engrossed in photographing them, both on the ground and in the air.
Then I went on to the Visitor Center. I has a very nice display, a little gift shop and friendly rangers. I got a map and great directions to places to see lots of ducks and geese. But first I went to the Observation Building, a two story edifice with glass walls on three sides. Soon after I got there, I found the ONE whooping crane that is currently on the refuge.
I didn't get close enough to see many other birds, but this thrasher was in the bushes along the trail to the observation building. I caught him in the midst of his morning's grooming.
The ranger told me how to find a large flock of snow geese.
After taking a break for a late lunch, about three o'clock, I came back to the visitor center area so see if there was anything exciting happening. Clouds were forming in the sky and making a nice background for the still flying cranes.
I came home feeling that I had definitely seen several constructions of cranes.
A group of cranes is sometimes called a construction. I decided to go to Wheeler National Wildlife Refuge, in Alabama, which has lots of sandhill cranes, and sometimes whooping cranes.
Since it is some four hours away, not counting stops, I decided I needed to leave at 3:15 A.M. to get there near sunup. I was a little late leaving but then gained an hour going to Alabama, which is in the Central Time Zone. So I got there just after sunrise, before the road to the Visitor Center was open, but I was able to visit the boat launch park just across the road.
There I found cranes crowded onto sandbars with small groups periodically flying out. I spent at least thirty minutes there, engrossed in photographing them, both on the ground and in the air.
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| Sandhills waking up |
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| And flying in the golden light |
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| A pair of cranes feeding |
Then I went on to the Visitor Center. I has a very nice display, a little gift shop and friendly rangers. I got a map and great directions to places to see lots of ducks and geese. But first I went to the Observation Building, a two story edifice with glass walls on three sides. Soon after I got there, I found the ONE whooping crane that is currently on the refuge.
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| I was fun to shoot flying cranes through the windows of the Observation Building |
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| Whooping crane drinking |
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| You can see how much bigger the whooper is than the sandhill |
I didn't get close enough to see many other birds, but this thrasher was in the bushes along the trail to the observation building. I caught him in the midst of his morning's grooming.
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| Almost got this pair flying in beautiful light |
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| One of the few passerines I saw was this brown thrasher who was grooming |
The ranger told me how to find a large flock of snow geese.
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| Snow geese resting at midday |
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| Then something put them up |
After taking a break for a late lunch, about three o'clock, I came back to the visitor center area so see if there was anything exciting happening. Clouds were forming in the sky and making a nice background for the still flying cranes.
 |
| Cranes in late afternoon |
I came home feeling that I had definitely seen several constructions of cranes.
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